The San Francisco Citizen

Sure, why not drop by San Francisco Botanical Garden (nee Strybing Arboretum) over in Golden Gate Park? Even in late Autumn, there’s still lots of color around, as this Anna’s Hummingbird shows us.

Check out the Garden’s monthly schedule below.

See you there!

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SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY PRESENTS
GUIDED WALKS & GARDEN TOURS NOV. 2008
SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDEN AT STRYBING ARBORETUM
GOLDEN GATE PARK, SAN FRANCISCO

DAILY DOCENT-LED TOURS
Free docent-led tours depart from the Garden Bookstore (near the Main Gate) every day and from the Friend Gate (north entrance) every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Groups of 10 or more can call ahead to reserve special-focus tours.
When:        Tours from the Garden Bookstore:
                   1:30pm, Monday – Friday
                   10:30am & 1:30pm, Saturday & Sunday
                  Tours from the Friend Gate:
                   2pm, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday   
Cost:          FREE

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME & FAMILY WALKS
Join a docent-led Family Walk on the first and third SUNDAY of the month following Children’s Story Time in the Library. Kids and their families can dig into great garden stories, then venture out on a special tour of the Botanical Garden.
When:        Story Time begins at 10:30am
                   Family Walk follows at 11:00am
                   Sundays, November 2 and 16, 2008
Cost:          FREE

MONTHLY BIRDING FOR EVERYONE
This Birding Walk is especially designed for kids, age 7 and older, and their families, and focuses on the birds and flowers throughout the Garden. Participants are encouraged to bring a pencil and binoculars. Species from hummingbirds to hawks have been spotted! All children must be accompanied by an adult.  Meet at the Garden Bookstore near the Main Gate on the first SATURDAY of every month.
Co-sponsored by SF Botanical Garden Society, San Francisco Nature Education, and the Golden Gate Audubon Society.
When:        10am–12pm, Saturday, November 1, 2008
Cost:          FREE

MONTHLY BIRDING WALKS
Bring your binoculars and head off on a special guided Birding Walk, co-sponsored by SF Botanical Garden Society and the Audubon Society. Species from hummingbirds to hawks have been spotted!  Meet 15 minutes before tour at the Garden Bookstore near the Main Gate on the first SUNDAY of every month.
When:        8–11am, Sunday, November 2, 2008
Cost:          FREE
 
FOR ALL TOURS:
Information: 415/661-1316 or www.sfbotanicalgarden.org 

Location:   San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
                  Golden Gate Park, 9th Avenue at Lincoln Way, San Francisco

This is the scene these days at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens (aka Strybing Arboretum). Can you see? It’s Passiflora parritae, the rarest passion flower in the world.

You can spot these vivid orange buds hanging off a Clethra suaveolenstree just south of the Chile area of Strybing.   

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A closer view:

This is the only animal that can pollinate this particular flower - Ensifera ensifera,the sword-billed hummingbird. But you won’t see this South American bird at Strybing.

via kookr’s photostream

Passiflora parritae might not be long for the world. You should try to notice it the next time you visit Golden Gate Park.

A male Allen’s Hummingbird uses sunlight to show off his iridescent orange-red mantle at the Strybing Arboretum / San Francisco Botanical Garden .

It’s his way of saying “we bad” to other Allen’s Hummingbirds.