It was around in an April that I visited “The Flower Fields” at Carlsbad Ranch, California. The incredible flower field contains 50-acres of dazzling yellow, orange, soft rose, pink, red, and white flowers. The sight of blooming Ranunculus flowers glistening in the sun thrills me ! The Flower Fields are located at the Palomar Airport Road Exit, off Interstate 5 . Carlsbad’s famous Flower Fields is located on the coast of San Diego’s North County, blooms from early March through late April.

The rainbow-colored hillside of The Flower Fields are gorgeous. This extraordinary color in bloom on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean is one spectacular features of The Flower Fields. This is the Carlsbad landmark. I picture myself in this sea of vibrant spring flowers, stretching as far as my eye can see.

Mother Nature has changed the appearance of the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. Nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, in Carlsbad, California, are in a full bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year – from early March through early May .This annual burst of color, which has become part of the area’s local heritage of Southern California.

History of The Flower Fields :An English immigrant named Luther Gage planted the first Ranunculus flower seeds in North America when he settled with his family in San Diego County. He cultivated the flower on his ranch with the help of some local workers. One of those workers, Frank Frazee, now a Ranunculus-growing expert, passed his expertise onto his sons Earl and Edwin, and the Frazee family started its own Ranunculus ranch. The business began to grow quickly, the fields landed in Carlsbad. Naturally the arrival of the visitors increased to this fields. Edwin finally retired from the business in 1975, when he passed it along to his own sons. His talent and selection over the years are the reasons behind such an exceptional Ranunculus bloom. The blooming hillside was given the unofficial name, the “flower fields,” by Carlsbad’s residents, who began to consider it part of the local heritage. The practical name stuck, and became officially called The Flower Fields in 1993.

Other features of Flower Fields are All American Rose Selection Garden with 170 varieties of roses, colorful sweet peas maze,more than a mile of walking paths, sand sculptures, greenhouse garden,Artist garden,miniature rose Gardens Walk of fame Garden and Antique Tractor Wagon Ride

The increase in traffic between San Diego and Los Angeles, and the fields’ high visibility, people were inspired to stop their cars and walk in this flower fields. Thousands of visitors stroll through the endless blooms each spring. The Flower Fields entertains and educates more than 150,000 visitors each year with the flourishing gardens .Situated at the edge of downtown Carlsbad Village with its many antique shops and award-winning restaurants.

I highly recommend you to visit this place, in between March and May. Relax on chairs to enjoy the beautiful ocean and flower views. Don’t forget your camera to catch this beauty of Mother Nature.! If you are an artist,then bring with your easel to capture this Flower Field bloom. Only Ranunculus grower in the world that allows visitors to walk the fields to experience the flowers close -up.

Season: Spring (March 11 through May 7, 2006)

Hours: Open to the public seven days a week
from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM March 11-April 1, 2006,
and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM April 2-May 7, 2006.

Flowers are words which even a babe may understand.
~Bishop Coxe