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NEW EXHIBIT! |
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ALL ABOARD THE GOLDEN GATE EXPRESS
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Visit Us |
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Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm (last entry is at 4:30pm)
The Conservatory is closed Mondays.
Please note that on Sundays and all major holidays, Golden Gate Park closes many of its roads to all vehicle traffic
Information line:
415-831-2090
Admission:
$7.00 for Adults
$5.00 for Youth 12-17, Seniors age 65 & over, and College Students with ID
$2.00 for Children 5-11
Free for Children 4 and under
Discounts available to all San Francisco City and County residents with proof of residency
The Conservatory is free to all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.
Accessibility:
The Conservatory Of Flowers is wheelchair accessible for both motorized and non motorized chairs. Handicap permit parking is located at the east side of the building and also on John F. Kennedy Drive in front of the Conservatory. Strollers are not allowed in the Conservatory.
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| CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE TIGER! FEBRUARY 12 - 28! |
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For two weeks only, the art of penjing, dating back more than 2000 years, will be on display in the Conservatory. Celebrate the Lunar New Year with us. Click here to learn more about the exhibit.
Penjing display made possible by Dr. John Peterson and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. |
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BE MINE!
Roses are red
Violets are blue,
but a jungle full of Orchids really says
I LOVE YOU!
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This Valentine's Day, give your sweetheart a Jungle Pass and treat them to a year of exotic flowers!
This ANNUAL PASS provides membership to the Conservatory of Flowers and supports our education mission.
UNLIMITED VISITS
The Jungle Pass admits two adults and two children for unlimited visits to the Conservatory, as well as discounts to Conservatory events, and entrance to other gardens around the country. To purchase your pass, click here.
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| Donate Now! |
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Your donation will help ensure the continued growth and success of this unique educational and historic living museum.
Click here to make a donation through our secure online form. |
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HOLD YOUR SPECIAL EVENT AT THE CONSERVATORY
OF FLOWERS
Weddings, Corporate Events, Children's Birthday Parties... See how our event spaces will work for your private party. Visit the website for more information or contact Event Coordinator Morgan Davis at mdavis@sfcof.org.
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| Save the Date!
February 26, 2010
Pacific Orchid Exposition
Gala Benefit
Proceeds Benefit The Conservatory of Flowers, Helen Crocker Russell Horticultural Library, and a scholarship for a horticultural student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. |
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Click here to learn more about the Gala and to purchase tickets. |
| CONSERVATORY
PARTNERS
Founding Partners |
| Urban Farmer Store
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Dear ,
"Growing Again in 2010!" Happy New Year to all of you! Where did 2009 go? So much has been growing on at the Conservatory of Flowers over the past 12 months, that time has flown by at hyper speed. Over the holidays, I enjoyed watching the Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman movie, "The Bucket List". Not that I, or the Conservatory, are in any threat or jeopardy of passing on anytime soon... but the notion of a list of very important things to accomplish certainly came to mind after watching this very fun, but thought-provoking movie. One of the new improvements we are introducing into our website and regular communications to our growing family of members and supporters will be the Conservatory's "Wish List". This list will essentially be a menu of specific needs of our facility, plant collections or programs from which our supporters can consider when donating to help us better fulfill our mission. It has become increasingly clear over the past few years of tougher economic times that quite often it is easier for individuals, families or companies to donate an item or service that is of great need and importance to the Conservatory rather than contributing an outright financial gift. Please take time to look over our "Wish List" and help make a difference at the Conservatory of Flowers during 2010. Your ongoing support, interest and involvement are much appreciated. Visit us often during the winter months and enjoy an escape to the tropics...it is a jungle in here! Cheers,
 Brent Dennis
Director
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AN INTERVIEW WITH ERIKA FRANK
 This month we welcomed Erika Frank, the Conservatory of Flowers' new Director of Volunteer Services. I took a few moments to get to know Erika, and to introduce her to all in our community! As Erika implements new programs for volunteers, it's a great time to get involved!
Morgan: Thank you for chatting with me today! To get started, how long have you been in SF? How do you enjoy your free time here?
Erika: I've lived in SF for ten years. My favorites always changes with the season. In the summer, my husband Brendan plays baseball and I like to catch his games, especially when they're in a new area. I like to wander around the neighborhoods that surround the parks where he plays, too. I'd say that's one of the things I like the most about SF, how unique the neighborhoods are, and of course, the people watching.
Morgan: And having been at the Conservatory for three weeks now - have any favorite places emerged?
Erika: I'm still kind of learning about it - I love the way it changes, and the way the nursery staff are always installing new plants in different nooks. I love wandering in between meetings, or catching the tail end of a docent's tour to notice the little things the nursery staff puts out. I also love sitting in my office and watching the sun set over the dome.
Morgan: Tell me a bit about what your previous job, and what you've experienced before coming here.
Erika: I've mainly worked with fundraising events. I started as a Volunteer Coordinator for AIDS Walk SF, and was with that organization for about 7 years. I got to travel to New York, Atlanta, and LA working on those events and it got me really excited about engaging the community, and helping others within the community. After that, I worked with the Kidney Foundation planning the Northern California Kidney Walks. I figured out what I really liked about each of these jobs, and it was all reflected in the position at the Conservatory. It's really the perfect job for me - perfect timing, as I'd been taking classes at the City College in Floral Design, and it combined what I love to do after work, and what I do professionally.
Morgan: What are you most excited about for the upcoming year at the Conservatory? What do you see in store for the Volunteer Program?
Erika: I'm excited to engage more young people, especially with education, helping to engage the kids who come in as visitors. I'd like to be able to increase the number of volunteers so that the dream projects the staff have can be started and completed! And I'd like to be able to support the enthusiasm of the volunteers for their projects.
