Nature in the City - 75th Anniversary and Community Day at the SF Botanical Garden

The San Francisco Botanical Garden recently had a Community Day to celebrate the garden's 75th anniversary.

There were informational booths, cultural music and performances, walking tours and other activities that day. Mijo and I had an enjoyable and relaxing day.

Mijo and I saw the sign regarding San Francisco Botanical Garden's Community Day and 75th Anniversary while walking back to the car parked nearby.  We were in the same area the day before when Mijo and I went to De Young Museum's Friday Nights at the Museum.  Mijo and I decided that we should go back the next day to check it out.

 

We did. We checked out the scene a little after 12noon. The Botanical Garden's main entrance is off Ninth Ave. and Lincoln Way. That area is always lively and crowded with people jogging, walking the dog and also because of nearby restaurants and shops.

 

  

As always, locals go in for free. Donations and support are always welcome. (Please go to their website to learn ways how to support the Botanical Garden.)

There are booths dotting the areas near the entrance and near the Great Meadow. Speaking of Great Meadow, there were performances and music being held in the middle of the area. Lots of people congregated around a small stage in the middle of the Great Meadow. Mijo and I stayed there until the program ended.

  

  

  

We didn't want to leave right away so we decided to check out the Redwood Grove of the Botanical Garden. I have been to the Botanical Garden several times but I haven't been to the Redwood Grove. We got ourselves a map of the garden. 

Even with a map on hand, it is still easy to get lost inside the Botanical gardens. Thank God for the many volunteers at the park that day. Google maps also works.
Also, try to pace yourself while inside the garden. There are also benches on the pathways  to sit and relax.

To get there, we decided we went through the Temperate Asia garden where I found these lush bamboos. I love the sound of the bamboo leaves every time the wind blows. So relaxing. It took me back to my childhood memories of my summers in the Philippines. 

 

  

This one I like. The signs says it is from Japan and it is called Liliceae.

 

  

We passed by this pond called Dwarf Conifer pond before we reached the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest.

 

My favorite in the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest is this Apulca Pine from Central Mexico.

 

Next, we got to the California Native Garden. Lots of beautiful poppies and meadow flowers in this garden.  I didn't want to shoot these flowers using my iPhone so I brought my Canon DSLR and my macro lens.

 

 

  

Here are the rest of the flowers. I noticed that this area is a favorite of the bees. I was glad to see that bees thrive in the botanical garden.

    

  

 

  

We finally reached the Redwood Grove. I must say the section seems like a popular garden. Stepping in this garden is like going to the Redwood forests of Northern California. 

 

I felt really small being next to these giant trees. Since we just wanted to see the Redwood Grove that day, we decided to start making our way out.

   

Somehow we got to the border of Mesoamerican Cloud Forest and New Zealand gardens.

 

We walked further and reached the Zellerbach Garden of Perennials.

And then the Waterfowl Pond where lots of ducks congregate. 

 

Thank you SF Botanical Garden for a refreshing day. 
Happy 75th Anniversary!

~rl