Happy May Day! All the April showers have brought so many gorgeous May flowers! Walking through sprawling fields of blooming flowers is the perfect way to celebrate Spring. I had been looking forward to visiting the Carlsbad flower fields for months and it was such a gorgeous day when we arrived. The fields are located in Carlsbad in Southern California, about 40 miles north of San Diego. The blossoms you see are known as the "Persian Buttercup" and the fields of these beauties stretch for 50 rainbow acres.

Top Instagram Tips for Stunning Photos at the Flower Fields

Mark Your Calendar for the Flower Season Dates

The flower season begins in March and the fields remain open until mid-May. Be sure to check the website before heading out to make sure the ranch is open to the public. The address is: 5704 Paseo Del Norte Carlsbad, CA 92008.

Check the Current Bloom Conditions Before You Go

If you go too early in the season the flowers won’t have fully bloomed yet. If you go too late and there’s a heat wave, the flowers will turn brown. On the website you can check the current “bloom conditions” to see live photos of what the fields look like.

Time Your Visit Around the Best Natural Light

The farm is open from 9am - 6pm. You want to avoid harsh sunlight because all your photos will have shadows. Depending on the weather, I recommend going either first thing when they open or closer to when they close.

Do Not Pick Any Flowers From the Fields

If you want to hold flowers in your hand (scroll through my photos), be sure to buy them from the nursery. Do not try and pick any flowers, the guards will not take kindly to it. Keep your receipt with you to show proof of purchase of the bouquet.

Consider Purchasing the Season Pass

If you plan on going more than once, get the season pass because admission gets pricey.

Plan Extra Time for Parking

The parking lot is small and gets filled up very quickly. There’s a mall very close by but that parking lot fills up very fast too. Make sure to give yourself time to find parking.