Tiptoe through the Ranunculus with me

The trip to Carlsbad was a double delight–it was like getting a 2-for-1 deal at a fabulous sale. On one hand was the outlet mall; on the other were the flower fields with row after row of colorful blooms as far as the eye can see.

It was a glorious sunny California day. We headed out for a day of shopping at the Carlsbad Company Stores. But before we could march into the mall for a dose of retail therapy, we headed for The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Just a stone’s throw away from the outlets are over 50 acres of eye candy–row after row of ranunculus in vibrant colors. While awaiting our turn on a 15-minute antique tractor-driven wagon ride through the fields, we could hear a group of school children on a field trip singing about how dirt made their lunches, referring to compost and organic fertilizer.

The Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, the blooms that are grown in the fields, is one of the finest strains of ranunculus plants in the world.

The ranunculus flower, also known as a Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiaticus, is native to Asia Minor and is a member of the buttercup family. More than six decades ago, an English horticulturist named Luther Gage and his family moved to Southern California. Prior to his migration, Gage had taken a special interest in the beautiful ranunculus flower, particularly the giant strain. Settling in San Diego County, Gage found that the climate was perfect for growing ranunculus, and planted the first few acres. This became the Gage Tecolote Ranch, and he was soon employing several of the locals to work on the ranch.

Frank Frazee, one of the workers, would often be joined by his two sons, Earl and Edwin, who would help water the flower beds. Having become adept at cultivating the fields, the Frazee family decided to start a commercial business of their own, and began growing ranunculus. The family was the only commercial ranunculus grower in the United States. In 1933, 16-year-old Edwin quit school to work full-time at his family’s developing three-acre farm.

The success of their business led to steady expansion of the farm, which eventually encompassed more than 1,000 acres in the Agua Hedionda area of north San Diego County. In 1938, the popular ranunculus fields moved to the Santa Margarita Ranch in Stuart Mesa to accommodate the growing demand for the flowers. The ranch property was leased from the U.S. government and, with the onset of World War II in 1942, much of the land surrounding the fields was used to develop Camp Pendelton Marine base. The Santa Margarita Ranch continued to operate for the next 45 years and the ranunculuses’ popularity continued to grow. More cars began to pass by the blooming fields each spring and more and more people were treated to the colorful blooms that decorated the hillside.

The Frazees expanded their operations again in 1958. They went south to the Ponto region of Carlsbad. The newest fields were planted on the hillside, just off the old Route 101 (now the 5 Freeway). Again, with the increase in traffic between San Diego and Los Angeles and the fields’ high visibility, people were inspired to stop their cars and walk among the flowers. With each new year, more and more people would return to the fields.

The hillside was given the unofficial name "The Flower Fields" by Carlsbad’s residents, who began to consider it part of the local heritage. The name stuck, and became officially called The Flower Fields in 1993. Edwin finally retired from the business in 1975, when he passed it along to his sons. The Frazee family officially ended their ownership in 1993, but Edwin continues to consult for the working ranch, helping to develop new ranunculus varieties.

Color in the fields announces the arrival of spring to those living in the region. For over 60 years, Mother Nature transforms the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular displays of natural color and beauty. The fields are in full bloom for approximately eight weeks each year from early March through early May. This annual burst of color has become one of the area’s main attractions. More than 200,000 people visit the fields each year, many of them returning regularly.

The Flower Fields continues to operate as a working ranch, and is still the only ranunculus grower in the world that allows visitors to walk the fields to experience the flowers up-close. The Flower Fields also features other floral treats aside from the bountiful ranunculus. The All-American Rose Selection (aars) Garden is one of 130 aars-accredited public rose gardens nationwide that tests and displays more than 50 different varieties of roses. There is also the Walk of Fame Garden, a one-of-a-kind rose garden featuring each of the more than 170 aars winners since 1940. The Miniature Rose Garden which was introduced last year is comprised of American Rose Society (ars) award-winning miniature roses.

A program called the Color Project commissions nationally recognized artists to use flowers as an art medium. There are also theme gardens which showcase beautifully displayed annuals and perennials.

Less than a week after our visit to The Flower Fields we passed Carlsbad on the drive to Los Angeles where we were to catch our flight home. The fields had no more color: The ranunculus blooms had died and the bulbs were ready to be harvested. We had come just in the nick of time.

There were several reasons for our trip to San Diego: the last time we visited as a family was almost seven years ago; my grandmother, God bless her, is hardly a spring chicken at almost 81; my parents were about to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary; my triplet nephew and nieces, Alexander, Abby and Anna, were turning one.

It was an unexpected, spur-of-the-moment trip that promised good times and wonderful memories. Catching the flowers in bloom was a bonus, a wonderful seasonal spectacle that lives in full color in our minds. I hope to visit the flower fields again in the future, perhaps when the triplets are old enough to come along. I am looking forward to hearing them sing "dirt made my lunch."