Afield in San Diego: Flower Fields of Carlsbad

First, before I go on with another walkabout account, I must give credit for the "Afoot" and "Afield" phrases to Jerry Schad whose book "Afoot and Afield in San Diego" is the hiker's Bible for walking San Diego's trails.


This weekend, Jennifer and I headed up the coast to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad on our way to the Strawberry Festival. Can you imagine a town whose specialties are flowers and strawberries, and on the ocean to boot!

The spring flower fields are a ritual rite of spring for San Diegans, whether to the desert at Borrego Springs or the ranunculae of Carlsbad. This was Jennifer's first trip, camera in hand, of course. It's great to have a buddy that can talk depth of field, composition, and photography as social commentary, even when she's admonishing her Ouma to stop crossing the yellow tape into the field.

Jennifer brought the same focus, discipline, and unique perspective to the fields that we saw in the Meditation Gardens.


A few of Jennifer's photos:






Jennifer calls this her crime scene photo...


A bed so soft...


Her social commentary...


Her Obama shot...One will rise above the rest.


I took a couple I liked...




...but I was more intrigued by the "flowers" walking around, the Red Hat Ladies.




About now, Jennifer began to talk about my being obsessional. "Stop stalking them, Ouma!" She began muttering about "the attack of the Red Hats" - isn't that Killer Tomatoes?




There must have been a couple hundred of them.


They came with canes and walkers.


This pair looked generational.


About the time Jennifer was groaning and rolling her eyes - "do we have to walk through those old ladies again?"- I figured it was time to head up to the Strawberry Festival.

Here for more Flower Field photos.