For those who are uninformed, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch consist of 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, on a hillside the overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Those who know me well, know that my favorite flower is Iris, my next favorite: Gerber daisies and rounding out the top 3: ranunculus.
What's a ranunculus? As they say on their FAQ page, "The ranunculus flower is native to Asia Minor and is a member of the buttercup family. This unique blossom also is known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic."
Standing among these delicate beauties at the Flower Fields is like standing inside of a rainbow. But these fields of color are short-lived and generally are in bloom for about 6-8 weeks from mid-March to mid-May, and this year the last scheduled open day is May 11, so don't miss them!
Not only can you take in the beauty of the flowers themselves, but there's lots of other activities and events for all ages including antique tractor rides, a sweet pea maze, an organic demonstration garden and of course, ranunculus bulbs available for purchase. When I first visited the fields many years ago, admission was free, but like most things, that's changed. The good news is that you can purchase your tickets online ahead of time.
