Everything’s Blooming at the Conservatory

In Excursions on 20 May 2011 tagged Bloom, Conservatory of Flowers, Philodendron, San Francisco

I’ve written about the Conservatory of Flowers before. It’s San Francisco’s botanical crown jewel. But even if you’ve been before, it’s time for another visit. Spring has sprung and the conservatory has exploded in multicolored exotic blooms. Here are some photos from my recent visit. Even the magnificent Philodendron speciosum (the giant plant that’s grown to the ceiling in the main dome) is flowering. I wish I could have gotten a better look at its purple inflorescences, but that would have required a ladder. Or a helicopter.

The other reason to visit now is the special exhibition. Wicked Plants, based on Amy Stewart’s book of the same name, has living examples of dangerous plants and vivid descriptions of what they’ll do to you if you chew on them. I guarantee you’ll never look at that innocent houseplant the same way again.

See Also

• Up Close in the Conservatory of Flowers
  The lens allowed me to see the tiniest of flowers ultra close up.
• Possible Philodendron Parent Plant
  I think I found the mystery Philodendron parent plant.
• Ontogeny: One Plant, Many Leaf Shapes
  A single species can have different leaf shapes over the life of the plant.