Botanical Garden
You know how in movies, if a person needs to get away from it all and runs off, another person just happens to know that one spot they’ve disappeared too? And the next scene is the friend-who-pays-attention-to-things sitting down next to the escapee character on a significant bench at train station, or on a pier, etc? If you ever need to find me, the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park is most likely where I’ve ended up—I’ll just be standing quietly on a path somewhere, staring at a canopy of leaves rustling gently in the breeze, thinking of nothing except how pretty the green looks when the sun shines through them like that…
I only visited the Gardens for the first time shortly before this blog started (I can’t believe it either), and having had the place blow any of my expectations completely out of the water, I’ve wanted very much to go back ever since! I finally made time today. I grabbed a book and some other necessities and started off.
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First through Duboce Triangle, where I came across this building—I’ve been this way before dozens of times, but I don’t recall the greenery having taken over! These breaks in the urban landscape where people have stepped back and let nature return always catch my eye. Perhaps it was the theme of the day…
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Through the center of Duboce Park…
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…where this sweet snoozing pooch was giving a demonstration on how taking the afternoon off is done… Do pibbles dream of electric treats?? Zzzz…
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And through to Pierce Street…
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And on to Haight Street…
No front yard? No problem!
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Passing by Buena Vista Park…
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Upper Haight… I’ve been to many a San Francisco street fair, but somehow never made it to a Haight-Ashbury Street Fair—too late this year, but on The List…
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Because of course a Haight-Ashbury shop would be painted in rainbow colors and have a ceiling covered in tie-dye…
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The Piedmont! If you’ve never been inside, you have to check it out at least once. Or, if you need a custom sequined feathered (faux) furry fabulous anything, they’ve got you covered. 
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To find the Piedmont, you need only look for these killer gams…
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So many great vintage shops!
(Keep walking, keep walking… Deny the siren calls…)
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It is a good day when the Bladerunners shop guardian is stationed outside to greet customers. He is a gentle sweetheart, and soooo incredibly handsome…
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Golden Gate Park!
This guy and his canine companion seemed rather iconic…
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Bees at work around Alvord Lake…
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I always like passing through the cool of this tunnel on bright days (and, do we ever really outgrow associations of tunnels with magical means of transportation? nope!) Alvord Lake Bridge under Kezar Drive, leading to Sharon Meadow…
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Sharon Meadow…
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Ahhhhhh…. THIS right here (below) was the moment I felt myself exhale and really expand into the idea of taking the afternoon off. I’ve been swamped with work and stressed out, and didn’t really feel like I “had time” to go for a big walk, but I knew I needed it. Especially if you are also a workaholic, trust me—make the time! This trail is a little alternate path I didn’t know was there and had never been down before; it runs from Sharon Meadow to the Botanical Gardens entrance, parallel between MLK Drive and Lincoln:
neat view of the Academy of Sciences from the frontage path
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And finally to the Botanical Garden… I almost can’t believe the Gardens are a free, open, public space, just there being “a unique, 55-acre urban oasis of extraordinary beauty” for all to come and spend time in. (Free if you are an SF resident, only seven bucks if you’re not.) It made me really happy to notice how the only people you’ll find within are visitors and gardeners, and the only signage there describes the plants and trees (and reminds you to stay on the paths)—it’s like everyone respects the place when they are there, and so it remains unrestricted and relaxed. So lovely…
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Resident geese having a snack around the Waterfowl Pond…
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Waterfowl Pond. There are benches and green grassy spaces surrounding the pond, and it’s an idyllic spot to sit or spread out a blanket, and watch the geese, ducks, and turtles while you have lunch or read a book…
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I am not good at sitting, and, I wanted to be in the green shade of the paths, so I walked around with my lunch. “How To Have the Perfect Lunch: 1. get a box of veggies and hummus (or whatever you like), 2. Munch while wandering through 55 acres of gorgeous stuff.”
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After spotting a hummingbird, I spotted the moon hanging out with the Sutro Tower…
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I don’t think this is part of the exhibits, but I think dandelions are so pretty before they’ve been used for wishing…
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I feel kind of silly when I start tossing around superlatives, but this place is incredibly beautiful, peaceful, inspiring, and diverse, and the layout of the space makes it easy to have a sphere of it to yourself as you make your way around. It is truly stunning, and especially the first time I visited, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude that this was all here, right in my backyard. I love the cacophony of city life, and am usually on the move, spinning my gears on a project and/or in my head, but being in the Gardens is like a glorious off-switch. Shhhhhh…… the only sounds I wanna hear from you are your heartbeat and your breath… breathe in, breath out; just look… It’s like instant meditation. You can’t help but have a quiet mind when you are here.
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I also love how the Gardens are kind of like the Louvre for botany—you can’t really see everything in one visit—I had missed this whole bamboo forest section the first time through. The sound of the plants knocking together is unexpected! It’s like a creaky house settling in for the night…
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It’s tempting to just find a nook and take a nap, but I needed to get back to my desk.
Through the park back home… I like passing through the Music Concourse, where the Academy of Sciences and the deYoung live…
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And this path, headed back towards Haight with these amazing ferns (trees?) that make me think “I’m in Jurassic Park!”
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Back down Haight.
Ha, of course I’m drawn in by the window full of maps! And explorer’s gear…
I need a pith helmet… do they come in black? 😉
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Such a lovely day…
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I told myself no more photos, but then I came across this apartment building with really great, chiseled signage… Mmmm, kerning… and the shapes of the 1’s and 6’s are gorgeous (it’s my job, I can’t help it!)
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And last one… Golden Hour light makes everything look pretty…
Where should I go tomorrow?
- MILES WALKED: about 8.5
- NEIGHBORHOODS: Mission District, Duboce Triangle, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park
- DESIGNATED LANDMARKS: Golden Gate Park Music Concourse (no. 249)
