Carlsbad Flower Fields - in bloom now, don't miss it - updated 2007 coupon available

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March • Flower Fields Ranunculus
Tours – Every March and April, view
and tour the spectacular sea of
brightly colored ranunculus
flowers at The Flower Fields at
Carlsbad Ranch. Open to the
public seven days a week, 9am to
5pm. For details call 760-431-0352
or visit www.theflowerfields.com.

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Where smiles grow in Carlsbad......

Where smiles grow in Carlsbad......

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This is a tale of two gardens. One is mine; the other is Ed Frazee's. The only thing they have in common is dirt.

Every year about this time I look at my garden, with its scruffy winter grass and droopy year-old impatiens, and flee down the coast to see Frazee's garden, a.k.a. the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. I tell people I'm going to get planting ideas, but the real motivation is cultivation of my inner garden.

The Flower Fields help me find spring. And they make me smile.

Frazee's garden, more than 60 years in the making, is a commercial bulb-growing ranch in northern San Diego County. It is open to the public for eight weeks each year when the flowers are in bloom. Vibrant bands of color - yellow, pink, orange, magenta, purple and white - march across 50 rolling acres. Carlsbad has grown up around the ranch, sandwiching the Flower Fields among a shopping mall, an amusement park and acres of California-tan homes and businesses, but suburbia seems distant when you stroll through the rows of brilliant flowers.

More than 150,000 people make the spring pilgrimage to admire the legacy of the master planter, who died last year at 87.

He was 16 when he quit school to cultivate flowers; his choice was the ranunculus, a member of the buttercup family. As the ranch grew, first along U.S. 101 and later near Interstate 5, it attracted the attention of travelers during the bloom cycle. Spring became synonymous with Frazee's flower garden.

But the winter of 2004-05 caused high anxiety. "We were nervous this year because of the heavy rainfall and erosion," said Lynne Seward of guest services. "But once it was time, it was like flipping a switch."

My niece Gaylean and her preschoolers Brooke and Ethan joined me on this trip. I didn't tell the sprites we were going to see flowers. I told them we were going to nearby Legoland. I probably could have avoided this rash promise, because the offer drew only blank looks.

"Is Legoland a big store?" asked 4 1/2 -year-old Ethan, hopefully. Of course, there would be toy purchases, along with long lines for food and half-hour waits for rides. But it could have been worse; several of the rides for older kids had 90-minute waits.

The 128-acre theme park, with its 5,000 Lego models, is aimed at the 2-to-12 set. Ethan enjoyed the activities and rides, but Brooke, 2 1/2 , didn't fare as well. Most of the attractions intimidated her. But the park is well-organized, tidy and nicely landscaped, so her mom wasn't disappointed.

Both Brooke and Ethan were delighted with our hotel, the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, which faces the Flower Fields and is across the street from Legoland. The kids liked its tot lot, a kiddie water park and the fact that it had plenty of room to play. The adults liked the price: Our nicely furnished two-bedroom, two-bath condo cost $179 per night, included a kitchen and could sleep up to seven people.

We found lots to do in the area. We parked along Carlsbad Boulevard, which parallels the coastline, to run down the steps to the beach and play. Ethan built a fort with driftwood; Brooke dug in the sand. We all chased seagulls, trying to interest them in a bag of bread. It was the first time I'd ever seen a seagull refuse food. Perhaps we were too enthusiastic.

*

Button pushers

In the tiny Village of Carlsbad, we found a local favorite, Fidel's Norte. The 29-year-old Mexican restaurant is one of four owned by the Montañez family of Solana Beach. It has both expected and unusual entrees - I tried savory calabacitas (zucchini casserole) - and features fast, friendly service.

Our explorations also took us to the Museum of Making Music, adjacent to Legoland, which invites visitors to "spend an hour traveling down musical memory lane." The exhibition focuses on a century of innovations that shaped American popular music. There were more than 500 instruments to look at and many buttons to push. I pressed one to watch Eric Clapton play an acoustic guitar and another to hear a Moog synthesizer.

The buttons were addictive. Before long, I had the Beach Boys singing "Help Me, Rhonda," the Drifters crooning "Saturday Night at the Movies" and the Byrds rhapsodizing "Turn! Turn! Turn!" I was rocking, but Gaylean was nervous. A docent trailed her and the kids around the museum, probably worried about the damage little hands could inflict on a 100-year-old player piano.

