Carlsbad's Flower Fields to Open March 1

- The floral display's origins trace back to the early 1920s when horticulturist Luther Gage introduced Ranunculus seeds to the area, with the Frazee family later expanding the cultivation. - The Ecke family, widely known for popularizing the poinsettia, took stewardship of the fields in the 1990s, transforming the commercial operation into the public tourist attraction it is today. - The 55-acre attraction features more than 70 million blooming flowers, primarily the Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, a member of the buttercup family. - Beyond the ranunculus, the site also includes a sweet pea maze, a cymbidium orchid greenhouse, a poinsettia display, and a U-pick blueberry patch. - The Flower Fields are a significant driver of agritourism for the region, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually and boosting business for local hotels and restaurants. - The vibrant colors seen today are the result of decades of selective breeding; the original ranunculus flowers were primarily simple red and yellow single-petal blooms. - A 1993 agreement with the City of Carlsbad preserves the 53.42-acre parcel for agricultural use, protecting the fields from real estate development.