Summer is the season for growing and harvesting, when a number of vibrantly colored flowers bloom across acres and acres of farmland. Among some of the most beautiful of the crops are lavender, canola, poppies and cotton. Farms filled with these plants are dazzling when seen from high above or from on the ground, and they attract tourists interested in agriculture, regional economics, and health.

Although poppies are most infamous for being the plant from which opium is derived, the bright red ornamental version of the flower grows in the wild or is grown by gardeners and farmers for its beauty. Poppies can survive pesticides and harsh winters because the plants produce up to 60,000 seeds each, reported the Guardian. Poppies are symbols of peace and death, and have been used to commemorate fallen soldiers in Europe. Although wild red poppies can sprout up almost anywhere in the summertime, one good location to visit them is the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in California.

The rolling lavender fields of Provence, France are world renowned for their beauty and sweet aroma. Lavender is grown for its essential oil, which is used in perfume and aromatherapy, as well as for use in cooking. According to the tourist website for Luberon, an area of Provence, France, the peak season for lavender lasts from June to August. Tourists can visit the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque, which is surrounded by lavender fields, or follow the Lavender Route through the Provence region, sampling regional cuisine along the way.

The sunny yellow canola fields that stretch for miles beneath the Canadian sky are actually filled with a variety of rapeseed plant. Created by Canadian scientists in the 1970s, the rapeseed plant that produces canola oil has a lower erucic acid content, making the oil healthier for consumption. To make it, the seeds of the yellow flower are crushed and processed. Two varieties are grown in the US, one which is harvested in June, another which is harvested in August and September, reported the New York Times. The oil, which is low in saturated fat, can be used for cooking and even as a biodiesel fuel, says Discovery Health. For those interested in learning more about the harvesting process, or who just want to take a stroll through the bright fields, keep an eye out for tours, like the ones in Kansas and Washington.

If these vivid fields are too far away to travel to, take a look through the slideshow above for a glimpse of the beautiful colors and symmetry of these flowers.

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