There were no such concerns at the Flower Fields ranch. Kids are part of the equation, with a playground and child-friendly displays. The ranch is now owned by the Paul Ecke family and has added more visitor attractions near the main entrance: There are artist-designed landscapes, a greenhouse of new poinsettia varietals and the Walk-of-Fame Rose Garden that features 170 All-America Rose Selection winners.

In the distance, visitors see the hillside ranunculus fields. Although the day was gloomy when we visited, gray skies couldn't tame the color. If anything, the bright blocks of flowers seemed more vibrant than they might have in full sun.

We could see some people walking the dusty path to the blooming fields. We decided to catch a ride on a farm wagon pulled by a vintage tractor.

"This is a 1948 John Deere," our driver-guide said when asked about the mottled-green vehicle. "It may not look like much right now because we just got it, but wait a few months and it will be a beautiful sight to behold."

The tractor popped and wheezed, and I wondered aloud if it didn't need a little work right now.

The tractors and wagons belong to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in nearby Vista and are driven by volunteers, who charge $3 per passenger to raise funds for their museum.

Our Johnny Popper popped and bounced along the path to a distant field. The ranunculus are planted in blocks with their bloom times staggered. Because we visited early in the season, only distant blocks were in bloom. As the season progresses, flowers closer to the entrance bloom.

We left the wagon and meandered along a pathway, passing thousands of flowers, their blooms nodding slightly in a gentle breeze. Some of the plants were as tall as Brooke.

I could have stayed all day. But after three hours of tractors, wagons and flowers, the kids were famished. So I asked for a recommendation.

"Tip Top Meats," was the answer.

"Uh, we want to sit down and eat," I said.

"Yes, Tip Top Meats. It's great and tourists don't go there. Only locals."

We drove a couple of blocks and spotted a sign that read: Tip Top Meats European Delicatessen. The parking lot was nearly full. Inside we found a market and deli, and a German-style restaurant with a variety of fare - both American and European - for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You could order pancakes, a sausage plate or a hamburger. Sandwiches were about $5, and dinner entrees just a bit more.

We found a table and congratulated ourselves on our luck at getting such a great recommendation. As Brooke and Ethan wolfed down their sausage and eggs, I asked what they'd liked best about the journey.

It would have been nice to hear that they'd come to appreciate the Flower Fields as I do. But I braced for the answer to be Legoland.

"The hotel!" said Ethan. "Can we go back and play on the slides?"

I sighed. Maybe it was time to go home and plant some new impatiens

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Another interesting article.....

Another interesting article.....

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Beach without hubbub
It's rewarding to ditch your car and explore quaint Carlsbad

By Dawn Gilbertson
CARLSBAD, Calif. - The first morning of detox from my usual San Diego itinerary - plopping down for a week in Pacific Beach or Coronado - didn't start too well.

The Carlsbad hotel recommended by an acquaintance, although across the street from a beach, turned out to be all by itself near an office park three miles from the center of town.

That's three miles from a charming breakfast place where you can linger over the morning paper, three miles from the ice-cream shop dishing out the perfect after-dinner cone with chocolate sprinkles.

In my book, the ideal beach vacation involves more walking than driving.

The strike against Carlsbad didn't last long. It's possible to ditch your car during a stay in this coastal city 35 miles from downtown San Diego if you pick the right base.

I happened upon the Moorings, a nondescript oceanfront condo complex run by the simple but popular Ocean Palms Beach Resort. A step outside onto the large patio overlooking the Pacific almost made me forget such favorite Pacific Beach haunts as Crystal Pier Cottages and Blue Sea Lodge.

A private staircase leads down to the sand. On a morning run - you can jog as far as Oceanside on the sand or several miles in the other direction on a path - I scooped up the biggest clamshell I've ever seen outside of a gift shop.

Just as magnificent as the view is the location: The Moorings and other close-to-the-water hotels, such as the Ocean Palms, Best Western Beach Terrace Inn and Beachwalk Villas, are just a block from Carlsbad's main drag, Carlsbad Boulevard/Highway 101, and the village that unfolds from there. The Carlsbad Inn, a popular, sprawling time share with non-stop activities, watches over it all from the corner of Carlsbad Boulevard and Carlsbad Village Drive.

