The Flower Fields
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch has its roots in Luther Gage’s field in Oceanside. Gage brought ranunculus seeds to the area and began growing them in his fields next to Frank Frazee’s small vegetable farm. In 1933 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. Edwin made several moves over the years but in 1965 he moved his ranunculus along with gladiolus growing operation to the current site, land owned by the Ecke Family of Encinitas. Paul Ecke Jr. and Edwin were both flower farmers which helped form a strong bond between the two men. When Edwin decided to retire in 1993, Paul brought in Mellano and Company, another long time flower growing family, to take over production and looked at tourism as a means to keep the fields financially viable.
Carlsbad, San Diego County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt