Comments on: San Francisco: Conservatory of Flowers

By: Linda MacPhee-Cobb

Linda MacPhee-Cobb — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:11:42 +0000

What an amazing botanical garden! I’m partial to the more exotic plants any how.

Thanks for all the photos.

By: Steve Mudge(Fort Worth)

Steve Mudge(Fort Worth) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:25:41 +0000

Ahhh….thanks for the little blast of cool Pacific air…Fort Worth was most definitely an oven yesterday at almost 100 degrees. That conservatory is a jewel!

I did not want to come back to Texas. AJM kept saying SF was cold but I kept thinking how perfect it was for walking and working outside. And the plants love it! — mss

By: Yolanda Elizabet

Yolanda Elizabet — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:58:39 +0000

This is my kind of conservatory! I’m glad the building was saved. I’ve been to SF before but somehow mamaged to miss the conservatory, how careless of me. Must go there again and enjoy the vast collection of plants they have there.

The Victoria amazonica is also found in one of the conservatories of the botanical garden of Leiden, the Netherlands.

And also at Kew Gardens. I think the design of the Conservatory of Flowers draws heavily on Kew. — mss

By: Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Carol, May Dreams Gardens — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:44:39 +0000

Thanks for giving us a look into this historic treasure and some background on it. Fascinating. I’d love to see it in person someday.

Your first picture looks like it could be a postcard! It’s gorgeous.

Thanks. I liked the contrast of the Victorian structure in such an obviously Californian setting. San Francisco is full of wonderful sights for any gardener. What a place to garden in. –mss

By: Pam/Digging (Austin)

Pam/Digging (Austin) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:32:46 +0000

Beautiful building and interesting plants.

By: cindee

cindee — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:14:39 +0000

All I can think of is WOW that is amazing. I love all those plants. How exciting to visit there.

By: Les, Norfolk

Les, Norfolk — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:23:55 +0000

When I go to a wonderful place like this, it is so easy to suffer species overload. I usually just forget the names, relax and try my best to take in the whole picture and forget about all the parts.

I did that the first time and the second time I was distracted by sharing the experience with AJM. This time I wanted to see with more informed eyes so that I could get more out of the experience and do a better job of reporting on it. — mss

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:56:17 +0000

What a jewel box, MSS. I don’t think I ever thought about why carnivorous plants were, well meat eaters, thank you for that! I found an old postcard from the St Louis 1904 World’s Fair with a photo of a small woman standing on one of the giant lily pads…I wonder where I filed it!

I wish people had more opportunity to be amazed by the natural world. Growing up in apartments or in the sterile suburbs doesn’t provide much chance to cultivate that essential sense of wonder. — mss

By: Layanee

Layanee — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:27:41 +0000

A beautiful trip! Thanks for taking us along. Love the conservatory and the Dr. Seuss plant comment made me laugh. I always call the large alliums “Alice in Wonderland” plants. On the previous post, your lawn looks cool and inviting! We are barely hitting 75 degrees here in New England but it is quite nice for gardening.

Whenever I see a collection of plants like this I think Science Fiction/Fantasy writers have pretty undeveloped imaginations. — mss

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:59:54 +0000

Stupendous. If I ever get to San Francisco, it’s definitely on my list of places to visit.

By: Annie in Austin

Annie in Austin — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:33:19 +0000

Welcome back! It must have been very difficult to return from a ‘normal’ place to this sweltering city, MSS. Keeping all the window blinds closed against the sun is my equivalent to whitewash, I guess!

The conservatory building looks wonderful and how amazing that the philodendron survived. If I ever get to San Francisco this will have to be on the sightseeing list.

But the pitcher plants? Vendors had dozens of similar plants for sale at Flora-Rama earlier in spring at Zilker Park. They may not be inexpensive but the are attainable if you get a hankering for growing something weird.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

PS How is your white ginger doing? I do not want you to be without this plant so let me know.

No. I enjoy looking at these plants but I don’t feel the need to grow them. The white ginger still lives! (I think it’s the only plant you’ve given me that I haven’t managed to kill–but I’m trying hard to keep it alive because I love the scent so much.) –mss

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:11:48 +0000

Looks like you had a great trip. I have always been fascinated by the Victoria amazonica since I saw it in a picture as a young child. Great post.

Jan
Always Growing

Apparently they can support the weight of a small child. They are amazing. — mss

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:05:13 +0000

Oh, my gosh! That conservatory is AMAZING. I am now adding that to my top 5 list of places I want to visit.

I can’t believe such a treasure was almost lost. Good thing people came to their senses and saved it!

And look at that pitcher plant – Amazing! They are so alien looking.

The Conservatory of Flowers was incredible and there is even more to see in Golden Gate Park. Stay tuned for additional installments. — mss