Five Flower Fields that Transform Spring into a Surreal Wonderland

photograph by Shin K/Flickr user

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. 

ANTELOPE VALLEY POPPY RESERVE
Los Angeles County, California, United States

photograph by tomspixels/Flickr user

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. 

photograph by Rennett Stowe

photograph by Anita Ritenour

photograph via travelingCA

photograph via travelingCA

photograph by Elizabeth Herndon

photograph by Eve of Discovery/Flickr user

photograph by Rennett Stowe

photograph by Elizabeth Haslam

photograph via California State Parks

LUOPING COUNTY
Yunnan, China

photograph by Hui Long

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. 

photograph by Fanghong/Wikimedia

photograph by k lichstig/Flickr user

photograph by Edwin Cheng

photograph by Hoang Giang Hai

CARLSBAD FLOWER FIELDS
Carlsbad, California, United States

photograph by Bill Gracey

Down in Southern California each spring, about 50 acres of hillside are suddenly ablaze in flowers at the Carlsbad Ranch. Several different colors of ranunculus 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. 

photograph by Kevin Nguyen-Tu

photograph by v_silvestri/Flickr user

photograph by Kevin Nguyen-Tu

photograph by Kwong Yee Cheng

photograph by San Diego Shooter

photograph by Kevin Nguyen-Tu

photograph by Bisayan lady/Flickr user

photograph by Ewen Roberts

photograph by Ewen Roberts

photograph by Kevin Nguyen-Tu

HITACHI SEASIDE PARK
Hitachinaka, Japan

photograph by kobaken/Flickr user

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. 

photograph by kajari/Flickr user

photograph by Shin K/Flickr user

photograph by Shin K/Flickr user

photograph by Shin K/Flickr user

photograph by Shin K/Flickr user

photograph by Les Taylor

photograph by Kyah C/Flickr user

HALLERBOS
Halle, Belgium

photograph by Christophe Couckuyt

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. 

photograph by Paul-Henri S.

photograph by Vincent Brassinne

photograph by Paul-Henri S.

photograph by Vincent Brassinne

photograph by cormaplus/Flickr user

photograph by Vincent Brassinne

ANTELOPE VALLEY POPPY RESERVE, Los Angeles County, California, United States

LUOPING COUNTY, Yunnan, China

CARLSBAD FLOWER FIELDS, Carlsbad, California, United States

HITACHI SEASIDE PARK, Hitachinaka, Japan

HALLERBOS, Halle, Belgium