The Flower Fields

I came here about a month and a half ago.
Like mid April 2016. Paying for the price for entrance was not that bad but we bought the wagon ride for $ 5.00. It takes you to the whole flower field. It’s like a bus ride but instead it’s a wagon that you sit on.
I never experienced a place with that much flowers. I loved it here. My first time experience great place to have dates, take pictures for fun or for any special occasions. Can’t wait to go again next year spring.

It was a nice breezy day. It wasn’t too hot out and was slightly cold. There was enough bright sunlight, which deemed perfect for viewing flowers. We paid the entrance fee, which was $ 14 a person. Seemed a bit much for looking at a field flowers but let’s see if it’s worth it. I was ready with my DSLR camera hanging around my neck. I walked through the gates and was welcomed warmly by the employee that scanned the tickets. Flowers were indeed everywhere. I found a nice little area with a unique set of flowers in a garden area. I walked to the area with purple and pink flowers, put the camera on my face, rotated the zoom lens and then.
KAPOOSH!
Something hit my head and it felt like a giant basketball. The impact was so hard that I lunged forward when it happened. But it wasn’t a basketball. I looked up and saw a crow quickly flew away. Really I mean whoa what the hell. The top of my head started to sting so I figured this was a bit serious.
My family looked at my scalp and it turned out there was a small lump along with a scratch mark. They said I was bleeding a little bit. My sister went to go tell the employee which told another employee who then reached the supervisor. We took care of what we could along with the first aid kit they gave us a moment afterwards. The scratch mark hurt quite a bit.
The supervisor came by to take a look and assumed it was the crow’s feet that scratched my head. He had me fill out an injury form. He also gave me an ice pack to put on top of my head. I happen to be the first case in 13 years to be hit by a bird like this. I was pissed for a good ten minutes because at that point I didn’t want to look at anymore flowers and just call it a day. But I got over it since I had my camera with me and it’s not like I couldn’t walk. So yes, all of the pictures I took happened after the bird attack.
The ranunculus in the fields are nice but I felt that the flowers in the garden were a lot more unique and beautiful. In the fields, there were rows and rows of ranunculus separated into several different colors. When I went there, there were long rows of dirt mounds in between each row of flowers. Some of the ranunculus flowers were starting to wilt so I think for future reference it would be better to visit during April instead of May.
For most flowers, I had to bend over/​crouch to take photos. There were some flowers that were above eye level so that was rather refreshing. I really don’t like bending over or crouching to take photos. This wouldn’t have happened if I brought a better zoom lens but oh well.
There are places where pictures don’t do justice. I think with this place the pictures make it seem a lot more beautiful than it actually is. In the fields, I had to walk around quite a bit to find perfect flowers.
There were families, groups, elementary school kids with teachers, and couples. This place is definitely a haven for photographers. I saw people setting up tripods for their DSLRS and those that had their selfie sticks high up in the air to try to find the perfect angle. There were also those who pretty much just placed the phone as close to the flower as much as possible.
I was annoyed that the crow flew off out of my sight. It wasn’t towards the end of my visit that the crow actually came back and flew in front of the supervisor. I don’t know if that triggered anything but it was after that moment that he then gave me two bouquets of ranunculus flowers. I have to add that all of the employees that we talked to were extremely friendly.
Despite the fact that I felt like I was in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds, I still had an okay experience. The flower fields are alright but I probably won’t come back for a while. Recommended to visit maybe once if you really like flowers and chances are you probably won’t get attacked by a bird like I did.

The flower fields were closed when we decided to stop on our way home from San Diego :(soooo sad! Can’t wait to experience the beauty of all those flowers!
In any case, I was sure to stroll around the nursery and shop for some new plant babies. They have an amazing selection of indoor and outdoor plants. I bought a few Tropical ones that I really love because they are so unique! I will definitely be back for a fiddle fig tree one day. And of course when the flower field is in season

It really is a sight to see.
Beautiful flowers in rows and rows. and rows and rows
Admission is 14. I think it’s a little steep. But whatev.
I took a lot of pics. Which seemed like what everyone was doing, honestly.
I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to see it, but maybe I’m more of a natural beauty person like just seeing the ocean. This just felt a little contrived as people were taking tractor rides, eating ice cream and drinking lemonades.

