Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

Today we drove north from where we are staying in San Diego’s Mission Bay RV Park about thirty miles to a Camping World to pick up a few items for the coach.  On the way back we saw Armstrong Garden Center’s “The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch” near Carlsbad, CA. 

The seasonal, 50-acre field is planted with Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers and they are beautiful in the glorious sun we have today.  In Latin, ranunculus means “little frog” originating from the word “rana” and the flower is related to the buttercup with tooth shaped leaves.  It is native to Asia Minor.  The flowers are primarily grown for their bulbs, but the garden center also sells cut flowers.  Planted in rows to display their multitude of brilliant shades of color, the view reminds me of the tulip fields of La Conner in Washington State.

From where we photographed the fields from a sidewalk above them, we had a great view of the colors and in the distance below us to the west the Pacific Ocean sparkled in the sun.  What an amazing find this is.  Jim says the fields have been here a long time, but this is the first time I have ever seen them.  The best time to view the blooms is from mid-March to mid-April so we are in on the beginning of their season.