As winter has taken its hold and much of nature is dormant, we look
ahead to the flowers of spring. Many places have their stunning flora,
but these flower fields are absolutely dreamlike in their natural
beauty.
Below are five of the most otherworldly flower fields from around the
world that bloom into unexpected landscapes for a short time each
year.
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| ANTELOPE VALLEY POPPY RESERVE Los Angeles, California, United States |
At the end of winter, the hills of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
bloom into cascades of orange. The over 1,780-acre site is protected as
a reserve by the state of California, and this includes prohibiting
taking any floral souvenirs to mar the natural phenomenon (or test out
their medicinal properties). But you'd be forgiven for wanting to fall
asleep among them like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
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| LUOPING COUNTY Yunnan, China |
In spring in Luoping County in Yunnan, China, the fields around the
mountains are transformed into sprawls of vivid yellow. The gold canola
flowers suddenly turn the quiet area into a destination, with busloads
of visitors arriving to glimpse the temporary stunning colors. You can
also find beekeepers in tents taking advantage of the honey-makers, who
are also visiting for the flowers.
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| CARLSBAD FLOWER FIELDS Carlsbad, California, United States |
Down in Southern California each spring, about 50 acres of hillside are suddenly ablaze in flowers at the Carlsbad Ranch. Several
different varieties of flowers are grown in parallel lines to create a
living rainbow of color. The area just outside of San Diego is part of a
major commercial flower center, and the flower fields are just a part
of the flower powered economy.
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| HITACHI SEASIDE PARK Hitachinaka, Japan |
We're cheating a little here, as what makes Hitachi Seaside Park stunning
is not just the hundreds of varieties of flowers — including blue
flowers with transparent petals — but the summer cypress as well. At the
end of the wet season the usually green herb turns a blazing red. This
along with a looming ferris wheel makes the Japanese public park into
something out of a feverish fantasy.
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| HALLERBOS Halle, Belgium |
The Hallerbos — also known as the Blue Forest — morphs for a brief time
in spring into an otherworldly landscape. Millions of bluebells bloom
all around on the Belgian forest floor beneath the slender beech
trees. While these "bluebell woods" can be found around Europe in the
oldest forests, this shaded azure carpet of flowers near Brussels is one
of the most beautiful.
