The Flower Fields

We have had a couple of weeks of lovely weather in Southern California so I took
advantage of the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures to visit the Flower Fields
at Carlsbad Ranch.  As warm and sunny as it was, it was also quite windy.

The flower fields are extraordinary...

When I first arrived I was wondering how I was ever going to be able to show the
flowers because when you look at the fields you really don't see individual flowers,
it's more like looking at a rainbow.  In fact, I almost didn't do this post because I'm
used to showing a more defined picture of flowers but the fields are not set up to be
shown that way.  The flowers are like free spirits blowing in the wind and meant to be
seen as massive colors looking like a rainbow.

Wonderful color everywhere you look...

This is how the fields look just as they are beginning to bloom...

And then, a burst of blooms...

The flowers that are in full bloom right now are Ranunculus which are a member of
the buttercup family and native to Asia Minor. 

They really are so pretty.  Because the fields are meant to be seen as a rainbow they
have a separate area set up so you can see a few of the flowers individually as flowers
not just the rainbow.   All ruffles on the top of a thin stem...

The Ecke Family also show their famous Poinsettias, CymbidiumOrchids, a Rose Garden
and a Sweet Pea Maze which is amazing!  But that's for another time.


It turned out to be an extra special day because I ran into beautiful artist Christie Repasy
who was asked to exhibit some of her lovely works of art at the fields that day.

As you know, Christie is very well known for her gorgeous romantic rose paintings... 

Every time I see her it becomes a special day because she is absolutely lovely and
delightful. 

You can read about her studio Chateau De Fleurs and read her blog HERE.

If you have never been to the Flower Fields I hope someday you will be able to visit
and see the rainbows for yourself.  It really is quite unique.

Lovely Orchids And Giveaway

I recently visited the Los Angeles Arboretum to see a display of  Cymbidium Orchids
and attend a demonstration on the care of these beautiful flowers.

It was a very overcast and chilly day and I thought seeing beautiful flowers would be
perfect for a day like this.

You might remember that I was at the Arboretum last August and showed you the
house where the television show Fantasy Island was filmed and later the first
Meet The Fockers film was also shot. When they finished production on the “Fockers”
film they painted the house back to the original Fantasy Island colors. You can visit
that post and read about it HERE.

When I arrived I was greeted by an old friend...

After greeting the peacock(who wouldn’t leave me alone)I went inside to the Orchid
display. It wasn’t a huge fancy show but the orchids were gorgeous!

After the care and planting demonstration, I went back outside where my feathered

friend was waiting and ready to show its beautiful peacock feathers...

Because it is too early in the season for much garden color and it was chilly outside,
I didn’t wander around as much as usual.  However, there were other feathered friends
who insisted on saying hello....

Geese....

And a family of Ducks...



Visiting the Arboretum is always a delight and I look forward to later in the spring and
summer visiting the waterfalls again and other flower displays.



Now about the giveaway,
I love having both of these books in my collection and I thought you might like having
them in your collection, as well.   They are,  Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages...
At Home By The Sea.  A beautiful book.

And, Seaside Style by Seaks and Taschen, another lovely book. If you would also like
to have these books in your collection please leave a comment and let me know you are
a follower. I will announce the winner on Sunday, April 10th.

Have a great week and I hope you are starting to see some beautiful spring flowers in
your area.