Morgan: Do you grow any plants at home?
Erika: I grow vegetables, herbs, and I have two favorite plants right now: I love growing the flower sweet pea. They produce flowers for me all summer, as I tend to plant them a little later than I'm supposed to... They smell wonderful and they look so pretty- I like to plant a lot so that I have enough to share! I have another one, a new one this year - a passionflower vine. I put it in this pot, and it took almost a year for anything to happen, then this summer it went crazy! It took over the chicken wire fence protecting the vegetable garden! It has gorgeous pink and purple flowers, and funky vines with curly cues at the end, but it was nothing, and then it just exploded! You can't believe it's all coming from one pot.
Morgan: You're hosting the first-ever Golden Gate Park Volunteer Fair. Tell me a little about it, and what guests can expect to learn that day.
Erika: Yes! Everyone reading the newsletter is welcome! We will host the fair in the Orchid Gallery. There will be ten organizations that work within the park who are all hosting booths with information about their opportunities. Anyone who has questions can reach me. We'd love for current volunteers to come, too, and get to know other organizations in the park, and bring any of their interested friends!
Morgan: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, and to let our readers get to know you.
Erika: You're welcome! I just can't believe that this is my job - I understand why volunteers want to come and be in this wonderful place. I leave work very happy every day.
Get to know Erika better when you see her around the Conservatory, and join us for Golden Gate Park Volunteer Fair on February 10th, in the Orchid Gallery between 10 am and 2pm! |
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WHAT'S IN BLOOM AT THE CONSERVATORY?
Brighten up your rainy day with a visit to the Highland Tropics gallery. Our Pleione formosana orchids are waking-up early this year to share their blooms. The pink and white flowers resemble Cattleyas and emerge from new shoots which grow at the base of a leafless pseudobulb. As the new growth develops, a pleated leaf and a new pseudobulb form. Named after Pleione, the wife of Atlas in Greek mythology, the plant is sometimes referred to as "The Windowsill Orchid" for its popularity as a container plant. However, this hardy orchid from Taiwan and China grows successfully outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Find the Pleione formosana in the Highland's Gallery armoire, located on the west wall. Join us indoors for a bit of the outdoors and rekindle the spring within.
Article by Eric Imperiale
Photo: Jane Scurich
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SPECIAL OFFER FOR EXHIBIT PIECES!
Interested in owning your very own piece of one of the Conservatory of Flowers' exhibits? Now you can! On sale now at the Conservatory's gift shop are beautiful one-of-a-kind botanical drawings for $50.00 each. These pieces of art are all hand drawn by local artists and graced the walls of the Conservatory's Edible Expedition exhibit. Hurry, these won't last long.
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TRAIN MANIA!
If you haven't had a chance to stop by to visit this year's Golden Gate Express Garden Railway, it's a must see! Popular with kids and adults alike, this exhibit is sure to bring out the 'kid' in everyone. And don't forget to stop by the gift shop, located inside the Special Exhibits Gallery to peruse all of our train merchandise. For the kids, our exhibit tees make a great gift. And for the 'big kids', our exhibit baseball hats will help you show your support of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers!
Enjoy a ride on the Golden Gate Express Garden Railway |
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CELEBRATE WINTER WITH OUR PARTNERS!
Did you know...
- Orchids evolved 40-80 million years ago?
- A vanilla bean is the dried fruit of an Orchid?
- Orchids were used in medieval times as aphrodisiacs?
- There are 30,000 kinds of Orchids on earth?
- Orchids grow in every color except blue?
- California has 32 species of Orchids?
- And the Orchid family is young and rapidly evolving?
Celebrate this amazing plant at Sloat Garden Center's Winter Orchid Festival at all locations February 1 - 14, 2010. Visit them for 2 weeks of great prices on beautiful orchids, orchid giveaways, seminars, demonstrations and more!
Special Offer for Conservatory of Flowers members during Sloat's Winter Orchid Festival: receive one free orchid pot when you show your Jungle Pass card at any Sloat location! Valid February 1-14, 2010 only.
Winter Orchid Festival Seminars & Demonstrations are at the following Sloat Garden Center locations/dates:
Coax those Orchids Back into Bloom
Glenn Smith, from the Marin Orchid Society, shares how to bring orchids into bloom again with fertilizers, lighting and watering.
Jan.31 - Kentfield, Sun., 10 am
Feb.3 - S.F. (Sloat Blvd.), Wed., 5:30 pm
Feb.7 - Novato, Sun., 10 am
Feb.13 - Mill Valley (Miller Ave.), Sat., 10 am
Orchid Repotting Demonstrations
Sloat staff will demonstrate step by step how to repot an orchid.
Feb.2 - Mill Valley (Miller Ave.), Tues., 12 noon
Feb.6 - San Rafael, Sat., 12 noon
Feb.10 - Kentfield, Wed., 12 noon
Create an Orchid Centerpiece
Cindy Bonilla and Jen Strobel demonstrate how to create show-stopping centerpieces using orchids.
Feb.6 - S.F. (Pierce), Bonilla, Sat., 10am
Feb.6 - Kentfield, Strobel, Sat., 10am
Feb.10 - S.F. (Sloat Blvd.), Wed., 5:30 pm
Orchids 101
Tom Perlite, owner of Golden Gate Orchids, discusses the feeding and care of orchids. As a local orchid expert, Tom has fascinating information to share about orchids...don't miss him!
Feb.13 - S.F. (Pierce), Sat., 10am
Feb.14 - S.F. (Sloat Blvd.), Sun., 10am
And Sloat features sale prices on:
4" 2 spike Phalaenopsis
3" mini Phalaenopsis
3-5 spike Cymbidium (50% off!)
4" Odontoglossom
For more information, visit sloatgardens.com. | |
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