past posts from the thicket
search by subject
overstory (links)
Tag Archives: golden gate park history
victory gardens in golden gate park
Urban farming and community gardening have been time-tested in San Francisco. Few people today realize that Golden Gate Park was a productive urban farm during World War II. ‘Victory Gardens, also called “war gardens” or “food gardens for defense”, were … Continue reading
searching for spanish monastery stones in golden gate park
Walking in Golden Gate Park you may notice some ornately carved stones, segments of fluted pillars, arches, sculptural reliefs worn smooth by time. These are remnants of a medieval Spanish monastery, now scattered throughout the park and put to various … Continue reading
fly fishing lessons in Golden Gate Park
Here’s another fantastic opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ right here in Golden Gate Park this summer, at the historic Angler’s Lodge. To see what this idyllic spot looks like, follow the link to the ABC news clip at … Continue reading
Posted in history, people, recreation
Tagged fly fishing, golden gate park, golden gate park history
1 Comment
managing the urban forest in golden gate park
Standing near the intersection of Transverse Drive and Middle Drive West in Golden Gate Park, looking downhill towards Elk Glen Lake, I am surrounded by urban forest, no hint of the city in sight. The air is warm and … Continue reading
murphy windmill stub on the verge of renovation
“During the next month neighbors of the Murphy Windmill in Golden Gate Park can watch workers finally cast the old stub’s fourth, fifth and sixth floors. A large crane installed the windmill’s eight main posts during the weekend and now … Continue reading
the old beach chalet in golden gate park
The current Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park dates to 1925. It’s a building in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and one of the landmark historic structures in the park. Few people know that there was another Beach Chalet, predating … Continue reading
Posted in "lost" golden gate park, history
Tagged golden gate park, golden gate park history, lost golden gate park
1 Comment
quail in golden gate park
According to the Golden Gate Audubon Society web page: “The haunting call of the California Quail, the California State bird, is now rarely heard in Golden Gate Park. Historically, San Francisco’s streams and coastal scrub vegetation provided the food, cover, … Continue reading
horses and the founding of golden gate park
A horse actually played a key role in the founding of Golden Gate Park. The story goes like this: In the early 1870s, faced with the daunting task of establishing a vegetative cover on the sand dunes that had been … Continue reading
horse stable to open in central park
The following excerpt is from a recent article in the New York Times: ‘Central Park is laced with bridle paths and dotted with pastures, and its plants were once fertilized with manure. But though carriage horses trot through it, police … Continue reading
chicken point: a long-forgotten story involving chickens and coyotes
In The Making of Golden Gate Park: The Early Years, 1865 – 1906, Raymond Clary recounted some fascinating anecdotes from the early history of Golden Gate Park. Many of them have long been forgotten. One story that caught my eye … Continue reading
Posted in "lost" golden gate park, history, people
Tagged golden gate park, golden gate park history, lost golden gate park
2 Comments