Legit field of flowers. Rows after rows of flowers. Very well kept but because of the season/​temperature/​weather, some flowers already started to die.
Had a blast in the sweet pea maze (yes, three grown a$$ adults had a blast in a maze).
I think this is a once in my life type of thing — so no, I would not return. Plus kind of expensive ($ 14) to come look at flowers. I should have made a flower crown and brought it to coachella.

A good once in a lifetime experience. Went on the last weekend this place is open in 2016 and it was so crowded. Not sure if it’s like this every weekend. Parking took a good 20 minutes of circling and following people. Did get a $ 2 coupon from the outlet website (you have to sign up for VIP to view)!
Once you log in go to the upper right drop down menu… coupon and savings passport. Then on the page click on the deals tab and you will see the coupon.
There were still a lot of flowers on the last weekend but I think if you go an earlier weekend you can see a lot more. They had a dance show and a sweet pea made and poinsettia and orchid green houses. I think it’s a little overpriced but like I said good for a once in a life time experience.

As the sun Rose, we stopped being lazy Daisies and made our way to the fields. This desire Stemmed from never having been there before. I wish I could say there was only a Lily traffic, but there was a lot :(It totally had us saying Orchidding me!!! What in Carnations is going on? We had to go to the bathroom so badly, we almost wet our Plants.
We finally got there, and it was as the name implies. The field was full of flowers, and we all know that people come here just for pictures. There is usually a line for the prime picture spots, so I would suggest you just take a picture with the least amount of people in the background.

Makes me think of Dorothy’s trek to Oz and all the friends she made along the way. Now I’ve got ‘The Merry Old Land of Oz’ playing in the background. The fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers are as lovely and inspirational as the movie itself. The name Tecolote came from the owls that nested on Luther Gage’s property.
It’s fun to walk around and see various peoples reaction to the flowers. Most are smiling and happy, a few insightful and some daring enough to walk along the rows just to get that perfect picture! But watch out the staff are lurking just around the corner in a golf cart waiting to honk their horn at you for walking through their precious flowers! So it’s a good idea to stay on the path.
While I’m walking along I hear that song by Judy Garland, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’ Nobody sings it better. If your interested in planting a few Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers of your own visit;
. It includes detailed instructions. Yay!
Since 2011, The Flower Fields have dedicated a whole acre of red, white and blue petunias in the shape of the American flag. This is an honor and tribute to those lost in the September 11^th attacks and to remind us that spring is upon us. Such a moving sentiment, it brought tears to my eyes.

The Flower Fields here is beautiful! With different kinds of flowers and the field is HUGE! lol I came here right before it closed (I think the last day is the beginning of May) and I missed it last year. So I promised myself that I must go this year.
This place is great for everyone — friends, families, and dates. I came here on a Saturday and it was packed. The entrance fee is $ 12-​$ 14 (I forgot which one it was lol), which is kinda pricey to see some flowers in my opinion. But parking here is free. You will have to be driving around for a while due to the amount of people.
Essentially, you are looking at flowers only lol. They have a rose garden, sweet pea maze, an American flag made of flowers, a tent filled with orchids, ranunculus in basically every color, and a wagon that can take you around the entire field. I really liked the sweet pea maze, which smelled amazing! It wasn’t very difficult to find your way out either. What I really admired the most were the ranunculus. They were beautiful and filled throughout the entire field. The view from the top of the field was the best because you got to not only see the flowers but the view of the ocean as well. The perfect photo op!
You must bring cash here! No cards are accepted inside for both the food and wagon. I got an ice cream cone for freaking $ 4.75… It was equivalent to a vanilla cone at McDonald’s. You should have seen my facial reaction when she told me the price. Anyways, you can basically see everything within 1 – 2 hours. Depending on how much time you spend looking at flowers. But I learned a lot about the different kinds of flowers and saw many different colors of flowers that I have never seen before.
I definitely think this place is worth checking out, but I don’t think I will be coming back any time soon.

