Why Don't I Just Bore You to Death With Spring?

Okay, really quickly, there's a few things I want to cover.

First, as I mentioned yesterday, beginning this week I'm going to try out "Photography Fridays" for awhile.  No, I'm not the very best and most expert photographer on earth.  Yes, I've taken photos for many, many, years and I do know some of what does and doesn't work.  It will be great fun to learn from all of you, in addition to answering whatever questions I can help with.

Do I have many professional photographers in the reading audience?  (I know I have at least one!)  If so, please feel free to join in with your wealth of knowledge.

Second, since I'm having two posts in a row with a spring/flower topic this week I thought I'd stick with the spring theme and take on photographing flowers for the first topic this Friday.  (A few of you sent in questions regarding flower photography.)  Even if the flowers have yet to bloom wherever you live, who can resist taking an occasional photo of them when they do bloom?  If you have a question, tip, or suggestion for photographing flowers you'd like included - please email me with it in the next day or two.

And now on with today's post.

On Sunday, Briefcase and I drove 45 minutes south to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad.

 

Carlsbad is a coastal town in northern San Diego county.  I live in southern Orange County so Carlsbad is not too far away.  (Orange County is right above San Diego County.)  The Flower Fields is, basically, a ranunculus bulb farm.

Try saying that five times fast.

Ranunculus Bulb Farm.  Ranunculus Bulb Farm.  Ranun ....

Never mind.

They grow bazillions (?) of ranunculus flowers at The Flower Fields.  Ranunculus are in the buttercup family, by the way.  They sell the bulbs from the ranunculi (?) - or is it ranunculuses (?) - all over the world.  They have 50 acres of land devoted to growing these beautiful flowers.  Currently, about 20 acres are blooming.

 

Flowers bloom as far as the eye can see.  (Add in a little beach fog in the distance - you can actually see the ocean from many spots at the fields.)

[Sorry the above photo isn't a great one from a technical standpoint.  I love it anyway.  I love the little path through the flowers and the sense of distance/scope it provides.  It reminds me of the flowers in The Wizard of Oz.]

Only a small portion of the flowers grown at The Flower Fields are sold.  I believe it's only one to two percent of those grown.  On the other hand, the fields yield a harvest of around six to eight MILLION bulbs!

They provide "wagon ride" tours of the fields also.  I've never gone on the ride, but I'm going to be back at the fields next week with some girlfriends and I hope to take the wagon ride then.

 

Mainly, I just like the idea of a man in a cowboy hat driving me around.

I've never had a man in a cowboy hat drive me anywhere.

You know, I really don't even see men in cowboy hats in Orange County.

Just sayin'.

 

Ranunculus are very pretty, but did you know they have no scent?  They smell exactly like nothing.  They also have no nectar, so they don't attract bees.  

Ranunculus come in a huge variety of colors.  In fact, the colors are so breathtaking, the fields are a favorite spot for photographers of all levels.  (National Geographic has even photographed The Flower Fields and you can bet they did a much better job of it than I did!)

 

The Flower Fields are only open from March 1st until May 9th, but they are open daily through those dates from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

There are other, beautiful, types of flowers at the fields also, but it really is all about the rununculus.

Beautiful, don't you think?

© Twenty Four At Heart 

Comments

[Michelle]

I really love ranunculi. I'm going to have to buy some bulbs now (as I'm southern hemisphere it is time to plant about now).

[Deidre]

Wow - fields of flowers and the ocean! absolutely gorgeous!

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

Beautiful!
And I know what you mean; I'd love a guy in a cowboy hat to drive me around too.

[di]

A flower photo tip for some of you: They photograph best on a cloudy day.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

[Kristan]

Wow the second shot is lovely!

[Jan]

OMG - those fields of flowers are simply stunning!

I've, um, got a couple of pansies in my back yard...

[Tami]

BEAUTIFUL! I love the second photo with the path thru the flowers and the last one.
How did you take the last photo? I love it.
(Headed over to your photo site and hoping to find it there!)

[middle-aged-woman]

Even if it's only a single flower, find the macro setting on a point-and-shoot and get in tight. It comes out great! There is a day-lily farm about 50 miles south of where I live. My friend took the most beautiful shot there. It looks like a Monet painting.

[missy]

Love the Flower Fields. It makes for a nice drive south.

[Michele]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

[Liz Tee]

I love them too! Why don't I have any in my yard? I'm going to remedy that, soon. Also, I loved the pic of path through the fields. I almost expect a Teletubby to come bouncing into the frame! The last pic is gorgeous, too.

[Shay]

Yup, you have professional photogs as readers -- er, at least I'm one! :) (hopefully the one you were thinking about in your post, haha) My sites are photographybyshay.com and utahboudoirphotography.com. I love spring shots! Your colors are great in these. :)

[Michelle Pixie]

Not boring me one bit!! ;) Beautiful!!

[Marghnaita Hughes]

Simply beautiful!Thank you for sharing !

[Judi]

I've driven by the Flower Fields many times on the freeway, but never stopped to visit. Going to have to remedy that one of these days. Great pics!

[Issa]

I would be croaking there. But oh how I adore it. So pretty. I think I've been before. Have you ever seen the poppy fields outside Lancaster? Is probably too far a drive for you, but it's beautiful up there this time of year. Billions of orange poppies everywhere.

[Linsey]

Thank you 24. I live in the OC (Irvine) and was not even familiar with these fields. I'm going to check them out. They're beautiful. Enjoy your blog very much.

[Jane]

I especially love the last shot you posted.

[Anne Gibert]

What Jane said. The last shot is spectacular.

[Mad Woman]

I could sit there for a few hours and stare at those flowers. How pretty!

[Shari]

Ok. That's it. I have to go there. I'm just going to have to make it a point to clear a couple of hours and drive down there. I'm so glad you actually did and took these gorgeous pictures for me to see. :D

[Amy @ The Bitchin' Wives Club]

It just so happens that ranunculus (rununculae?) are one of my very favorite flowers and were the main ingredient in my wedding bouquet. These pictures just made my day!!! Gorgeous!!!!!