Today we are going to Enjoy the Colorful Ranunculus Blooms at The Flower Fields of Carlsbad! If you are looking for a colorful and spectacular way to welcome spring, you might want to Visit The Flower Fields at Carlsbad, California. This is a 55-acre attraction that showcases one of the most beautiful flowers in the world: the Giant Tecolote Ranunculus. These flowers have large, double-petaled blooms that come in a variety of colors, such as pink, yellow, orange, red, and white. They create a stunning rainbow of hues that can be seen from miles away.
Our Visit
We got invited by friends to the last weekend of the spring session at the Flower Fields of Carlsbad. We get there in the morning and there are many people visiting as well. There is a large parking lot to park in and we find a spot. Pay the entrance fee and start exploring the different fields and buildings of flowers and flowers!
We go to the Sweet Pea Maze, but only go through part of it, went inside the Poinsettia and Cymbidium Orchid buildings to see those flowers, then made the long walk to the end of the property where we could see acres of Sunflowers in the distance. On the way to the Sunflowers, we see the Pick Your Own Blueberries fenced section, with many people picking blueberries or waiting to enter to pick the berries.
We view the Giant Sunflowers and head back to the entrance and find our friends are here now, so we meet up with them and head back to view the Giant Sunflowers again. We have a great couple of hours walking near the flowers and enjoying the views. We say our goodbyes and will return next year!
Activities at the Flower Fields
The Flower Fields are open to the public from early March to early May, when the ranunculi are in full bloom. During this time, you can enjoy a variety of activities and events at the site, such as:
- Taking a tractor wagon ride through the fields and learning about the history and cultivation of the ranunculus.
- Exploring the sweet pea maze and finding your way out of the fragrant and colorful blossoms.
- Visiting the artist garden and seeing how flowers can be used as an art medium.
- Playing at Santa’s playground, where you can find whimsical playhouses and giant mushrooms.
- Picking your own blueberries at the blueberry patch (available in April or May).
- Admiring the sea of sunflowers, a new addition to the fields that features thousands of bright yellow flowers (available in April or May).
- Enjoying live music, circus and theater performances, yoga sessions, and other special events throughout the season.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad are a must-see attraction for anyone who loves nature and beauty. They are a testament to the power and wonder of Mother Nature, who transforms the rolling hills of North San Diego County into a dazzling display of color and life every year. Don’t miss this opportunity to escape into color and experience one of the unique attractions in Southern California.
History of The Flower Fields
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad are a stunning sight that attracts thousands of visitors every year. But how did this colorful spectacle come to be? In this blog post, we will explore the history of the Flower Fields and how they became one of the most iconic landmarks in San Diego County.
The origin of the Flower Fields dates back to the early 1920s, when a horticulturist named Luther Gage settled in the area and brought ranunculus seeds with him. Ranunculi are a type of buttercup that are native to Asia Minor and have delicate petals in various shades of red, yellow, pink, orange and white. Gage started growing the ranunculus next to Frank Frazee’s vegetable farm in Oceanside.
Frank Frazee also began cultivating ranunculus in 1933 and taught his son Edwin how to seed, irrigate and harvest the flowers. Edwin quit high school at 16 to work full time on his father’s flower business. He was also responsible for selecting and breeding the ranunculus to produce more colors and fuller blooms. He achieved this by saving the seeds from the most beautiful flowers and planting them the next year.
In 1965, Edwin moved his ranunculus and gladiolus operation to the current site of the Flower Fields, which was owned by the Ecke family of Encinitas. The Ecke family were famous for growing poinsettias, but they had moved their propagation to greenhouses and leased their land to Edwin. Paul Ecke Jr., the son of the poinsettia pioneer, became good friends with Edwin and encouraged him to continue his work with ranunculus.
Edwin retired in 1993 and Paul Ecke Jr. brought in Mellano and Company, another family of flower growers, to take over the cultivation of the ranunculus. Paul Ecke Jr. also saw the potential of tourism as a way to keep the Flower Fields financially viable and preserve them as a cultural heritage. He opened the fields to the public and created various attractions such as wagon rides, a Sweet Pea maze, a Cymbidium Orchid greenhouse, a rose garden and a gift shop.
The Flower Fields today are a result of nearly 85 years of floral cultivation that started with Luther Gage’s seeds and continued with Edwin Frazee’s selection and Paul Ecke Jr.’s vision. They highlight 13 colors of ranunculus that bloom from March to May every year. They are also a symbol of the dedication and passion of some of the region’s most important and colorful pioneers.
Your Visit!
The Flower Fields are located at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA, 92008. The admission fee is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors 60+ and military, $10 for children 3–10, and free for children under three. Season passes and group tours are also available. The Flower Fields are an alcohol and tobacco-free environment, and no pets, bicycles, or drones are allowed.
If you want to experience the beauty and history of the Flower Fields for yourself, you can visit them at Carlsbad between 9 am and 6 pm daily during the blooming season. You can also learn more about their history and events on their website or follow them on social media. Do not miss this opportunity to see one of nature’s most amazing artistry!
See our adventures on YouTube: @HBMaverick
Read the story and view the photographs on Street Photography in Balboa Park.
“We will see YOU on the next adventure!”
