Conservatory Logo
Conservatory Chronicles
 Issue #45                                                                                                       
 July, 2011
In This Issue
Visit us.. if you dare!
Hours
What's In Bloom?
Eco Lands at Outside Lands
In the Gift Shop
AFTER HOURS MASH UP Tonight!
Garden Photo Contest
Architectural Heritage Lecture
Community Calendar
Cattleya Symposium
Fall Weddings & Holiday Parties
Wish List
Wicked Plants Press
Archives


Conservatory Chronicles

Contributors

Reflections
Editor-in-chief:
Morgan Davis 
 
Content Contributors:
Annie Abernethy, Michelle Manzer   
 
Photograph Contributors:

Michelle Manzer  

   

Beware of what lurks in your garden... 

Wicked Plants banner
Visit if you dare!

Visit Us
Reflections
 Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday

10am - 4:30pm (last entry is at 4:00pm)

The Conservatory is closed on 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.

 

Donate Now!
Purple orchid photo by Todd Worley

 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.  

 
Dear

 

"Catching the Wave"

   

Summer in Golden Gate Park is one of my favorite times of the year. Realizing that a majority of the 15 million annual visitors experience the Park during the months of June through September, the Conservatory of Flowers certainly 'catches the wave' of this huge influx of visitors vacationing from all around the world. With the great gardens of Golden Gate Park, the inherent synergism inherent of the botanical beauty and bounty surrounding our 1879 Victorian gem leads most visitors to include our famous "jungle tour," a must-experience adventure.

   

As we end July, "Wicked Plants" has already proven to be one of the Conservatory's best attended exhibitions. Add the unique floral flash within the Potted Plants Gallery and the jungle-like lushness of the Lowland and Highland Tropics with the wonderment of warm waters' plants of the Aquatics Gallery, and it all comes together to showcase the very best of our global garden. The Conservatory of Flowers enjoys its share of garden enthusiasts who include the Golden Gate Park experience in their photo albums and special memories.

   

I hope during the coming months, that you will be able to also 'catch the wave' of summer excitement and enthusiasm for all that's great in Golden Gate Park...with the Conservatory of Flowers at the top of your list! Thanks for your continued interest and support!

 

 

Brent's signature 

Brent Dennis
Director

TONIGHT! After Hours Mash Up with the SF Marathon | 6-10 pm | July 27, 2011   

We're mashing up two of San Francisco's hottest institutions, the sweat-driving San Francisco Marathon and the steamy Conservatory of Flowers, for a special pre-race celebration in the tropics. Cheer on those who are running, even if you're not in the race. In the Wicked Plants exhibit, it's Rogues vs. Assassins, and in the beverage department, California's eco-smart Bandits Boxed Wine vye to take your taste buds' attention away from our friendly local brewers, Comrades Brewing, while Twelve Beverage provides a sparkling, alcohol free alternative. Enjoy a night in the tropics, and a chance to craft your own paper lei with the recycled art divas of Trash Mash-Up (a great complement to your cocktail dress or your race bib, should you be running)! Sample tasty treats from our partners in eco-sustainability, Ki Sushi. Sweet beats provided by Dudha.us . Register for prizes that include a visit to Ripley's Believe It or Not, SF Marathon apparel and a chance to attend Wicked Bugs: An Evening with Amy Stewart . And don't forget to pop into the Photo Booth !

Please Note: You will need to show a valid 21+ ID.
FEE: $5 entry, $5 Beverages
DATE: JULY 27, 2011
TIME: 6 pm - 10 pm $5 entry, tickets available at the door. 

RSVP and invite friends on Find us on Facebookacebook!    

  

Special thanks to generous donations of time and treats to:  

SF Marathon LogoTwelve Beverages   Bandit LogoMagnolia Photo Booth LogoTrash Mash Up banner   DUDHA.US    KI SUSHI   COMRADES BREWING   

  

   

WHAT'S IN BLOOM? 
 Dahlia Garden Collage

The Dahlia Garden! Tended by the Dahlia Society of California for the past nine decades, this is not a part of the Conservatory, but as it is our sincere pleasure to have these colorful neighbors, we wanted to remind our less frequent visitors that this is the time of year to view the magical garden. On your next visit to the Conservatory, reserve a few moments to meander down to the Dahlia Circle to learn about the almost 500 kinds of Dahlias in bloom. View more Dahlia Days photos by visiting our facebook album, and post your own!         

 

OUTSIDE LANDS FEVER!

