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Category Archives: people
aquarium’s unexpected virtue: drought tolerance – SFGate
I often wonder about the impact of the current drought on Golden Gate Park. Here’s an uplifting article about the water supply at the aquarium in the California Academy of Sciences. ‘The Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences opened at its new home … Continue reading
zen in golden gate park: the art of nature journaling
Recently I spent a week in the Sierras “nature-journaling” with John Muir Laws: http://www.johnmuirlaws.com If you aren’t familiar with Jack Laws, I highly recommend getting to know him. Whenever I’m in the Sierras I depend on The Laws Field Guide … Continue reading
the oldest trees in golden gate park: coastal oak woodlands predate the park
In the north east corner of Golden Gate Park, along Fulton Ave. behind McLaren Lodge and the Conservatory of Flowers, a grove of native coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) offers a glimpse of what the San Francisco peninsula was like before the … Continue reading
Local Bird Catches Gold Fish Cracker in Golden Gate Park | SF Weekly
Thank you Jim Herd (and SF Weekly) for this wonderful photo! “Oh, the unexpected things you will witness during a stroll in Golden Gate Park: teeny tiny tree houses, daytime robberies, and of course, urban birds living like a bunch … Continue reading
Posted in animals, arts, birds, wildlife
Tagged birds of golden gate park, golden gate park, nature photography, urban ecology, urban wildlife, wildlife photography
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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: views from the thicket 