San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers ~ Golden Gate Park

2010.01.09

The Conservatory is whitewashed to reduce the light intensity and heat load as well as to maintain the historical appearance.

The Highland Tropics room. The Conservatory is one of only four institutions in the US to feature a highland tropics gallery. Plants in this room are typically found at 3000 to 7000 ft elevations

Not sure what this was, but it was pretty, and big.

These gorgeous orchids were everywhere in the Highland Tropics room.

This pretty orchid was growing in a much more humid environment, the Aquatic Plants room. It was so humid in there that my lens kept fogging up.

The Aquatic pool. I love the reflections of the overhead structure in the water below.

Incredible sprays of orchids!

Lots of huge aquatic plants.

Nepenthes, the Asian pitcher plant. These plants are the only group of carnivorous plants with a vining growth habit. And the flowers were huge.

Orchids everywhere you looked.

I love this orchid, it is so dainty looking.

Just goes to show you that orchids are easy to grow given the perfect conditions. Right.

I love the brilliant orange of this flower, and the centers are so jewel-like. This one really is best enlarged.

Back in the Highland Tropics room. These orchids were climbing almost to the tall ceiling above.

Detail of the orchid in the above picture

This was some mossy, ferny stuff growing in the Lowland Tropics room. Very lush.

I've never seen an orchid that looked like this before. Really pretty. This was in the Potted Plants room.

Bleeding Heart, also in the Potted Plants room.

Bat Flower. Seriously!

Hibiscus

Over Christmas vacation I went to San Francisco with my BFF Linda. We have been best friends since we met in Brownies when we were 5. I wanted to revisit the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. I had been there 3 years ago on a tour bus trip to Golden Gate Park, and only had 40 minutes to rush through. Previous post is here. I'd been wanting to go back ever since to be able to just take my time wandering around. The flowers are incredible. Orchid lovers, you have to go there. Unbelievable!!! This is the oldest wood & glass Victorian-style conservatory in North America.

As always, click to enlarge any photo.