   

Outside Lands Lineup ImageDo you have a ticket to Outside Lands Music Festival in August? We do! We're proud to be hosting a booth in Eco Lands! With three full days of music, won't you want to come by, say hi, and perhaps even get a little bit more Wicked with our temporary Wicked Plants tattoo parlor? We think you do! Stop by between sets to say hello.  

 

WHAT'S IN STORE? 

Gift Shop Image July 11

 

A lot of GREEN for a little GREEN:

3 eco-friendly items under $3

 

$1.00 Conservatory Recycled Pencil  

Each pencil is made from compressed recycled newspaper that is wrapped around graphite. Pencils come in green and blue with the Conservatory signature.

 

$1.00 Everett Middle School Bookmarks

Okay, so maybe these aren't the most eco-friendly bookmarks in the world, but they have a good message and support a good cause. Conservatory drawings and environmentally friendly messages are drawn and written by Everett Middle School's Ecology Club. 50% of the proceeds benefit the Ecology Club and their school garden in San Francisco.  

 

$2.99 Common Buckwheat, Fagopyron esculentum from Botanical Interests Seed Company, is the biggest bang for your buck, garden and the earth! Cover crops such as Common Buckwheat help to reduce the amount of watering, weeds, soil erosion and depletion, and pests in the garden naturally. They also return ever important nutrients back to the soil and help mimic natural regenerative cycles, making your garden more sustainable. Common Buckwheat can be planted in spring, summer or fall. Each packet covers 65 square feet (an 8' x 8' planting area) so spread generously!  

 

Featured items are only available in store. For more items visit us- in store or online at www.conservatoryofflowers.org/shop

 


UPCOMING PROGRAMS
 Mark your calendars for upcoming engagements at the Conservatory. You can always visit the website for more upcoming programming and ticket information. 
 

The Conservatory of Flowers and Quiet Lightning PRESENT: The Greenhouse Effect Summer Reading Series 

Mondays, August 1, September 5, and October 10 at 7pm

Quiet Lightning brings their high-charged community readings to the Conservatory of Flowers for three months, going out with a bang during San Francisco's legendary Litquake festival. Entirely open to the public, Quiet Lightning accepts any form of writing: fiction, poetry, personal statement-anything-so you never know what's coming next! The accepted submissions are ordered in a way that weaves varying patterns of language into a compelling and oft-intoxicating double set of literary mixtape madness. The monthly shows-with featured artwork by one local artist- are published in a sPARKLE & bLINK, available at the shows and online. Submit your work, or join us for the literary heat wave!  

Quiet Lightning has just announced  the featured readers for August 1:  

Keely Hyslop|Graham Gremore|Alyson Sinclair|Cassandra Gorgeous 

Andrew O. Dugas |Cole Krawitz| Amy Cruz|Mira Martin-Parker
Howard Junker|Tobey Kaplan|Tim Kahl|Sarah Page
Sean Labrador y Manzano 

...with outstanding artwork created by Tyler Iorillo, who will be on hand with some goodies for sale. The deadline for September submissions is Thursday, August 18. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. More info on submission policies can be found here.  

Fee: Aug. 1, Sept. 5 - $3 | October 10 - $5 as part of Litquake, available at the door.  

  

Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects

Thursday, October 6, lecture from 7 - 8 pm, Q&A to follow  

Enjoy a delightfully sinister evening with Amy Stewart author of WICKED BUGS: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects as she crawls through the research that wormed its way into her newest book. From horrific to bizarre, learn about the strange places bugs appear in pop culture, relationships, science, travel and, last but not least, the garden. The Conservatory galleries will be open at 6:30 to view Wicked Plants.
Space is limited. Reserve your space or purchase your tickets online.  

Fee: $12 General Public; $7 Members; Free to Begonia, Cycad, and Orchid Guild Members     

 

For more event info, visit the website or email Special Events & Programs Manager Morgan Davis. We look forward to meeting you there!

 

 

GARDEN PHOTO CONTEST

 

Horticulture Magazine and DavesGarden.com are sponsoring a photography contest that gives you a chance to win $1000! The deadline is September 30, 2011... so get out into the garden to snap away! Submit your photos online:

HortMag.com/gardenphotos.  

Garden Photo Contest Logo 

CELEBRATED CHEFS

Orchid Image

 

Celebrated Chefs is an exciting "frequent diners program" designed to raise money for non-profit organizations by dining at participating restaurants. Your participation is FREE.

