Carlsbad Flower Fields Open For 2022 Season

CARLSBAD, CA – Although the official first day of spring isn't until March 20, it's unofficially the start of springtime in San Diego County with The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch now open.

"The Flower Fields are truly a national jewel," said Fred Clarke, general manager of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. "The season is one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world."

The Flower Fields feature nearly 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, a flower known for its large, double-petaled blooms that sit atop tall, straight stems. More than 70 million flowers are set to bloom, according to the ranch.

The season opened Tuesday, March 1, and will run through Mother's Day on Sunday, May 8. Staff recommend visiting The Flower Fields between late March to early April for peak bloom this season, Clarke said.

This season's theme is "Escape Into Color," which he said is "fitting" as rows of color-coordinated blooms immerse visitors in "floral splendor."

"We chose the theme, 'Escape Into Color' to help people remember the beauty still around us," Clarke told Patch. "After COVID having such a grueling impact on our everyday lives, we want people to have a place they can visit that will instantly elevate your mood."

The fields today are a result of nearly 85 years of floral cultivation that began with Luther Gage, an early settler and horticulturist that settled in the area in the early 1920s. For nearly six decades, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch has operated at its current location at 5704 Paseo Del Norte.

There will be live outdoor music and local circus and theater group performances among other experiences, including the American Flag of Flowers, tractor wagon rides, artist gardens and aviaries, a sweet pea maze and Cymbidium orchid greenhouse. Blueberry picking will return this year along with the debut of the Sea of Sunflowers.

"Our Sea of Sunflowers is a new five-acre test patch that features all colors, shapes and sizes," Clarke said. "Some are as big as small moons and others over 12 feet high. They are expected to launch in mid-April."

Single ticket admission costs $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and military, and $10 for children ages 3-10. Admission is free for children under 3. Season passes are $46 for adults, $42 for seniors and military, and $20 for children ages 3-10, with group tours also available.