Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad

Jill's Journal: In 1965, long-time flower grower Edwin Frazee moved his commercial ranunculus and gladiolus operation from nearby Oceanside to Carlsbad, California. The beautiful sight of 50 acres of colorful blooms stopped passing motorists in their tracks, so much so that Frazee complained, “If I had one penny for every picture that’s been taken of those fields, I’d be a rich man.”

He was on to something, because today “The Flower Fields” is not only a working flower farm, but also an attraction that allows visitors to enjoy the flowers up close for what seemed like a hefty fee ($40 for our family of five). I don’t pretend to know a ranunculus from a gladiolus or much of anything else about flowers, but they’re awfully pretty and 50 acres of them in full bloom are something to behold. There are over eight million ranunculus plants on the property, not to mention a whole heck of a lot of other flowers too.

Today was Victoria’s first venture out into fresh air after five days of the same brutal sickness Madelyn had and we figured something gentle like smelling flowers was a perfect reintroduction into the world. As she was getting dressed after all those days in nothing but pajamas, I noticed how loose her jeans suddenly were and commented that we needed to “put some meat back on her bones.” Her sad little response, “I know! The germs (illness) just took all my meat away.” Oh, so cute! We’re just glad she’s feeling better.

2 comments:

Katie Lady said...

Glad you are feeling better! When we were in high school, that "attraction" was FREE!! That man can buy a whole lotta bulbs for $40!

Andrea Kanelopoulos - Anam Nostos House said...

OH how I wish I lived near here...so lovely!!!