Carlsbad’s Fields of Flowers Sprout Edible Delights
By Gina Dostler
Garden lover Renee Tepper for the past two years has tended San Diego’s Master Gardener Association as president. She now devotes her time to Carlsbad’s Flower Fields attraction and developed its first-time demonstration garden. From beautiful mallow trees to the California succulent gem dudleya, the 1,200 square foot exhibit displays growing methods researched and verified by the University of California.
Q: What are The Flower Fields?
A: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are nearly 50 acres of giant Tecolote ranunculus flowers. The flowers are in bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year, right now from March 1 through May 11. The burst of colors that arrive here every year signals the coming of spring in Southern California. There are lots of horticultural interactions for the guests to participate in such as a sweet pea maze for kids or taking photos amongst the 10 million ranunculus flowers blanketing 54 acres of land.
Q: How are the master gardeners of San Diego involved with The Flower Fields?
A: We were invited by The Flower Fields to create a demonstration garden that teaches homeowners the many ways to grow edibles and ornamentals in a garden. It was perfect timing because about six months earlier we had decided to have our own demonstration garden, a new endeavor for us, but had no place to make one. That’s when The Flower Fields approached us and we were delighted to do it. We are so pleased to have this terrific marriage.
Q: So you designed this garden?
A: Oh, yes, we got it all down on paper to present to them. And I must admit the designs we presented were very much inspired by the OC Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden at The Great Park in Irvine, which has gorgeous gardens to view. In building our own gardens, The Flower Fields very graciously helped by providing the raised beds and drip irrigation for us. But we did all the planting and growing and continue on with the maintenance. This is the first year The Flower Fields has had a Demonstration Garden.
Q: What is the purpose of the Demonstration Garden?
A: Our gardens are specifically made to show the general public interesting ways to raise vegetables and ornamentals in the yard where space is limited yet still be able to provide an abundance of produce using the very best methods. So if you have a tiny space, we show you several ways to grow a garden.
For example, all of the gardens we designed are raised beds. Raised beds maximize gardening space, protect the plants from critters and if sized correctly, eliminate bending and kneeling to tend to the garden.
Q: Tell me about some of your displays?
A: Some of the highlights start with a front entry garden. We wanted to demonstrate to home gardeners that the space leading up to your door can include edible plants and still be beautiful. Most people think only ornamental plants and trees are for the front yard. On the contrary, you can show off vegetables because they are gorgeous and blend beautifully in an ornamental garden. The first two gardens we have show that off with two beds that mirror one another. In them there are lettuces, flowers, and herbs such as rosemary. The trees we used were oranges. The white blossoms are not only pretty, smell lovely, but produce beautiful edible fruit.
Q: So edibles are not always limited to the backyard.
A: Not at all. But we don’t always target specifically for edibles. One of our beds is a sensory garden. In this one we have ornamental grasses that whisper as the wind blows through them, making very pleasing soft rustling sounds. Included in this garden are herbs such as rosemary, lavender and mints that smell wonderful; and flowers that bloom in vibrant colors for the eyes. And all the plants have a variety of textures that target our sense of touch, whether soft or prickly, and invite us to open up into the different aspects of a garden.
Q: What about gardening for children?
A: Oh, we didn’t forget about our younger crowds. Next to the sensory garden we have a bed that is great fun for kids. We took a favorite food of children, pizza, and grew herbs and vegetables that would go on a pizza and made it in the shape of a round pizza by dividing up the plants into slices. It’s cute and kids enjoy pointing out their favorite toppings growing in the garden.
Q: Is there any usual ways to garden that you demonstrate at The Flower Fields?
A: Besides utilizing recycled items such as an old rusty wagon we planted with succulents. Or some metal washtubs that sprouted herbs, lettuces and other vegetables. We planted what we call a garden teepee. We put together long bamboo sticks in the shape of a teepee and planted string and snap beans. The vines crawl up the bamboo teepees like Jack and the Beanstalk. They look absolutely gorgeous and there isn’t a whole lot of expense put into it. Zucchinis or cucumbers would look nice hanging down as well as ornamental flowers. Then there is the straw bale garden that shows a very interesting way to grow a garden if you have no yard to plant.
Q: A garden made out of straw?
A: Actually it’s using a bale of straw as the container. You don’t use the ground or soil at all. It’s mainly good for someone who, let’s say, has a driveway and doesn’t want to use their yard for food production. It runs about 3’ high, 3’ long and about 18” wide. There are a couple of weeks of preparation such as adding nitrogen and waiting while the ingredients start to “cook” and get hot. When the core temperature of the straw becomes about 120 degrees, planting begins. The plants we put in our straw bale were so happy they grew at an exceptional pace, so that in four weeks they were already producing tomatoes, strawberries and other vegetables. It is a very cool, interesting and innovative method of gardening for people who don’t have space or don’t want to use planting beds for vegetables.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Renee Tepper, Chairperson
of Demonstration Gardens
The Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad, CA 92008
760-431-0352
info@theflowerfields.com
www.theflowerfields.com
