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Monthly Archives: October 2010
musing in the tea garden
The Japanese Tea Garden is now a study in fall color. Like the first layer of watercolor wash applied with a brush to paper, the saturation is variable throughout the garden now, with a spot or two of brilliant red, … Continue reading
Posted in fall foliage, trees/urban forest, wildlife
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is golden gate park an urban forest?!
Here’s an interesting puzzle! Friends of the Urban Forest is creating an urban forest map of San Francisco that omits Golden Gate Park (the project also omits the other parks in the city, including the Presidio). http://www.urbanforestmap.org/map/ I understand the … Continue reading
Posted in trees/urban forest
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roof-top environmental science
Last Sunday, braving the steady drizzle and chilly temperature, six citizen scientists took part in an on-going science project on the roof of the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Academy Naturalist Alana Hysert oversees monthly monitoring of plants, … Continue reading
Posted in california academy of sciences, wildlife
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why sparrows change their tunes
Wild Neighbors: The Baptista Tapes: Why Sparrows Change Their Tunes. Category: Columns from The Berkeley Daily Planet.
Posted in california academy of sciences, people, wildlife
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bison and sparrows
Along the fence of the bison paddock in Golden Gate Park a group of volunteers has been installing new planting designed to attract white crowned sparrows. Now that’s a contrast for you; what could link these huge beasts to these … Continue reading
Posted in wildlife
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golden gate park fall foliage tour
The first signs of fall are here! Here’s a picture of cherry trees at the entrance to North Lake (intersection of Chain of lakes Drive East an JFK Drive). And the grasses in front of the De Young Museum. Another … Continue reading
Posted in fall foliage
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john mclaren
What would John McLaren think of his statue at the entrance to the newly renovated rhodendron dell? By all accounts he was opposed to cluttering up the park … Continue reading
Posted in people
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not strictly bicycle parking
Last Sunday the park was a study in contrasts! In the vicinity of Speedway Meadow it was such a happening place: people elbow to elbow on JFK Drive, picnic blankets end to end in the meadows, standing room only on the … Continue reading
Posted in events in Golden Gate Park
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turning sewage sludge into gold!?
Turns out there is fascinating precedent for water recycling in Golden Gate Park! The following information is from a paper entitled: “The Beautification and Irrigation of Golden Gate Park with Activated Sludge Effluent,” written in 1937 by Charles Gilman Hyde, Professor … Continue reading
Posted in "lost" golden gate park, infrastructure
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golden gate park: views from the thicket 