The flower fields are absolutely adorable! If you haven’t been here you need to put that on your bucket list. I’ve been here for 5 years now and managed to take family photos here 2 years ago while I was pregnant. It’s changed over the years for the better. It’s way bigger and more going on than years past.
The backdrop is absolutely breathtaking and no wonder visitors from all over come here to take photos. I’ve been here in March, April, and May however, I recommend coming in March. It’s the Monday before it closes and you can tell the flowers are getting picked or weathering away since you can fully see the dirt rows and the ranunculus are fully opened. Other visits there were a ton of blooms blocking sight of the dirt rows. If you’re lucky it will be sunny and the colors are so vibrant.
Attractions: Sluice Mining, tractor driven wagon rides for $ 5, exotic bird cages, Santa’s Playground (sandy surface, grass, slides gingerbread play houses and lots of benches and shaded picnic areas), lemonade stand, ice cream stand, poinsettia exhibit, Sweet Pea Maze, Fresh Strawberries, cymbidium greenhouse, rose and succulent garden, water fountain garden, views of the windmill & ocean, and the Armstrong Garden Center as you leave.
Sign up for Carlsbad premium outlets VIP member online and save $ 2 off admission so it was $ 12 and children under 3 are free.
If you don’t want a crowd, I highly suggest a weekday like Monday. You don’t have to wait for people to share the photo zones or have people in the background of your photos. However, the special events are fun, packed, and sometimes have live music, dancers, and farmer’s markets.
As you leave you can buy a small bouquet of freshly picked ranunculus flowers for $ 5 as a souvenir or gift for Mother’s Day.
Don’t forget to take a ton of photos even with the old rusty red tractor in front of the entrance. Bring your cameras, selfie stick, and tri pod. Don’t forget sunscreen, a hat, it gets windy up on the hill.

This place has been one that I’ve been wanting to go for awhile now and this past weekend, I finally went! I found the place to be absolutely beautiful. There are acres and acres of ranunculi of different colors and you go there knowing this, but seeing it is still stunning. The only thing about this place is that there is not much else to do besides looking at and taking pictures with the flowers, so I think the admission price of $ 14 is a little steep. It’s definitely worth the while to check this place out at least once, however. If you decide to make a trip out of it, there is an outlet and a beach nearby.
ALSO, they have some drinks and dessert items here. DO get the strawberry shakes. It’s fresh and delicious. DON’T get the lemonade, unless you want to pay $ 5 for lemon water. Was not able to try the soft serve or kettle corn, but people seemed to really enjoy these. They also sell fresh strawberries right outside and these strawberries are soooo amazing…

The Flower Fields is located next door to the Carlsbad Outlet. One of the entrances for this beautiful field shares the same entrance as Armstrong Nursery.
My husband and I (only service dogs are allowed) came to The Flower Fields this past Saturday (runs through May 8, which would be a great Mother’s day treat for the mom in your life. Pack a lunch for an outdoor lunch to make it extra special). We arrived around 12 pm and was pleasantly surprised to find it not to be crowded (which means you can get photos without too many random strangers in it).
The majority of the flowers here (which are grown on the large fields) are the ranunculus which are part of the buttercup family. These flowers are a multi layer, delicate and thin petals that are simply gorgeous. The flowers are planted in a color scheme that is incredibly visually appealing (honestly all of these photos on Unilocal do not even come close to what it looks like in person).
Besides these beautiful flowers, there are other things to see as well, including the sweet pea maze (it is a little bit more confusing to get through towards the end). It is amazing to see these peas growing and smelling the sweet smelling flowers along side.
There is a green house of orchids and also a green house of poinsettia plants. With the poinsettia plants, I never knew there were so many different variations.
There is a playground area for your little ones in case they want to take a break from taking so many photos and smelling the flowers.
On weekends, food is sold here that includes popcorn, ice cream and lemonade (but you are also welcomed to pack your own food).
The restrooms near the main entrance always had a line (for both men and women). But there are porta– potties if you do not want to wait in line though.
When you come here, make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat to cover your face and a fully charged camera.
Admission for adults $ 14, seniors & military $ 13 & children aged (3 – 10) $ 7. Triple A (AAA) members can save an additional $ 1 off general admission.
You can choose to pay for the wagon ride, $ 5 per person (or $ 3 per child). But you are welcomed to walk the entire field if you want to save the $ 5.
By the way, I do want to mention that you make sure to view the entire field. With your face towards the field and the main entrance to your back, make sure to walk all the way to the right hand side past the bend. There is another field that my husband and I did not know about (which was kind of hidden and bet that most people did not know about) and did not see it until we drove away. This hidden part of the field looked like the american flag, all made out of flowers (with the specific colored flowers planted strategically).