The heart of Carlsbad Village is an easily walkable half-square-mile area offering restaurants, stores, antiques shops, a train station that'll deliver you to downtown San Diego in an hour, a wine tasting room and psychic readers. There's an Albertsons for everything from beach toys to beer.

Up for a Roman mud facial? There's a small spa, Alt Karlsbad, on the site where Capt. John A. Frazier, while drilling a well for his farm in 1882, found two springs with mineral water. Frazier built a hotel and spa (they burned down in 1986) and founded Carlsbad.

Except for the requisite Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery, most of the businesses appear homegrown.

Carlsbad has more of a residential feel than a tourist feel. Call it a toned-down beach town. You're unlikely to find boisterous happy-hour crowds or the nearly-nude Rollerblader who's a fixture on the Pacific Beach boardwalk.

The beachfront promenade has nothing but ocean views: no hotels, no T-shirt stands, no restaurants.

Carlsbad isn't for everyone, of course: Teens looking for more than surf and sand may find it subdued; those used to Coronado, perhaps not upscale enough.

Chris Walker, manager of the Ocean Palms Beach Resort, said Carlsbad Village has so many restaurants that he hasn't hit all of them in his eight years there. Some of his favorites: Jay's Gourmet Pizza and Seafood, Fish House Vera Cruz and Vigilucci's. Others rave about Caldo Pomodoro's home-style Italian cooking. Don't miss their garlic bread.

You wouldn't necessarily think so from the name, but one of the best breakfasts in town is at the Armenian Cafe on Carlsbad Boulevard. Grab a patio seat for ocean views. The house breakfast specialty, believe it or not, is Belgian waffles, and they don't disappoint. If that's too sweet, the five pages of breakfast entrees include feta-cheese omelets, lamb shish kebab and eggs, rack of lamb and eggs. The restaurant asks guests to ring the giant bell on the patio if they liked their meal.

Kids will like Harbor Fish Cafe. Elle Waite, a third-grader from Las Vegas visiting Carlsbad with her parents on spring break last month, couldn't get enough.

"She wanted to go there for the fish and chips every meal," said her dad, Tom.

Among the cheapest eats in town: Cessy's Taco Shop, with breakfast burritos for $2.95 and chicken tacos for $1.60.

Catch sunrise and a day full of rays at one of three Carlsbad beaches. Closest to town are Carlsbad City Beach and Carlsbad State Beach; South Carlsbad State Beach anchors the south end of Carlsbad, near Encinitas. The latter has a large campground on the bluff. It was full when I visited last month.

If you can tear yourself away from the beach, check out such inland attractions as Legoland, the Carlsbad Company Stores (outlets from Barney's New York to Waterford Wedgwood), the Museum of Making Music and, for the adventurous war buff in the group, take a ride in a World War II warbird through Barnstorming Adventures.


http://www.azcentral.com/travel/des...4/carlsbad.html

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Will they ever build on the flower fields?

Presenting the Facts Surrounding What Can Become of the Carlsbad Flower Fields

By Denise Vedder
Feb 01, 2006


Spring in Carlsbad means that any day now, the Flower Fields ® will open. For Carlsbad residents, many of whom regularly drive by the beautiful annual display of colorful flowers, this has become an eagerly awaited annual feast for the eyes that we have looked forward to since the first Rannunculus were planted. Recently, we have received inquiries over whether the Flower Fields might be considered for future development.

In 1993, the City of Carlsbad worked to create a unique private enterprise/public institution agreement to guarantee the parcel of land, known as the Flower Fields’, perpetuation as a viable commercial business and vibrant tourist attraction. Land was set aside – 53.42 acres – and the City placed a condition on the property that it could only be used for agricultural purposes. Additionally, money was set aside to fund the Fields’ ongoing operations. The intent to preserve the flower fields was written into the Carlsbad General Plan in 1994.

Today, that operation has bloomed into an operation representing a partnership of working agriculture and regional landmark. More than 150,000 people visit the Flower Fields every year. It is still the only place in the world that allows visitors to experience Ranunculus flowers up-close and personal.

The only way the agreement between the City and the property owner could be changed is if the property owner was to provide a five-year advance notice and the City Council was to approve a modification after a public hearing. The City, however, has the first right to purchase the Flower Fields for purposes of keeping them in agricultural production and could use money set-aside in a special fund by the developer to fund the purchase.

