Photos: Flower fields of Carlsbad in full bloom

Nearly 50 acres of giant tecolote ranunculus flowers bloom for approximately 6 to 8 weeks

Last updated: April 29, 2023 | 13:55

2 MIN READ

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Carlsbad, California: People took pictures amid waist-high blossoms in every imaginable hue of orange, pink, yellow and purple at California’s famous Flower Fields in Carlsbad as it opened to the public.

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The attraction was closed for most of 2020, due to pandemic-related restrictions, but plummeting coronavirus cases and California’s move to the orange tier of lockdown restrictions means the fields can once again welcome a limited number of visitors.

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“I am so happy we’re open again,” said general manager Fred Clarke. “Last year we were nine months in and we had to mow the crop down.”

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The fields, 34 miles (55 km) north of San Diego, showcase more than 70 million flowers, creating an annual spectacle when they bloom.

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“It does feel like things are easing a little bit. It’s just great to see the beauty and just get out and enjoy a day with my wife,” said Artie Creighton, 53, from Corona, California.

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“This is one of the first times that we’ve been out in a long time.”

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The Flower Fields, which are open to the public until May 9, are also a working farm that sells flowers, which end up at florists and supermarkets, Clarke said, explaining how they breed their own variety of ranunculus.

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“We’re hybridizing ranunculus and every year trying to improve the quality, the size of the flower, the brightness of the color, the uniformity of the crop,” he added.

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“So every year we believe it’s getting better and better.”

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A woman takes pictures of a field of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers.

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Field workers pick giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers.

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A field of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers is shown at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, U.S., April 27, 2023.

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A field of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers is shown at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, U.S., April 27, 2023.

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A woman poses for a picture at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California.

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A field of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers is shown at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, U.S., April 27, 2023.

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A field of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers is shown at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, U.S., April 27, 2023.

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