The Flower Fields of Carlsbad attract nearly 300,000 visitors a year who come to bask in the breathtaking beauty of rows and rows of blooming flowers. Visiting the fields is a 26-year agri-tourism tradition. But another tradition for flower lovers, the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour, celebrated its fifth year at The Flower Fields on April 18.
Guests toast to another evening to remember at the 2019 Carlsbad Field to Vase Dinner. Photo by Carrie McCluskey Photography
It was a sold-out event at the site where, since 1993, Mellano & Company, a Certified American Grown farm, has grown 800 million stems of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus.
René van Rems created a stunning dining room in the middle of The Flower Fields, complete with floral chandeliers.
Floral designer and educator René van Rems was this year’s feature designer. He also led a one-and-a-half day workshop April 17-18 where participants learned about tabletop vignettes, large display-style arrangements and floral chandeliers, and helped create the designs for the dinner’s tablescapes and other installations.
Mike A. Mellano shares both the history of Mellano & Company as well as the science behind growing beautiful flowers and greens. Photo by Carrie McCluskey Photography
Flower farmer Mike A. Mellano, Ph.D., CEO of Mellano & Company, provided guests with a tour of the farm and flower production prior to dinner and welcomed everyone who came to the event. Mellano acknowledged his team of growers, highlighting the team effort and hard work that it takes to keep a flower farm blooming in California.
Photo by Carrie McCluskey Photography
Guests then dined on a multi-course artisan meal at tables overflowing with ranunculus, created wearable floral flair at the tour’s famous boutonnière bar, learned about the American tradition of flower farming and left with armfuls of homegrown blooms.
A boutonniere bar invited guests to the enjoyment of making their own. Photo by Carrie McCluskey Photography
One guest shared their experience saying, “There’s no way to truly share how incredible it was to sit between vibrant rows of orange ranunculus on both sides of the tables. The table was covered with orange, and the centerpieces were lined down the center of the tables in mass. Lights hung above us and the conversation was stimulating, meeting other flower lovers across the table. The location is stunning with the ocean as a backdrop.”
The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour heads to Virginia next, stopping at Bloomia on June 1.
For more information:
American Grown Flowers
916.441.1701
info@americangrownflowers.org
www.americangrownflowers.org