Although the property that the Flower Fields are on has conditions preventing development, the property surrounding the fields is privately owned. There is no requirement to use the land next to the Flower Fields for agricultural use. These three parcels are presently for sale by a private property owner. No specific projects, however, have been proposed or brought to the Council for review. Any project would have to undergo intense public scrutiny by the City Council and the Coastal Commission.

While the future development of the private property nearby may be in question, residents can rest assured that the Flower Fields, will provide spectacular color and remain a Carlsbad landmark.

Commonly Asked Questions regarding the Flower Fields are:
1. Can the Carlsbad Flower Fields® be turned into homes & shopping centers?
No, the Flower Fields® are part of a 53.42-acre property in the Carlsbad Ranch. As part of the approval of the Carlsbad Ranch project in 1994, the City placed a condition that required the property owner to preserve the Flower Fields and keep them in flower production in perpetuity.

2. Is there anyway to change this requirement?
This requirement can only be modified if the property owner provides a five-year advance notice and the Carlsbad City Council approves a modification after conducting a public hearing.

3. Does the City have an option to purchase the Flower Fields property if the property owner provides the five-year notice?
Yes. The City has the right of first refusal to purchase the Flower Fields for purposes of keeping them in flower production.

4. Who pays for the Flower Fields®?
The agricultural mitigation fees paid by the Carlsbad Ranch project ($935,000) were placed into a special account held by the City. Interest from this account is used for grants to enhance the continuation of flower production at the Fields. The City has awarded these grants annually since 1996.

5. Can the money be used to purchase the Flower Fields® if the property owner provides a 5-year notice?
Yes. If the property owner wanted to sell the property or modify the use after providing the five-year notice, the $935,000 could be used by the city to acquire the Fields and keep them in flower production.

6. Is the land located adjacent to Cannon Road part of the Flower Fields®?
No. Although people sometimes perceive it as part of the overall Flower Fields® operation, the property to the north is known as Planning Area 8a. It is not part of the preserve, although the same company, Carltas Development, presently owns it.

7. Are these properties required to be used for farming?
No. Under the Carlsbad Ranch Specific Plan, the northerly portion of the property of the property allows for golf course and related uses. From time to time the land has been used for agriculture, flower production, research related to flower production and storage of materials used for the operation of the Flower Fields®, but the land is not exclusively zoned for agricultural use. These two parcels are presently for sale with the intent to use them for an alternative use.

http://www.carlsbad.org/EditionDetail.aspx?aid=439

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Update...the flower fields are now open again - coupon here!

Open 7 days a week March 3rd through May 13th, 2007





The Flower Fields Website


Coupon for the Flower Fields in Carlsbad



2007 Special Events:
Kids’ Day March 31st, 2007

Arts & Crafts Fair April 14-15, 2007

National Volunteer Day April 21st, 2007

Bluegrass Day April 14th, 2007 Sundowner - Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

April 18th, 2007 Canon Photo Workshop April 22nd, 2007

NEW THIS YEAR!! Orchid Sale April 27-29, 2007 Thousands of Orchids from around the world for sale!



cPanel

[barefootsun.com Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barefootsun.com]

Beautiful Picture..

I can't wait to go and see it for myself!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Who would have thunk that Red was a flower child ?

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I went by today and the fields above the car dealerships (next to the outlet mall) are in full bloom. The almost full bloom progresses to behind about half of the outlet mall. The fields directly in front of the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort are not in bloom yet.

It is real nice. Spring Break and Easter should be fantastic at GPP.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Who would have thunk that Red was a flower child ?

Tony, the flower fields are absolutely spectacular. They had or still have them around Lompoc too. They grow the seeds there like they grow the bulbs in Holland or in the Seattle area. It's well worth seeing it at least once.

However, seeing the wild flowers is even better yet if we have a good year. We won't have it this year because we didn't have the rains.

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We are still waiting for the flowers to be in full bloom in Kansas. Luckly we did have some moisture this winter so we should have a very colorful summer if the winds don't blow away all the pedals!

That's a good reason to take some luxury vacations to get away when the Kansas weather doesn't coperate. I love having four seasons but sometimes it can be brutal too.