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Recollections of a 50-year love affair with Golden Gate Park
I can’t resist posting this lovely recollection of Golden Gate Park written by Roselyn Rich Smith, printed in the Marin Independent Journal on June 6, 2024 (to see the original article follow the link at the end). “I have bicycled through some … Continue reading
Posted in history, people, recreation
Tagged bicycling, golden gate park, golden gate park history, urban parks
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pedestrian underpass in Golden Gate Park avoids cars and serves as impromtu bandshell
A pedestrian underpass beckons like an intriguing cave opposite the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, offering a vehicle-free means of traversing JFK Drive. On a sunny day, the sunlit steps on the other side are an invitation to enter and the reward … Continue reading
Posted in arts, concerts, history, infrastructure
Tagged concert in the park, golden gate park, golden gate park history, music in the park, urban parks
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the conservatory of flowers in golden gate park
The Conservatory of Flowers is the emblem and pride of Golden Gate Park. With its elegant symmetry, white-washed glass panes and delicate wooden fretwork it commands an imposing prospect overlooking formal flowerbeds and gracious green lawns. More than anything else, the Conservatory establishes the park’s nineteenth century pedigree, … Continue reading
primordial tree fern dell in golden gate park
The shady Tree Fern Dell in Golden Gate Park is so different in mood from the sunny, flower-filled Conservatory Valley on the other side of JFK Drive. But this jungly dell well represents the flip side of the Victorian sensibility, a fascination with the exotic and … Continue reading
“The Ball Thrower” in Golden Gate Park
“The Ball Thrower,” a bronze statue on the south side of JFK Drive across from the Conservatory of Flowers, is one of my favorites among the many sculptures scattered throughout Golden Gate Park. Not only is it a delightful character study … Continue reading
Pastels of Golden Gate Park
Here are two gorgeous pastel drawings of Golden Gate Park, by San Francisco artist Diane Olivier, who is also a legendary drawing teacher at San Francisco City College. Two different days, very different light in the park! Both drawings were … Continue reading
Posted in arts, plants, san francisco botanical garden
Tagged art in golden gate park, golden gate park
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Golden Gate Park aquifer to augment Hetch Hetchy water
Here’s an interesting article about the aquifer that underlies Golden Gate Park: “The ongoing California drought and the constant threat of earthquake have driven home the need for The City, which draws 85 percent of its water from the Tuolumne … Continue reading
Posted in health and safety, infrastructure
Tagged golden gate park, urban parks, water in golden gate park, windmills
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A Birder Visits Golden Gate Park, April 2014
A birder and photographer who goes by the name Redgannet visited Golden Gate Park this week and posted some lovely photographs of birds sighted, including this one of a Cormorant at Stow Lake. “Bird list for Stow Lake: Canada Goose 12, … Continue reading
Blue Heron Cam at Stow Lake (Bay Nature)
Nancy DeStafanis with her herons at Stow Lake, San Francisco. Photo courtesy of DeStefanis. A sign placed outside the Stow Lake Boathouse informs visitors of the variety of bird species that use the lake, such as the pied-billed grebe, Canadian … Continue reading
Posted in animals, birds, people, wildlife
Tagged birds of golden gate park, golden gate park, urban ecology, urban parks
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Plants with a mean streak
Check out the new exhibit that just opened at the Conservatory of Flowers (and will be on view through mid October). “San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers spokeswoman Nina Sazevich quips, “Chomp: They Came from the Swamp,” is bound to be … Continue reading
golden gate park: views from the thicket 