Acres and Acres of flowers! This year, I came to the Flower Fields earlier in the season than last year. And WOW it was amazing since the flowers were more in bloom. The colors were breathtaking.
Even more beautiful is that if you take the opportunity to walk around the flower fields, you can see the ocean in the distance. It was a neat experience.
I might have missed it last year, but there is also an area where they made an American Flag out of the different colors of flowers. That was beautiful.
Parking was tricky. I ended up parking over at the outlet mall and walked over. Which was good exercise and I was able to enjoy the fresh air even longer.

Since the fields were mostly harvested already, due to the early, warm spring, seeing only a few fields with flowers was a disappointment, and so grossly overpriced at $ 14 admission and $ 5 for the 15 minute tractor ride around those few fields that still had flowers.
I could imagine that two or three weeks ago the experience would have been more appreciated, but still, it’s a lot of money to go to a working, commercial nursery of flowers. After all, they do also make their money harvesting the flowers for sale, both to outside vendors, and the adjacent Armstrong garden center.
Allow an hour to see the entire facility, including a walk through the hothouse and adjacent exhibits. I’d pass on the tractor ride. Also, make sure you go earlier in the spring season, and very importantly, go on a sunny day!

Honestly, do yourself a favor & stop by to visit the Flower Fields at least once when they’re in full season because there is nothing like seeing a whole field of flowers that just doesn’t bring a smile to your face and a skip to your step.
Located steps from the Carlsbad Outlet mall, you’ll find that parking is for free here and the only thing you’ll have to actually pay for are admission tickets ($ 14 on site & $ 15.87 online w/​service charge), food, drinks, desserts and farmer market type vendors and goods.
Near an unsuspectingly off a freeway exit, the flower fields remind me of a scene from the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy is walking through a field everblooming with beautiful sleepy poppies. But instead of flowers that make you sleep, when you see these flowers, all you may want to do is take pictures of them, walk through them, touch them, smell them and just enjoy the sight of them. Riddled with seas of colorful reds, golds, pinks, shades of purple, whites, and so on, as you walk through the fields of flower or riding the pay to ride tractor wagons that tour the fields, it’s hard to tear your eyes away from these beautiful flowers and thoughts of just wanting to stroll leisurely down each aisle of flowers to peer at each flower’s uniqueness, color, scent and sight.
Definitely a wonderful experience & a great opportunity to venture out to Carlsbad (en route to SD or not) to walk with family or friends & just enjoy nature for all the simple beauty it has to offer. For those that love to take pictures, don’t forget your selfie stick (haha). There’s free wifi on site (pw: Roses1234) and even a stage area set up for bands to play country music and hold shows. Also, it’s a little off to the side, but there’s another area down below near the front where there’s an indoor orchid greenhouse where they grow orchids to sell down at the Armstrong Garden Store that’s also onsite.

