San Francisco's Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco is on a list of must-see locations in San Francisco for anyone interested in botany or horticulture. In addition, it's a great thing to add to things to do in San Francisco on a rainy day, as the Conservatory of Flowers is located in an enclosed, climate controlled greenhouse in Golden Gate Park.
Golden Gate Park has a number of attractions which are fun to visit including the De Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the Botanical Gardens. If you're interested in taking a botanical field trip of San Francisco, consider visiting the Botanical Gardens, following up with tea in the tranquil and beautiful Japanese Tea Garden, and then visiting the Conservatory of Flowers for a stunning collection of unusual plants from all over the world.
The Conservatory of Flowers is the oldest Victorian style wood and glass conservatory in the United States, and was built in 1878. It sits on a hill in the middle of manicured grounds with a wide assortment of outdoor plants that complement the natural environment of Golden Gate Park. In 2000, the Conservatory of Flowers was restored to its former glory, and it is well worth a visit for students of Victorian architecture.
The main room of the Conservatory of Flowers is the lowland tropics collection, which has a number of giant and beautiful plants including the oldest and largest Philodendron speciosum in cultivation. The lowland tropics area also has an exhibit of cash crops including coffee, cacao, star fruit, bananas, and vanilla. In the back of the room, displays show pictures and tools from horticulture over the centuries, and rare specimens of plants and animals.
To the right of the lowland tropics is the highland tropics, a very unusual collection. Mimicking the colder cloud forests of the tropics, it has a collection of rare and interesting plants, trees, and flowers. The Conservatory also maintains a stunning collection of exotic and beautiful high altitude orchids. Crossing through this exhibit brings you to the aquatic plants, which has a series of beautiful and tranquil pools and sculpture that seem to transport you to another era. The aquatic plants room also houses carnivorous plants and impressive giant water lilies.
If you turn left from the lowland tropics, you will find yourself in the rotating collections of the Conservatory of Flowers. The first room houses potted plants, including a plethora of beautiful flowering plants, rare potted plants, and antique pots. The potted plants room has orchids, bat flowers, succulents, cacti, and a number of other bizarre and captivating plants. Going through the exhibit leads you to the special exhibits room, which has features on everything from carnivorous plants to medicinal herbs, depending on when you visit.
The Conservatory of Flowers is open Tuesday-Sunday in Golden Gate Park from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults, and is good all day, so you can wander the grounds outside as well as inside. Parents should take note that strollers are not permitted, although they can be checked in the front office. Wheelchairs (motorized and otherwise) for people with disabilities are allowed, although guide animals are not.
