The Conservatory Chronicles
Issue 105
August 2016
NewHours
A Victorian Proclamation: New Extended Hours!
Just a reminder - we're open
until 6:30 (last admission at 6) Tuesday - Sunday. Stop by after work for a tropical adventure - no air fare required!

Don't wait too long! 
These special extended seasonal hours only last until October 31st.
 
Be sure to treat yourself and the people closest to you to a 
gift membership or a surprise renewal to the beautiful Victorian greenhouse.  
Curiosities
Curiosities on the Palm Terrace
Curiosities

Weekends just got a whole lot more exciting on the Conservatory Palm Terrace!

Every Friday and Saturday afternoon through September, visit the Conservatory Curiosities table on the Conservatory's Palm Terrace. We'll reveal how the strange and unusual plants featured in the Conservatory trap insects, attract pollinators, and avoid being eaten by hungry herbivores. Joining us on the Terrace this week is Wrecking Ball Coffee, purveyor of sustainably sourced, expertly roasted specialty coffee. The experts will share how coffee beans are sourced, selected, and go from green to roasted perfection. Drop by the table to see the process - you can even take home your own coffee plant! Get the full Curiosities schedule.

Local online news source, Hoodline, offers even more details about our weekend curiosities.

Oh, and did we mention - it's free! Hope to see you!
 
Click here or the video below to see the action! 
 
ProtectingAmerica
Who's protecting the plants of America? The Conservatory of Flowers. We have joined the Sentinel Plant Network a partnership between the American Public Gardens Association and the National Plant Diagnostic Network, to contribute to plant conservation through the early detection of serious plant pests and diseases. "We are on the frontlines doing the important work of first responders in plant disease," said nursery specialist Eric Imperiale, upon his return from the network training in New Mexico. The Conservatory joins over 200 public gardens in monitoring and reporting plant pests and diseases in order to prevent negative economic and environmental impact to our plant communities.
 
PestControl
Meet a member of our hard working pest control staff... 
Look closely to locate the green anole, a member of our integrated pest management staff. (He's right in the middle - look for the pink throat.) Anolis carolinensis are beneficial lizards who feast on cockroaches, grubs, flies and beetles. 

It's truly a win-win situation here at the Conservatory. We exclude the anoles major predators - cats, birds and snakes - and they track down and swallow (they don't chew) pests lurking in the tropical jungle. 

MutinCaps
Improvements in Process on the Glass Roof 
Work is underway to replace the deteriorating roof putty with new siliconecaps and sealant while preserving the historic 
integrity of the building.
Glass roof repairs
The roof improvements project is an important component of the required ongoing maintenance of the historic Conservatory which has 16,800 panes of glass. 
Additionally, we are replacing or securing panes of glass as necessary.  The Conservatory will remain open during construction, and we hope to minimize any disruption to our guests.  This project has been years in the making and has been a truly collaborative effort between San Francisco Recreation and Parks and the Conservatory of Flowers team. The roof improvements are being generously funded by the San Francisco General Fund.   
Photography
Glasshouse Artists Access

We are delighted to offer artists and photographers a special opportunity to set up easels and tripods before or after our normal hours of operation. Enjoy the beautiful Conservatory crowd-free, take your time to get that extraordinary photo or capture a flower on canvas. 

Dates and times available
9am - 10 am                                              6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
September 27                                                  September 27 
October 11                                                        October 11 
October 25                                                       October 25 
                                             
Reservations are required, space is limited: $20 for members*; $30 for non-members.  Click here to reserve.

Fee includes same day admission to the Conservatory. You are welcome to stay after we open at 10 or arrive before we close at 6:30. Use of tripods and easels is restricted to the one hour reserved time.

This time is reserved for individuals. Models, wedding and engagement photos, family portraits or any other professional photography is not allowed. Artists must provide all their own materials and storage containers for the removal of all used water and non-toxic cleaning fluids. No fluids of any type are to be disposed of at the Conservatory. Watercolor or pencil only, no oils or acrylics please.

*Members be sure to look for your discount code in your email today!
Cornhole
Looking for a Custom Game Set?
Take this cornhole set home today!


You may have seen this custom one-of-a-kind game set entertaining the crowds if you came by our booth at the Outside Lands Festival earlier this August. The Conservatory of Flowers is now auctioning off this cornhole game set that comes with 2 sets of bean bag buckets. This fanciful cornhole game set was personally painted by San Francisco music artist Yekeno for the Conservatory of Flowers. 
InBloom
What's in Bloom?
Come see this fragrant bloom before it fades away!

Hedychium gardnerianum "Ginger lily"

Location: Aquatic Gallery
Native to: Himalayas in India and Nepal
 
Hedychium gardnerianum grows to eight
feet tall with long, bright greenleaves clasping the tall stems. The fragrant pale yellow and red flowers are held in dense spikes above the foliage. The plant is an invasive species in certain areas. It is known as wild kahili ginger and is listed as a weed in Hawaii. Its sticky seeds are easily spread by birds and roaming mammals, while the rhizomes crowd out seedlings of other plants by forming dense mats. Despite its vindictive tendencies in an unchecked environment, here in the Conservatory it's an especially striking addition to the gallery. 

Visit the What's in Bloom page to see what else is blooming!
DahliaShow
Don't Miss the Dahlia Show at the County Fair Building!
  

Our good friends and neighbors, The Dahlia Society of California (SF), will be hosting their Annual Dahlia Show this weekend.

1199 9th Avenue 
at Lincoln Way (located adjacent to the SF Botanical Garden)

August 20, 10am - 5pm 
August 21, 10am - 4pm 
Visit Us Today!

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 6:30pm (last entry is at 6:00pm)

Please note that on Sundays and holidays,
Golden Gate Park closes many of its roads to all vehicle traffic.

Admission: $8.00 for Adults; $6.00 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 SF City and County residents with proof of residency. 
The Conservatory is free to all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.
RPD logo
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 JFK Drive in front of the Conservatory. 
Strollers are not allowed in the Conservatory.

Information line: 415-831-2090