Special Exhibits Schedule
The Golden Gate Express
will continue to roll until
April 19, 2009
Please note: We will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
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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
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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.
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| 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.
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Dear ,
As November turns to December and the holiday season comes into full 'bloom', I want to pause to express my genuine gratitude to all of your for your remarkable and steadfast support of the Conservatory of Flowers. These can become quite unsettling times for many people as our newspapers and electronic media churn out a disproportionate amount of negative and outright depressing news. But with great pride I truly glow when I see and read the tremendous upbeat and optimistic news stemming from our 1879 Victorian landmark in Golden Gate Park!
The human side of the Conservatory speaks volumes of generosity of shared time by our superb and passionate volunteers. The Conservatory's professional staff has worked tirelessly to transform the west wing exhibitions gallery from a fanciful garden filled with butterflies to a magical miniature cityscape with our new "Golden Gate Express" garden railway. With colorful cyclamens and poinsettias popping up throughout the Conservatory's permanent collections, the spirit of the holidays is taking hold of our grand glasshouse.
Whether you are a Jungle Pass household, annual fund donor, new Community Partner, program and exhibit sponsor, or a granting foundation helping support youth education or horticultural enhancements, YOU are held in great esteem by all of us at the Conservatory as we count our blessings during this time of Thanksgiving and our upcoming December holidays. Thank you for your continued interest and support of the Conservatory of Flowers as we grow to better serve our community....your community!
I greatly appreciate your energetic enthusiasm and invaluable loyalty to our efforts to fulfill the mission of the Conservatory of Flowers. I invite you to visit us often during the holiday season...share the Conservatory's beauty and special charm with your friends and family...and make the holidays a treasured tradition in your life.
Happy Holidays!
Gratefully,
Brent Dennis
Director
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 Golden Gate Express Garden Railway
The Golden Gate Express roared into town with a Gala preview party on November 19th and opened to the public on November 20th. Visitors are delighted with the miniature San Francisco landmarks and the lushly landscaped gardens.
Chip Sullivan, professor of landscape architecture at Berkeley, was instrumental in creating the design concept. Ed Levinson of Orinda Model Railroad Consultants is providing the ongoing day-to-day train maintenance to keep everything "on-track".
For a preview of the Golden Gate Express, please click here. Let the Conservatory of Flowers and the Golden Gate Express become a part of your holiday traditions. |
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Buddah's Hand
The Buddha's Hand Citron Tree (Citrus medica var.  sarcodactylus) is recognized for its fruit which resembles the shape of the hands of the Tang Dynasty Buddha statue. It is used predominantly by the Chinese and Japanese for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing. The popular fruit has no pulp or juice but its claim to fame is the fragrant oils. The Buddha Hand grows outdoors during warm weather and indoors in winter months because citrons cannot take freezing temperatures. The Buddha's hand goes perfectly as a center piece on the dining room table; the peel can be made into zest for fish or salad, and flavor for alcohol.
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| Have you visited our new gift shop?
Our gift shop has moved indoors with a greatly expanded selection of branded merchandise and holiday gifts. You'll find something for everyone from canvas tote backs, colorful tee shirts and delightful books for the train lover of every age.
Please stop by and visit us! |
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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.
Our new training program will begin on January 29, 2009. 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.
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