WHAT'S IN STORE? 

Friends of the Conservatory Gift Shop appreciate the artful and eco-loving bookmarks designed by Everett Middle School's Ecology Club, sold here to support their garden project.

We're proud to be part of the release of "One Simple Thing," a children's storybook that tells the tale of our bookmark artists. Authored by the club's teacher, Paula Ginsburg, the book comes in either full-color form to add to your library, or as a coloring book to help children engage with the creative activism of San Francisco kids determined to make environmental change.

Eco-loving Bookmarks - $1

One Simple Thing Coloring Book - $12

One Simple Thing Full-Color Storybook - $9 

Featured items are only available in store. For more items visit us- in store or online.    

THE VINE INSPIRATION 

Michelle Chu's interest in biology emerged after her parent's introduced her to the Conservatory as a child. She incorporated this experience into her college essay, which we're reproducing here:   

"Allure"

While purchasing my admission ticket to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, I notice that a member of the staff working there recognizes me instantly. She looks at me briefly and her facial expression says "You again?" I laugh and continue walking into the Conservatory of Flowers. Once I step in, I see the Costus Malortieanus flower and immediately flashback to the picture I took with my parents when they first introduced me to the Conservatory of Flowers. Walking towards my left, I glance at the treacherous-looking bat plant in the Special Exhibits section. Walking back towards the right side of the Conservatory, I immediately walk to the Highland Tropics section where I gaze at the Masdevallia orchid, an eye-opener during my every visit. The fascination of nature's beauty makes it clear why my parents exposed me to nature at an early age.

My introduction to nature began with outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking, and camping. Intrigued by nature's beauty, I read through my parents' phytology and microbiology books carefully in search for answers to the evolution of exotic plants, flowers, and insects. I was captured by the spine-tingling pictures of loathsome, microscopic lice and the predatory Venus fly traps. Seeing my interest in nature, my parents introduced me to the Conservatory of Flowers in hopes of spurring more appreciation for the beauty of nature. But, little did they know that by introducing me to the Conservatory of Flowers, they were actually introducing me to my second family.

Much like my home where I greet my family when I walk through the door, I greet the flowers when I walk into the Conservatory of Flowers. I smile at the water lilies and lotuses as they float by serenely in the water. I quickly study the 100-year-old giant Imperial Philodendron plant to see how age is treating it. I smell my favorite Masdevallia orchids and visually examine them to see if they have grown or if their babies are now in bloom. The Masdevallia orchid's unique shape amplifies my obsession with it every time I see it. Unlike the appearance of a regular orchid, the Masdevallia's long sepals merge together to form a tube with tail-like extensions resembling the eccentric façade of a kite in flight. Looking at the Masdevallia orchid, I feel an earnest desire to unravel its genetic diversity, pigmentation, reproduction and evolution that allow orchids to come in different shapes, shades, and blends of color.

When observing the Masdevallia, I realize that all my time spent adoring nature and nights pondering through my parents' phytology and microbiology books have led me to my ultimate dream of studying biology. Through biological studies, I am committed to pursue an in-depth understanding of science about life, nature, growth, and the evolution of the universe so that I have the knowledge to help find cures for life-threatening diseases such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and influenza. Nature is my passion and also my inspiration to study biological sciences to save lives.

This fall, Michelle will matriculate at San Francisco State University, where she will major in biology with hopes to pursue a career in medicine.  

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.

TONIGHT! Thursday, August 18, 6 pm

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 .  

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.