Every time you dine at a Celebrated Chefs restaurant, the restaurant donates 5% of your dining bill directly to the Conservatory of Flowers!

It's simple: you participate by providing Celebrated Chefs with the credit card that you most frequently use to dine out. Then, the next time you dine at one of the participating restaurants, pay your bill using the same credit card, and 5% will automatically be donated to the Conservatory of Flowers - whether it's dining for business or pleasure. 

No special cards or identification is required and your information is kept confidential.

Visit the website for enrollment today. 

 

Thank you for considering us through this tasty fundraiser!



ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE EVENT

 

Landscape architect and U.C. Berkeley extension professor JC Miller will provide an overview of the 2005 restoration of Thomas Church's Fay Park. Tucked away in Russian Hill, the Church-designed garden was commissioned in 1957 by the owners of the Fay Berrigan House, built in 1912. The entire property was donated to the city in 1998 and is now a public park. The lecture will be held in the Presidio, itself a renowned cultural landscape, and will include an introduction to the key elements that define significant cultural landscapes.

   

Thursday, August 18, 6 p.m.

Golden Gate Club, The Presidio, 135 Fisher Loop

$12 general public; $8 Heritage members and students

Event information and ticketing can be found here:  sfheritage.org .  

 


COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

 

SUMMER WEDNESDAYS  

Upper Haight Farmers Market  

Waller & Stanyan  

4 pm - 8 pm  

 

SUMMER THURSDAYS  

Off the Grid: Upper Haight   

Waller & Stanyan  

4:30 pm - 8:30 pm

 

Saturday, August 6
San Francisco Botanical Garden Society  

13th Annual Summer Gardening Fair 

10 am - 3pm
FREE   

 

August 11 - 13  

Outside Lands Music Festival

Golden Gate Park  

 

 

 

  


A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS  
 

Cattleya Symposium Invite

Our out-of-town east coast fans are invited to the 1st Annual Cattleya Symposium, July 29 and July 30, in Fort Pierce, Florida. For a larger, PDF version of the invite, please click here: Cattleya Symposium. Learn more at odoms.com, and keep your eyes on your mailbox to learn more about our exciting Cattleya project in our summer print news!

 


PLANNING AN EVENT?


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 Events Manager Morgan Davis at [email protected].   
Ryan Anson's bouquet photo      Ceremony Photo Maparunga Photography    Orchid Gallery Reception

Photo Credits: Left, Ryan Anson Photography, Middle, Janine Mapurunga Photography  

L0VE.

Alison and Nathan

One of the 2010 COF weddings was the marriage of two creative and crafty minds. Their big day was recently featured in 7x7's wedding blog.

Read the full article online:

 Tech Geek Wedding at Conservatory of Flowers 

Photo Credits: Mapurunga Photography

 

WISH LIST!

Projector and Screen

 

Drape Sponsorship for the Orchid Gallery

 

1 or 2 Podiums for lectures and presentations

 

New stanchions for the entry

 

Flashlights for Jungle Guides and Docents

  

Contact Morgan Davis with items for in kind donation!

 

 
ENSNARING THE MEDIA 

SF Parks & Recreations Get Out & Play View our videos on YouTube features interviews with Amy Stewart and Exhibits Director Lau Hodges, and introduces viewers to the bewitching plants.

 
Local blogger Tina Tarnoff artfully disentangles the Wicked Plants.  

 

Gardening Gone Wild contributor Saxon Holt photographs the plants that star in the exhibit.  

   

Oregon Floral Designers Blum give a visitor's perspective of the scene in Wicked Plants.

 
7x7 blogs about the sinister exhibit, and offers Christopher Walken as an unlikely spokesperson.

Sunset's Fresh Dirt blog admits its our turn to dig into Amy Stewart's novel and the fun it delivers, and dares visitors to experience it themselves.

Exhibits Director Lau Hodges introduces many of the 'killer plants' featured in Wicked Plants in a behind the scenes exhibit tour on KTVU.

ABC7 News interviews Amy Stewart and Lau Hodges in the exhibit, and discovers which plants was ironically deemed too dangerous to display in the park.
 
The San Francisco Chronicle crowns Amy Stewart a "garden rock star" in its feature on Wicked Plants.

The Richmond Blog warns you to watch your back, and shares a number of photos of the exhibit. 

Micheal Leaverton of SFWeekly introduces some of the less appealing side effects of the "plants that rack up body counts."          

  

Conservatory Chronicles 5

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