The Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside hosts its 19th annual Dia de los Muertos Festival, where visitors can stroll past dozens of altars honoring the dead. Mexican families honor their departed loved ones with altar decorations like sugar skulls, candles and personal mementos.
But one thing common to all the altars is fresh marigold blossoms, which are said to guide back loved ones’ spirits with their strong scent and bright orange color.
Over the past 17 years, all of the festival’s blossoms have been grown and donated to the Mission by Mellano & Company, a family-owned cut-flower grower that operates from a 300-acre farm just five miles west of the Mission. The flowers are a gift of thanks to the Mexican families who have lived and worked on the Mellano property for decades.