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Beware! |
TICKETS ON SALE!
THE SAVAGE GARDEN:
An Introduction to Carnivorous Plants |
Join us for an afternoon with author Peter D'Amato, owner of California Carnivores, a nursery that houses the world's largest collection of carnivorous plants!
July 14th, 2010
1 - 3:30 pm
Conservatory of Flowers'
Orchid Gallery
D'Amato's book THE SAVAGE GARDEN is in its 9th printing, and is the winner of two book awards, including the American Horticultural Society Award. Books will be available for purchase, and signing! Visit our website for more info, and click here to purchase tickets securely online. |
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Visit Us |  |
NEW Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday
10am - 4:30pm (last entry is at 4:00pm)
The Conservatory is closed most Mondays, but will be open Monday, July 5th, for the 4th of July Weekend!
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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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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Help us Grow...
digitally!
Upload Photos and Share your Experiences!
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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. | | HOLD YOUR SPECIAL EVENT AT THE CONSERVATORY
OF FLOWERS
Weddings, Corporate Luncheons, Office Holiday 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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| CONSERVATORY
PARTNERS
Founding Partners |
| Urban Farmer Store
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Dear ,
As we enter into our 14th decade of service to our community and those who visit it, I am reminded of the importance of the generosity of you, our supporters, visitors and members. Without you, we would be hard pressed to develop and deliver so many invaluable educational programs, outstanding horticultural exhibitions and seasonal floral displays.
I'm taking advantage of this prime time moment to not only thank you for your continued interest and support, but ask you to consider increasing your support of the Conservatory in a number of helpful ways; give a friend or family member a Conservatory Jungle Pass Membership, become a member, or upgrade your current Conservatory membership into a higher level of support and enjoy expanded benefits (those 'new and expanded membership categories will be rolled out next month). Join our extraordinary family of volunteers, contribute to one or more of our Annual Appeals, or include the Conservatory of Flowers in your estate planning with a specific bequest.
Our community is truly the lifeblood of our future in terms of financial stability and elevated horticultural quality. We rely on your generosity to help care for the physical plant, and the proper maintenance of our grand 1879 structure. Thank you very much for all you do to help the Conservatory of Flowers grow and succeed!
Enjoy your summer!
And visit us often!
Brent Dennis
Director |
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WHAT'S IN BLOOM AT THE CONSERVATORY?
 Is that a Chamaedorea? Is it bamboo? No, the six foot tall mass of plant growing in the Highland Tropics Gallery, with cane-like stems and folded leaves, is an orchid by the name of Elleanthus. This genus of about 100 species is indigenous to Latin America and is found in larger abundance throughout the Andes. Our plant has ten six inch long head-like inflorescences with clusters of small purple flowers. Unlike most orchids you have seen, the Elleanthus is yet another example of the range of diversity found under the glass of the Conservatory.
See the Elleanthus on the Southern wall of the Highland Tropics Gallery.
Written by Eric Imperiale
Photo by Morgan Davis |
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MEMBERS NIGHT RECAP!
 On June 16th, we were delighted to celebrate our 2nd annual Jungle Pass Member's Night! Members had an opportunity to mingle among the flowers, and to enjoy an evening in CHOMP. Lucky for us, the fog had not yet descended on the Conservatory, and the long-lasting daylight set the tone perfectly for a buffet served in front of the Orchid Gallery. Owner of the café kiosk, Juan San Mames, thrilled all in attendance with a variety of paellas that were as beautiful to admire as they were delicious!
 Executive Director Brent Dennis presented Juan, with a certificate of Saffronic Excellence, and proclaimed June 16th XANATH DAY!Juan surprised each of our members with their own take-home sample of his sensational Vanilla Extract!
Jason Mark, fresh off a flight from the Gulf Coast  where he was reporting on the BP Oil Spill crisis, spoke about ways San Franciscans can get involved with farming, and community supported agriculture. From Alemany Farm, he brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a cornucopia of vegetables that were raffled off to three lucky attendees! Many of our members have volunteered at Alemany, and more pledged to visit soon! An organic conversation followed his presentation, and discussions about sustainable farming and urban living continued through out the evening. One happy urban chicken owner established a barter with an urban beekeeper! Eggs for honey. What a sweet deal!
 The delightful evening ended with a preview tasting of Juan's new Roasted Almond ice-cream. Those who'd had thirds on the paella still managed to find some room for the novelty!
Thanks to all of the members who attended, our dedicated event volunteers and docents, and to Jason Mark and Juan and Rosa Maria San Mames, and special thanks to Cole Hardware for their event sponsorship!
 For more photos of Member's Night, click here to view our  facebook photo album! |
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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
The Conservatory of Flowers will be open the entire Fourth of July weekend! Yes, we'll even be open on Monday, July 5th! Come celebrate! |
CARNIVOROUS CURIOSITIES FOR KIDS!
