Many people consider marijuana to be a weed, but it's actually a flowering plant. Granted, cannabis flowers look more like a cluster of plant matter than an actual blooming flower, but they're just as beautiful! Nearly all flowering plants have a similar structure, and they form buds and flowers to attract insects that spread their pollen. Thanks to the similarities, I love flowers almost as much as I love cannabis! In my opinion, every marijuana connoisseur should appreciate flowers of all kinds, and there's no better place for a flower-child to visit than the gorgeous Flower Fields of Carlsbad!
Located just off of the I-5 at 5704 Paseo del Norte at Carlsbad Ranch, The Flower Fields offers a spectacular view of thousands flowers meticulously placed to form vibrantly stunning designs and patterns. During spring, fifty whopping acres of blooming Tecolote Ranunculus flowers are spread across a mellow-grade hillside that's nestled between the city of Carlsbad and the Pacific Ocean. After fifteen years of using the same color scheme, the Flower Fields now have a spectacular new pattern designed by a professional colorist. This ultimate collection of buds is sure to take your breath away, and they look even better on sunny days!
Surprisingly, there's still plenty to do after strolling through the dreamy fields overflowing with vibrant red, orange, yellow and purple flowers. Visitors aching for more beauty can explore the extensive orchid garden and see lovely cymbidium orchids that are also for sale. In addition, over twenty rare and unusual varieties of poinsettias can be viewed in the Historic Poinsettia Display. Patriots will surely stand at attention while observing the 300 by 170-foot American flag made out of red, white and blue petunias that wave in the wind. Lastly, the imaginative Artist Gardens is a great place to see famous paintings that come to life in flower form.
Children who grow weary of the Flower Fields are sure to love the virtual cornucopia of activities designed especially for them. First on the list is Santa's Playground, which is a fun area that has transplanted surrealistic playhouses and giant colorful mushrooms from the Santa's Village display in Lake Arrowhead. There's also an exciting petting zoo where children can interact with, and learn compassion for, exotic animals. Last on the list is a unique mining activity where kids get to search for polished gemstones using the old-school method of panning water through sand. For even more fun, youngsters can hunt for eight different stamp designs throughout Carlsbad Ranch to stamp on their Flower Field passport.
Kids and adults alike will both enjoy taking an old-school, open-air tractor ride through the Flower Fields while learning the history of Carlsbad Ranch. There's an extra fee for nostalgic rides on this antique tractor wagon, but it's worth it! On another note, one look at the giant Sweet Pea Maze will remind adults of the movie “The Shining,” (sans the pesky psychopath!) It's actually quite fun to try and figure the way out of this living maze, and kids will enjoy it even more. The Flower Fields also offer various special events during spring, including music and art shows, as well as school programs like seed and bulb growing. Romantic couples can even have their wedding hosted by Carlsbad Ranch and be surrounded by nature as they take their vows!
Summer in SoCal can be brutal due to clear skies and pounding sun rays, so make sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and even a hat. Comfortable shoes are also a must unless you want aching feet, and loose clothing will let the wind cool your skin. It's also a good idea to bring a camera or clear the memory on your cell phone because there will be lots and lots of pictures for the taking. Last, but not least, make sure to bring loved ones, because the Flower Fields of Carlsbad are best enjoyed when the beauty is shared with others!
--
The Flower Fields | 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008, 760.431.0352, www.TheFlowerFields.com
