SF Conservatory of Flowers--Reopens to a Warm Reception
Written: Feb 22 '04 (Updated Feb 14 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lush, tropical plants. Beautiful exterior landscaping.
Cons: It's HOT inside--dress lightly. Boring if you don't like tropical plants. Might be crowded.
The Bottom Line: Picturesque setting. Landmark historic building with colorful landscaping in a beautiful park. Worth seeing.
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| jmatsu's Full Review: Golden Gate Park |
The San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers is a strikingly beautiful 19th century building set against the lush greenery of Golden Gate Park. Made of frosted glass panels held together by a delicate framework of white-painted wood, the building features an ornate dome and houses a variety of tropical plants.
The historic building is generally regarded as one-of-a-kind. It has the added benefit of being situated in the picturesque Golden Gate Park. The front of the building looks out over colorful, landscaped flowers and views of the rest of the Park. It was recently restored and is as pristine as it could be.
We went on a Wednesday in February. There was a big crowd outside, which worried us for a bit, but it turned out to be a tour group. We got our tickets and skirted around them and went in.
The first thing we noticed was the heat. We were dressed in turtlenecks for a cold day--but the first room was warm. The further we went into the Conservatory, the warmer it got. Some rooms were almost steamy. If you go, I recommend wearing layers. We probably would have been happy in a tshirt and shorts.
The second thing we noticed was the plants. There were a lot of leafy tropical plants (I would guess that many were diffenbachia). One stretched high, almost to the top of the dome. I think that would be the century-old plant that is the pride and joy of the Conservatory. Most of the vegetation was green, some deep green and some variegated. Scattered throughout were a few colorful flowers, such as bromeliads, cyclamen, orchids and a few water lilies. The plants seemed healthy and well-cared for.
There is a distinctive half a tree in the last room on the right. It doesn't have any leaves. It has a lot of bromeliads, moss and air plants growing out of cracks and crevices--and the tree isn't real. I was surprised, but then I figured that the alternative may have been to just use a plain metal stand for the plants. The artificial tree is great to look at, like something out of Harry Potter. Ultimately having a man-made tree to hold plants is not much different than using man-made fountains or earthenware pots. There are a few other man-made accents in the conservatory, some looking like tree parts and some very ornate metalwork.
There are many things placed carefully for visual impact and effect. There's a lot to photograph. One room has a beautiful, round, wooden arch. It makes everything within it look like a picture.
The layout of the building is simple. The entryway is in the middle. That anteroom feeds you into the main central room under the dome. Each room is sealed off from the next by a door (I imagine it was to ensure that the heat and moisture didn't leak out and that plants requiring more heat were in the rooms that were further in). There is a wing off to the left and one to the right. The one to the right leads to Highland Tropics and then Aquatic plants. There are a few modern looking waterfall-style fountains.
The left wing has a room full of potted plants. The next room is for temporary Special Exhibits. A section was like a classroom with child-sized desks, the next section was my favorite and I wish the exhibit was permanent. The TEMPORARY exhibit was on pollination. It featured colorful displays with large graphics aimed at small children. There were pictures of bees and hummingbirds, but what I adored was the live butterflies. The edge of the room was lined with flowers rich in nectar and the room had dozens of live butterflies fluttering gently from flower to flower. At first they didn't seem real and I wondered if they'd dangled some fake ones from wires, but no, they were real. They landed on flowers and didn't mind if people came right up to them. It was easy to see 5 or 6 together (of course, I forgot to bring my camera). A handful hovered overhead, but most of the butterflies were quietly settled on flowers drinking nectar. There was a butterfly release house in the middle with a number of chrysalises hanging from them. While we were there, we saw several butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.
Hopefully they will do this again sometime.
I would say that the Conservatory is good for spending 20 minutes to an hour--depending on what your interest in tropical plants and the special exhibit is. The building is not very big. The paths are wide enough for two people to walk abreast comfortably, or for a wheelchair, but if you happen to go on a busy day, it can be cramped and crowded.
I would give the Conservatory 4 stars because I don't know if it has a broad enough appeal and it's not someplace that you would spend several hours at. My favorite part was the temporary exhibit, so I think the experience will be greatly affected by whatever the Special Exhibit happens to be.
Those with no interest in tropical plants might just want to stop by and walk around the front of the building, enjoying the view and landscaping--and maybe taking a few photos.
ABOUT PHOTOS:
If it's cold outside, your camera lens might fog up. Wait a bit and check your lens before taking any photos, or you could be disappointed and find them all foggy when you get your pictures developed.
Golden Gate Park does offer more to see.
There are many small gardens and some bigger ones like the Japanese Tea Garden (which also charges admission) and Strybing Arboretum (which is free). You could go for a hike around Stow Lake, if you want to be immersed in trees and wilderness. At the other end of the Park is Ocean Beach. It's a dangerous beach to swim in, but great for walking along. Along the way you could stop to see the herd of bison and check out the Dutch Windmill--maybe the tulips will be in bloom.
FYI: for those that have been to the Park before, the De Young Museum is under renovation and won't reopen till 2005. The Asian Art Museum is open now, but it is in a NEW LOCATION and no longer in Golden Gate Park. The Steinhart Aquarium and California Academy of Sciences are also closed. The Aquarium will reopen in May 1, 2004 in a new location OUTSIDE of Golden Gate Park. The California Academy won't reopen until 2008.
History of the Conservatory
In 1876 the building was found among the effects of a San Jose businessman, James Lick. It was purchased by SF businessmen and given to the Park Commission, who erected it in Golden Gate Park and opened it to the public in 1879.
Over the next century, the building endured some minor and major mishaps, at times closing for repair, but eventually reopening.
In 1995, the building was terribly damaged by a freak windstorm which shattered almost half of the glass and damaged the basic structure. Tremendous effort and 25 million dollars went into saving and restoring the building (for which no one had any blueprints), and into protecting the delicate plants.
On Sept. 20, 2003 the Conservatory again opened for the public.
Admission:
Free on 1st Tuesday of the month
Other days:
$5 for adults
$3 for youth (12-17) and seniors
$1.50 for children (5-11)
Free for children 4 and under
Hours
The Conservatory is closed on Mondays.
It is open T-Sun, 9-4:30pm
For more information, go to:
http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/
To see a map of Golden Gate Park
http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/basics/large_ggp_map.jpg
For pictures of the Conservatory, go to:
http://www.mistersf.com/props/index.html?propsconservatory.htm
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2005
FYI: Seattle has a similar conservatory in Volunteer Park. At a glance, the two buildings look the same. The Seattle building is not as pristine as this one, but the variety of plants is good and the admission is free. It is a short walk from the Asian Art Museum and well worth a visit.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
jmatsu
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Member: Joy M
Location: outside of Seattle
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 22 members
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