Author Archives: fromthethicket

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About fromthethicket

I'm a landscape historian and professor emeritus of landscape architecture, UC Davis. I live in San Francisco.

frozen in time?

Frozen in time?  If Golden Gate Park were to be given historic-landmark status, the Stow Lake boathouse could be included in the designation. (Examiner file photo) via Entire Golden Gate Park might be deemed historic | San Francisco Examiner. What … Continue reading

Posted in history | 1 Comment

exotic fall foliage

Walking in the park yesterday, I noticed brilliant flashes of fall color still decorating the park  .  .  .  in mid December!   Are these trees confused?!  It’s so late!  Then I had a revelation:  these flames of color throughout … Continue reading

Posted in fall foliage | 1 Comment

great horned owl

“The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) was first seen in the Virginia colonies, so its species name was created from the Latinised form of the name of this territory (originally named for Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen”). The first published … Continue reading

Posted in wildlife | 2 Comments

owl sighting on strawberry hill

Last night, arriving at the top of Strawberry Hill in Stow Lake at dusk, just in time to catch the last pink and orange of the sunset,  I heard a characteristic, throaty “who-whoooooo.”  Several people were standing around, under a … Continue reading

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controversial gardens to replace recycling

“Nothing lasts forever, even in San Francisco, the city where you can’t sharpen a pencil without conducting an environmental impact report. For decades, the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council Recycling Center has [provided] recycling services and native plants to the locals. But … Continue reading

Posted in guerilla gardeners, infrastructure, recycling | 1 Comment

what is a park for?

This week a red-hot public quarrel erupted over the proposed eviction of the HANC recycling center that has been occupying a half acre of park land next to Kezar Stadium for the past 30 years or so.  Recreation and Park … Continue reading

Posted in guerilla gardeners, history, infrastructure, recycling | Leave a comment

golden gate park field guide (phone app)

This is a pretty cool new phone app — a field guide to golden gate park — developed by the Academy of Sciences.  It’s interactive, so users can help build a data base on plants, wildlife and other things of … Continue reading

Posted in california academy of sciences | Leave a comment

get a daily dose of green space

“First, the bad news: Americans are suffering from an acute case of ‘outdoor deprivation disorder,’ and the effects on physical and mental health are rising fast. Children aged 8 to 18 today spend more time than ever using electronic media … Continue reading

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free admission?

On August 7 this year, the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park began to charge admission for the first time since it opened to the public seventy years ago.   Nobody likes to have to pay for something that was … Continue reading

Posted in california academy of sciences, de young museum, history, san francisco botanical garden | 2 Comments

ferlinghetti in golden gate park

In Golden Gate Park That Day … by  Lawrence  Ferlinghetti In Golden Gate Park that day a man and his wife were coming along thru the enormous meadow which was the meadow of the world He was wearing green suspenders … Continue reading

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