Despite the severe drought in California, we’re blessed to have and be able to enjoy The Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Beautiful and colorful blooms as far as the eyes can see. Orange, pink, white, yellow, red ranunculus. As you reach the top of the slope and look down, you’ll see the blue of the Pacific Ocean in the horizon. Ah what a wonderful world we have.
Before braving the direct sunlight we did a little detour of the Artist’s garden and admired the bluebells, daisies, everlasting flowers. The orange colored poppies and purple morning glories were my favorite. There were a few bees that were hard at work pollenating them blooms. Scared, we left to venture out to the arts and crafts booths that were just setting up shop. Yep, we got there just a few minutes after they opened up at 9 AM. Nothing really caught my eye but the kettle corn stand. Can’t say no to them devils.
There are tractor rides for extra fee, the rose garden, Santa’s playground, Paul Ecke Jr. Family barn for your events and what not, Poinsettia greenhouse, and the sweet pea maze. I enjoyed the sweet pea maze the best.
It was a nice, fun day to spend with family. Although $ 14 a pop can be steep if you’re the one shelling out for 5 people. Still, that’s one off my bucket list of sorts.

Flowers. Flowers everywhere. Birds singing and kids running happily. For Christians like me, this could easily pass like heaven.
There’s not much to do there other than taking amazing pictures and contemplate the beauty of nature. If you have kids this is an amazing place to bring them: lots of activities and they all seem to be having a blast. Great for couples in love to snap selfies and great for single people like me to stroll around.
It is a bit pricey at $ 14 just to see flowers but hey, when in Rome…
Glad I crossed it off my list and yes, it is really pretty, worth a visit if you’re in the area. Not so much if this is your only and main destination for the day.

What else can I say? Pretty, very pretty, very very pretty! I’ve never seen a huge field of bloom flowers ever in my life. You can’t help but smile the moment you see the burst of colors from the bed of flowers. The 50 acres of flower fields bloom annually each year during s and has became part of Carlsbad’s local heritage and also a way to know its Spring Time!
There are various garden areas to walk around and take photos and a maze of flower to walk through. Kids love the maze, you can see a group of them having fun finding their way out of the maze. Was walking behind them and I feel like a kid when I’m right behind them.
Opening hours:
The flower field is opened from March 1^st through May 8^th 2016 from 9am to 6pm.
General Admission fees:
Prices: Adults: $ 14.00 Seniors 60+: $ 13.00 Children 3 – 10 yrs: $ 7.00 Children 2 yrs. & under: Free
General Admission fees with Wagon Ride:
Prices: Adults ($ 14.00 + $ 5.00).
Wagon ride tours you around the flower field, with an audio commentary of the history of flower fields. They have guided tour too, do check with them at the ticket counters.

Oh my gosh I loved The Flower Fields.
As of 4.7.16 the prices are as follows $ 14.00 for Adults, Seniors $ 13.00 Children 3 – 11 $ 7.00 and children 2 and under are Free. They also sell season passes.
They have sooo much to do for adults and children besides just walking the flower fields. They have American Flag of Flowers, Antique Tractor Wagon Rides for an additional cost, The Artist Gardens Carlsbad Mining Company, Cymbidium Orchid Greenhouse, Organic Demonstration Garden, and Sweet Pea Maze.
Make sure you bring your camera a good one and take those pictures. We went towards closing so we only had about an hour, wish we had more time because I missed the strawberry shakes and ice cream =(
I definitely recommend this spot and I would come here again in a heartbeat, it’s really beautiful. Wear comfortable shoes and once again bring a great camera and put your best smile on. =D

«Life is about creating and living experiences that are worth sharing». ~Steve Jobs~
As a parent, my most delightful moments are those that spark a gleam in my child’s eyes. From finding the tooth fairy’s bounty, to fireworks on Independence Day, to now picturing the aww on her face as she stared at acre after acre of florid delight. Yes, this was another moment for the books. A snapshot I will never forget.
As I looked around I could not help but notice individuals of all different ethnicities. All were flocking to see the colorful delicate blossoms. There is no translation needed for beauty, it is truly in the eye of the beholder.
This will definitely be the first of many more trips to the fields in the coming years. In my opinion, if the price is affordable for you, it is money well spent.