The Flower Fields not closing yet: Season extended one more week

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, which usually closes for the season on Mother’s Day, will stay open an extra week this year for visitors to take in the view of millions of brightly colored orange, yellow, red, purple and pink giant Tecolote ranunculus blooming on roughly 30 of the 50 acres of hillside overlooking the ocean.

The venue just off Interstate 5 between Palomar Airport Road and Cannon Road typically draws more than 250,000 visitors from around the world during its blooming season from March to mid-May.

Along with fields of ranunculus, attractions include a Sea of Sunflowers, The American Flag of Flowers, a Sweet Pea Maze made out of sweet pea flowers, a butterfly garden, an Artists Garden, a Santa’s Playground filled with whimsical playhouses and huge decorated mushroom sculptures, a Mediterranean Garden, an Illusion Garden and a Fountain Garden along with narrated tractor wagon rides and a poinsettia display with the history of the Ecke family, who made Encinitas the “poinsettia capital of the world” and helped develop The Flower Fields.

The venue is largely run by about 200 volunteers who serve for instance as docents, tour guides, greeters and master gardeners.

The Flower Fields is slated to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through May 21 at 5704 Paseo Del Norte.
Admission costs $23; $21 for seniors age 60 and older and military; $12 for children 3-10; free for children younger than 3. Season passes are $48; $44 for seniors 60 and older, $24 for children 3–10; group tours are available.

There are weekday discounts. On Mondays: Buy one adult or one senior/military admission ticket and get one child’s ticket free for ages 3-10. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays: from 1 to 4 p.m. get $2 off adults, seniors/military and children’s tickets.

All tickets are sold online at theflowerfields.com.