The Flower Fields of Carlsbad

 I can't believe this trip was way back on March 31st! Yes, it was a very chilly and windy day with partial sunlight. So while we weren't roasting in the sun -- it was darn chilly on the wagon-driven -by -tractor tour!

These are the flower fields in Carlsbad that are primarily known for ranunculus. The huge American flag honoring military is made up of petunias.

"The fields today are a direct 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 1920’s. Mr. Gage brought Ranunculus seeds to the area and began growing them in his fields next to Frank Frazee’s small vegetable farm in South Oceanside.   In 1933 Frank Frazee also started growing ranunculus and introduced his son Edwin to the art of seeding, cultivating and irrigating the pretty but not yet popular flower. At the age of 16, Edwin Frazee quit high school to work full time on his father’s burgeoning flower operation." ~ Wikipedia

This family is also known for developing pointsettias and making them associated with Christmas. 

I am just not a big fan of white pointsettias. I like deep red.

The pointsettias were on display in their own green house with their names and year of development posted.

These pointsettuas on the left are my favorite because it looks like someone painted their white highlights.

This is a stranger wearing the same color as Mom.

You can see how huge the flag is from this wagon shot.

And that's our tour of the Flower Fields at Carlsbad!

Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Some bunny loves you ... 

Thanks, Mom!

 

Today, Easter Sunday, we went to the Street Bar in Palm Springs to see the many Easter bonnets. We missed the actual competition waitng for an Uber, but it was still plenty crowded when we got there. Paul is one of the bartenders there and we were happy to see J and J who are also neighbors. They kindly gave us a ride home. I got permission from all bonnet wearers to take and post their pictures.

Jeff and Jack our neighbors

He had a lovely full length frock.

Paul decorated the chandelier. He is facing the camera with the BIG bonnet.

Well, ya, the pink cheeks may have been a function of the vodka tom collins. I still feel naked without my glasses. I'm going to get a prescription for reading glasses which I will wear all of the time. It was really fun at the Street Bar -- everyone was so nice to us and they were all having a great time, 

Thank you, Tomi, for showing me that Spring is at my house!

Meanwhile, Eric and Bernie the Dog slipped away to Idyllwild because it was 90 F. in Palm Springs and 70s there. (It started in the 50s in PS in the morning, so it was colder up lin the mountains in the morning. Hence the heavy clothing.)

I finally finished the pillow for Eric and Paul. It's raw edge applique and the pattern is called Retro Flash (I forget the pattern company.)

Can you see Bernie on the chair?

Speaking of canines: Deb and Paul's dog, Pork Chop, really loves sleep overs with his buddy, Sam. Sam, however, told PC he had to sleep in his own crate. (Pork Chop is on the left.)

Yesterday's full moon was brilliant!

Also yesterday (Saturday), we went to Ruth Hardy Park to see the Desert Flaggers. There was a lovely breeze and we had a lovely picnic with Eric, Paul, Ron, and Paul's family.

                                        Eric is on the left, Paul is on the right.

You know me -- always seeing weird patterns. Here is a tree trunk (2 different sides) of the tree shading us as we watched the Flaggers. The tree was fully leafed out and seemed healthy.

A week ago, on April 10th, we went to hear the Gay Men's Chorus. It's always impressive to see 100 men onstage and their sound is fabulous. The performance was very moving because in between songs, they played recordings of members of the Chorus telling some of their story. Often they talked of discrimination and how they coped with being different. But it was all hopeful and joyous.

On Sunday, April 3, our friend Carole made this wonderful almond cake for us. She also made a wonderful dinner too, but this cake was so gorgeous. That's a large serving knife, by the way. The cake is actually an 8 inch cake.

After we ate, we played Mexican Train Dominos.

I have more than 20 pictures from the flower gardens at Carlsbad. But it's already 1 a.m. so I'm thinking those pictures will have to be in another post. That was a really fun bus trip on March 31. I'm sorry I'm such a bad correspondent. I'll try to do better in the future!