San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers – Part III

The first time I returned to the Conservatory of Flowers after the restoration, the pond in the Aquatic Plants room was filled with huge Victoria amazonica waterlily plants with leaves that could measure up to six feet across. Alas, they are now gone.

 

Victoria amazonica at the Botanical Garden of Jena 

The Conservatory commissioned artist Stephen Hirt to preserve their image. Hirt used real lily pads to cast life-sized glass, bronze and steel sculptures.

Btw, I just learned that those beautiful etched-glass signs I showed you here were also done by Stephen Hirt.

When we left the Aquatic Plants room, we found a couple more orchids. One with the longest stamens I’ve ever seen on an orchid:

Gee, maybe it’s not an orchid. Anyone know?

And this one was just hanging around doing a headstand:

Then we entered the Potted Plants room:

I love this display because it is comprised of house plants that are fairly readily available. There is not one flower here, the camellias are still in bud, yet it is very colorful:

On the other hand, I have never seen a tortoise plant in a retail store:

Amaryllis blooms are gorgeous in any setting, but the perfect container and backdrop sure does wonders:

Another perfect container, this time for the Crown of Thorns:

On the way out I noticed this beautiful wreath of leucadendron epiphytes hanging overhead:

Just outside:

Across the street is a stand of tree ferns:

My sister and I then decided take a brisk walk through the Strybing Arboretum. It was dusk when we returned to the car:

It was getting too dark and we really had to go. We wished we could have stayed longer, but we were very grateful for the opportunity to recharge our souls.