Flower Power

The drive up the coast on Interstate 5 - it's not one many relish these days. If you're a commuter heading back home to your north coast bedroom communities, it's a drive you put up with (805/5 merge notwithstanding). And if you're traveling beyond, say, Oceanside, it means your heading toward Orange County, or worse, Los Angeles. Suffice it to say, the drive just isn't much fun.

Back when I was a kid, our family would take the occasional road trip to visit relatives in Long Beach and points north. And one thing I always remembered was around 40 minutes into our trip, right around Carlsbad, the hillsides would be awash in brilliant colors. The flower fields...for several miles. Yep, believe it or not, the coastal towns of Leucadia, Encinitas and Carlsbad had more flowers than people.

Driving up the coast today, it's hard to believe that where overpriced homes, strip malls, commercial buildings and auto dealerships now reside, this was primary an agricultural center. And this stretch of coastal property was ideal for growing flowers. Most of these fields are long gone, succumbing to the inevitable encroachment of cookie-cutter homes and SUVs. A few still remain -- if you don't blink while driving at 75 miles an hour, you can glimpse a handful of greenhouses still scattered on the hillsides. But for the most part, the color you'll mainly see nowadays is blechh beige and taupe or neon.

Which brings us to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. A survivor in the face of progress, the 50-acre Flower Fields are a bit of a throwback to a different era of the San Diego region. While most of the surrounding agricultural fields have long sold out to development, the Flower Fields continue to operate as a working flower farm. Owned by the Carltas Co. (a land-holding company owned by the Ecke Family of poinsettia fame), the fields will remain a flower or agriculture production in perpetuity per an agreement with the city of Carlsbad.

Ranunculus are the flowers that are produced at the Flower Fields, which were started by Edwin Frazee and his family. And March and April are the months when these Tecolote ranunculus, with its rose-like petals come into full bloom. Grown from a bulb, which were introduced to the area by English horticulturist John Gage nearly 70 years ago, the ranunculus splash the hillsides in a rainbow of colors ranging from reds, oranges, whites, pinks and yellows.

These two and a half months in spring are when the fields are open to the public, although the farm is a 12-month operation. Although one would think upon seeing the colorful blooms that the fields are for cut flowers, in truth only around 2 percent of the flowers are sold for this purpose.

What the fields produce are ranunculus bulbs, to be sold worldwide. The bulbs (in actuality a rhizome) are planted in September through January. After the spring blooming season ends and the farm is closed to the public, the flowers are allowed to dry and die, with the bulbs storing up energy. Then in mid-summer, workers dig up the bulbs to be distributed for sale in nurseries and garden centers. Soon after, the planting begins for the next cycle of life.

So, what does one do when visiting the Flower Fields? Well, simply take in the beauty of the flowers. A walk through the dirt fields (wear comfortable shoes) on the hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the distance is just a pleasant experience. Be sure to bring a camera and take photos of the colorful blooms.

Featured this year:
Sweet Pea Maze - Find the solution to this one of a kind living maze! Immerse yourself in this living maze of fragrant and colorful "old fashion" sweet pea blossoms.
Historic Poinsettia Display - Stroll through memory lane, a 1,500 square foot greenhouse filled with the world famous Ecke poinsettias. Enjoy hundreds of exciting poinsettias in over twenty rare , and unusual varieties. Learn the history of the world's best selling potted plant - The Poinsettia.
American Flag of Flowers - Our brilliantly-hued American flag waves in the wind. Red, white and blue anemone flowers strategically planted on a 300 by 170 foot hillside pay tribute to the United States.

Local strawberries are also available for sale, as are cut flowers, bulbs, plants and souvenirs from the gift shop. A concession stand is also on grounds for refreshments.

A visit to the Carlsbad Flower Fields will certainly change the way you approach your drive along Interstate 5. You may even pull off and stop for a quick visit.

Directions: Take Interstate 5 to the Palomar Airport Road exit and go east to 5704 Paseo Del Norte. Nearby is Legoland and the Carlsbad Company Stores outlet mall is next door to the fields. The Carlsbad Flower Fields are about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego, and 50-60 miles from points in Orange County.