Tuesday, May 15, 2012

R IS FOR...

R is for RANUNCULUS


These beautiful flowers are the mainstay of our beautiful Carlsbad (California) Flower Fields. Every spring for a couple of months the flower fields are in full bloom.  In fact they have just ended their 2012 season.  

These flowers are part of the buttercup family.  Take a look to compare.  
Here is the buttercup, a common, but beautiful wild flower from which the ranunculus are derived.

The Flower Fields (registered trade mark) are situated on 50 acres on a hillside that stretches down to the Pacific Ocean. In the spring it is an ocean of color which brings people from miles away. Of course the fact that Legoland and beautiful beaches are only a couple of minutes away helps! But it's well worth the time to view from close-up. I really liked the fact that they incorporate an American flag in flowers in their display.

The Flower Fields had their roots in the 1920's and were developed over the years by a Mr. Gage who brought Ranunculus seeds to the area and began growing them. He started a business called “Luther Gage Giant Tecolote Ranunculus bulbs”. The name “Tecolote” came from the owls that nested on his property. Today it is a major attraction in our little town on the Southern California Coast -- a very special place.

******


R  is for Rug design


I haven't been posting much art recently even though I have been doing it.  Some I am saving for later posts  but I have also been giving my eyes a  bit of a rest -- that is, until last week when I finally just HAD to do some.  I came across this design in a catalog on a Rug.  I loved it and had to reproduce it.  Fortunately we are at the letter R, and 'Rug Design' fit the bill.  It is ATC size, that is 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.


For more entries to ABC Wednesday please follow this LINK and enjoy all of those who participate every week in this our ninth round of the alphabet.  Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt!

15 comments:

photowannabe said...

Excellent Rug design art piece Chris. Great texture and color.
The flowers remind me of my folks. They always had ranunculus growing in their garden. I think they are beautiful.

Jane and Chris said...

Ranaunculus are so very beautiful....they rival roses in my book.
Jane x

Carver said...

The flower field is gorgeous as are all the flower shots. I also like the rug design a lot. Carver ABC-Wed. Team

Roger Owen Green said...

Those flowers are arranged so beautifully, it looks like a bouquet.

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Ann said...

The Ranauculus is one perfect looking flower!!!I think they are just gorgeous.
Ann

Black Jack's Carol said...

Lots to learn in this post. I haven't seen the Flower Fields and hadn't heard of Ranunculus, and didn't know Buttercups (one of my favourite flowers) had relatives :) The rug design had a fragile charm that I like very much. Great R choices!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Wow! Such beautiful flowers.

R is for RED, come and see.
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

snafu said...

I had not heard of Ranunculus before, but that is no surprise, the Better Half is the flower person in our family, I prefer to grow vegetables. I had no idea that buttercups were related to anything useful, they are a real pest in our garden, taking over what should be a lawn. I like the rug pattern.

MorningAJ said...

The flower fields photo reminds me of the Fens back when I was a kid. We used to go and see my grandparents in Peterborough and drove through the tulip growing area. It's just about gone now - a real shame.

Love the rug!

DawnTreader said...

Those flower fields look like a rug too! ;) So colourful.

kaybee said...

Not sure why, but the photos of the flower fields make me sneeze! :)

Did you use coloured pencils for the rug design? It is lovely!

Lisa said...

I don't think I can even pronounce the flower name, but they certainly are gorgeous. And your rug design would make for a very striking accent!

Gattina said...

The ranunculus (what a name) are beautiful. Lots of people have them in their yard here around.

claude said...

Excellent post for R, Chris !

Kay G. said...

Hey Chris!
I think that if lived near a flower field such as you have shown us here, I would cry with happiness!
Have you ever read the book "In Search Of The Lost" by Richard Anthony Carter? It is about the Martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood.