Special Exhibits Schedule
The Butterfly Zone
opened on Tuesday, March 17 and will continue through Sunday, November 2.
|
|
VISIT US
Hours:
* Tuesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm (last entry is at 4:30pm)
* The Conservatory is closed Mondays
* The Conservatory is closed on all Holidays except Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.
* Please note that on Sundays and all major holidays, Golden Gate Park closes many of its roads to all vehicle traffic
Information line:
415-666-7001
Admission:
* $5.00 for Adults
* $3.00 for Youth 12-17, Seniors 65 & over, and Students with ID
* $1.50 for Children 5 - 11
* FREE for Children 4 and under and all Jungle Pass holders
* The Conservatory is free to all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.
Maps and more information
|
Planning a Special Event?
Photo: Billy Winters
The Conservatory of Flowers is the perfect place for your upcoming wedding, reunion, birthday celebration or other special event.
Visit our rental page for more information.
|
| HELP SUPPORT THE CONSERVATORY
We invite you to support the Conservatory to help us expand our environmental education programs and our horticultural collections. Your tax deductible donation is greatly appreciated.
|
New in our Gift Shop!
This lovely glass paperweight is the perfect souvenir or hostess gift from the historic Conservatory of Flowers.
Available now in our Gift Kiosk.
|
|
"Winged Victory Garden of Sorts"
 As America watches the final days of the highly visible and important Presidential race and so many important ballot initiatives tick away, everyone at the Conservatory of Flowers has been conducting our own signature countdown - namely the days remaining until the final hurrah for our popular Butterfly Zone exhibition. To date over 150,000 visitors have experienced the enchanting and imersive display featuring hundreds of tropical butterflies. The educational emphasis on pollination and the presentation of hundreds of gorgeous nectar-providing blooming plants have teamed up to enlighten our guests within the west wing gallery about the symbiotic nature of butterflies with plants.
Another new and fun introduction to the exhibition this year was the addition of Safari Nights on the first and third Thursdays of the months of the show that offered extended hours and equipped all visitors with their own personal flashlight to aid in their exploration and discovery of resting butterflies and active moths. The Green Lunar Moths quickly became the twilight mascots of the Conservatory. Thursdays during the run of the show allowed 700 evening guests to enjoy the butterflies and moths.
With just a few days remaining until the close of the Butterfly Zone exhibition on Sunday, November 2nd, I encourage all of you who have not yet experienced this unique exhibit to make it out to Golden Gate Park to see the magical flight of our special winged guests.
And as the butterflies flit away to become a fond memory, the Conservatory staff and volunteers will roll up their sleeves to begin a huge transformation of the exhibition gallery to make way for the much anticipated Golden Gate Express Garden Railway, on track to open on November 20th. Stay tuned for more exciting information on the Garden Railway, but in the meantime, make plans to see and share the Butterfly Zone again before
Gratefully,
Brent Dennis
Director
Conservatory of Flowers
|
|
|
Volunteers at the Conservatory
 Are you interested in joining a dynamic group of volunteers at the Conservatory of Flowers? Golden Gate Park is the happening place in San Francisco as visitors hop on the Culture Bus and explore our outstanding museums and gardens. The Conservatory was the first building to open in the park in 1879 and continues to welcome visitors to experience lush tropical gardens in an historic living museum.
Volunteers play an essential role in greeting and educating visitors from around the block and around the world to our tropical jungle. Volunteer coordinator, Lee Edwards, invites you to contact her at 415-722-6650 or info@sfcof.org to explore the many opportunities to volunteer at the Conservatory.
In January a new training program will begin. Volunteers will enjoy an exciting, in-depth, study of plants native to the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn and their impact on our daily lives. Jungle Guides will lead school children on explorations and help them learn about conservation and the environment. Docents will provide daily guided tours for our visitors. Highlight Docents will specialize in the history and content of one of our five galleries and be available to answer questions. Our new Discovery Carts are designed to engage the 4 - 7 year olds and help them become Ambassadors to the Plant Kingdom.
Come be a part of an enthusiastic, dedicated group of engaging volunteers. Experience a top-notch educational program, work with people who share a commitment to the community, and enjoy the beauty and serenity the Conservatory offers.
|
|
Carludovica palmata Panama-hat Palm
This botanical wonder is not a palm and no, the hats are not made in Panama! This plant is a new world native commonly found in low, warm areas in Belize and Guatemala to Bolivia. It is also cultivated in south Florida and Hawaii.
Conservatory of Flowers has acquired Carludovica palmata also known as C. insignis, a valuable ornamental and economic plant  that resembles a palm in the family Cyclanthaceae and is the source for fibers made into the famous Panama hats. This beautiful stemless plant has long petioles, up to 6 feet long and fan shaped leaves more than 3 feet wide. Flowers are unisexual, male and female on the same plant and pollinated by weevils.
Some hats are made in Mexico but most of the industry is in Ecuador. The hats are made by hand, 6 leaves to a hat. The young leaves are collected, divided into segments, boiled and bleached with lemon juice. How this beautiful, useful product got its name is debated but one interesting story is that prospectors during the gold rush purchased the hats in Panama on their way back from California.
Guadalupe Cota
Nursery Specialist
|
November 19th Gala Preview Party
for the Golden Gate Express Garden Railway
Be among the first to experience the romance of the rails as the Golden Gate Express makes its inaugural run through the lushly landscaped miniaturized gardens of San Francisco. Marvel at the landmark buildings created entirely from recycled, reused, found materials. Sip a tasty Conservitini and enjoy the splendor of the historic Conservatory at night. Please join us for a magical evening at the Conservatory of Flowers. For more information about our November 19th Gala, please click here. | |
|