 Join us for a magical day at the Paxton Gate Curiosities for Kids store! We'll be bringing the Fly Trap Theater out of Golden Gate Park and into the Mission! The Fly Trap Theater is a fun presentation by the Conservatory of Flowers' own knowledgeable and friendly tour guides! Learn why and how carnivorous plants are different from other plants, what areas in the world produce plants that eat bugs, why these plants hunt, and how they attack! Carnivorous plants will be dissected, their trapping mechanisms looked at up close and personally, in order to learn about the different adaptations these creatures use to lure tasty bug dinners into their plant jaws! After uncovering the mysteries of the carnivorous plants in the Fly Trap Theater, we'll create our own bug and plant puppets replicating traps seen in nature that use gummy slime, sticky stalks, hairy triggers, and dark mazes - or use our imaginations to create totally new carnivorous creatures! - to perform our own CHOMP scenes time and again!
Dates: July 10 and 24, 2010
Time: 2-4 pm (BUZZ by throughout!)
Location: Curiosities for Kids at 766 Valencia, San Francisco, in between 18th and 19th Streets in San Francisco's Mission District
Cost: FREE!
Youth 11 and under who attend will get one admission to the CHOMP exhibit at the Conservatory for FREE!
Don't forget! We're offering 2-for-1 adult admission during the run of the show with a receipt from Paxton Gate dated between May and October, 2010. Paxton Gate is offering customers that bring in a Chomp ticket stub 15% off plants and garden supplies at either of their stores for the full run of the show! (Now through October 31!)
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GOOD IDEAS FROM THE GIFT SHOP!
Keep the Sun Out of Your Eyes! Two styles of baseball caps for sale in the gift shop - traditional cotton baseball caps and cool mesh trucker caps with the Chomp 2 flytraps will impress, while the protect your eyes from UV rays! $10.95
Save a Tree! Ken Holley's original carnivorous plant painted canvas bags are beautiful - and big enough to carry groceries! You'll never forget your re-usable bags in the car when they're this stunning! $24.95
Stay Hydrated! Stay healthy by drinking water all day long, and with these Chomp 2 stainless steel water bottles, you'll reduce waste by replacing disposable plastic bottles with reusable ones, and you'll remember to stay hydrated by carrying it with you using its handy carabineer! $15.95
And don't forget! The Conservatory of Flowers, online Gift Shop is now open! View our selection of books, exhibit posters, accessories, and clothes! Visit the Conservatory's website, and click "Shop". |
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SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAM!
Announcing the 2010 Summer Training Program for Docents and Jungle Guides! The 7-session training program will be held at the Conservatory every Monday from July 12 through August 23 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. For more information, click here or visit:
www.conservatoryofflowers.org/support/volunteer or contact Erika Frank, Director of Volunteer Services at (415) 637-4326 or efrank@sfcof.org.
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MEET ONE OF OUR SUMMER INTERNS!
This summer we are thrilled to welcome college students who are volunteering their time at the Conservatory of Flowers. This interview will introduce you to Lenora, who is joining us from Smith College, and working on Volunteer and Education projects.
Conservatory Chronicles: What are you studying? Lenora: I am an Italian Studies major and an English Literature minor.
CC: And you actually just returned from a semester in Italy, before starting the internship. What can you tell me about your time there?
LW: Italy was absolutely amazing! I lived with a really quirky, caring family and swam on an Italian mens' club team. Those were the obvious highlights of the year and both really helped me assimilate and improve my Italian. It was a wonderful year; I learned so much and it was everything I hoped it would be!
CC: What do you hope to learn while at the Conservatory this summer?
LW: I've already learned a lot! But I want to get a feel for how non-profits are run and I'm interested in the education and community outreach aspects as well. Other than that I plan on just learning how adults work and what I have to look forward to!
CC: And that's approaching quickly! This will be your senior year at Smith - do you have any plans after graduation?
LW: As of right now my plan is to go live with my best friend in New Zealand for six months then join the Peace Corps... or I might just move up here to the Bay Area and keep applying to Berkeley's English program until I get in.
CC: Do you have any favorite parts of the Conservatory?
LW: I think I like Aquatics the most... I'm so excited that the lotus are blooming right now and I love all the Nepenthes!
CC: Do you have any special memories of the Conservatory? What drew you to the internship?
LW: I stumbled upon the Conservatory last September on one of those weird San Francisco days when it was 52 degrees out... and it was a Sunday so nothing else was open and there was the Conservatory... open and so warm inside! I had never been before and I was just blown away by all the amazing plants and flowers. I liked it so much that I decided I wanted to intern here this summer and here I am!
CC: Well, we are happy that you stumbled in, and thrilled that you've joined us for the summer. Thank you, Lenora! |
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ON THE WISH LIST
 Thank you, Crissy! The Conservatory is grateful for a generous donation of a flatscreen TV. We're now 50% to our goal, and in need of ONE 48" flatscreen monitor for volunteer trainings this summer and future meeting rentals! If you are interested in donating these items, please email Erika Frank, Director of Volunteer Services. Visit the online Wish List to see more needs. Thank you! |
THE BUZZZ ON CHOMP 2! 
The Conservatory has been everywhere recently! People can't help spreading the word about the fascinating plants we're hosting. We're thrilled with the press! Take a look to see what folks are saying!
 You can always see more photos and video and read other news on our facebook page! |
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