Image: Dendromecon harfordii, the Channel Island Bush Poppy

Interpretive Volunteer Updates

Hi everyone,

Happy October! It's finally autumn in San Francisco. We hope you've been enjoying the cooler weather after our heatwave! We have a few great opportunities for you to prepare for Fall in the Garden. Check out this newsletter for some updates and enrichments that you can join.

Please register for assignments through the links below. 

San Francisco Botanical Garden:
California Native Garden, 2024-0109*A – California, 31A: Dendromecon harfordii

Dendromecon harfordii, commonly known as the Channel Island bush poppy, is a shrub endemic to California's Channel Islands. This species grows dry, rocky soils and exhibits tolerance to heat and drought (though, not as resilient as its mainland relative, Dendromecon rigida). Its glaucus, blue-green foliage reflects sunlight, preventing sun scorch and minimizing water loss. As a fire-follower, D. harfordii plays a vital role in post-fire recovery. Its seeds are specifically adapted to fire-prone environments, requiring the heat and disturbance caused by wildfires to break dormancy and germinate, enabling the plant to quickly repopulate landscapes following a fire.

Conservatory of Flowers:
Potted Plants Gallery: Sobralia orchids

The large fragrant flowers of Sobralia orchids, found in Central and South America, have beautiful multi-colored lips. The striking blooms appear sequentially on the inflorescence and range widely in color from purple to pink, yellow, and white. The flowers are very short-lived, lasting a day or less. The plants have lance-shaped leaves arranged along a reed-like stem and some species can grow 20 feet in length.

San Francisco Botanical Garden:
Entry Garden, 2024-0091*D — Entry Garden, 5M: Euphorbia myrsinites

Here we feature a plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Plants of this family consist of herbs, shrubs, vines, or trees, with stems that are succulents and cactus-like. When cut, many specimens release milky, toxic sap that has various medicinal uses. This scaly specimen is known as "Myrtle Spurge", "Donkey Tail", and "Creeping Spurge", and is native to rocky and grassy places in Southeastern Europe. It has long and trailing stems that have a signature glaucous blue color and an interesting architectural shape. This specimen loves being a sprawling groundcover along sunny banks, dry walls, and rock gardens.

Conservatory of Flowers:
Potted Plants Gallery: Lycaste aromatica

Found from Mexico to Peru, the Lycaste orchid genus produces large, long-lasting, waxy, sometimes fragrant, triangular flowers. The plants are distinctive for their egg-shaped pseudobulbs and broad, pleated leaves. Lycaste flowers, like all orchid blooms, have three petals and three sepals. With some orchid species, it's difficult to identify these parts. Masdevallia orchids, for example, have fused sepals and a hidden petal.

Conservatory of Flowers:
Register to volunteer:

Japanese Tea Garden:
Enjoy a tour of the Japanese Tea Garden: 

San Francisco Botanical Garden:
Register to volunteer:

Enrichment: Interpretive Gardens Walks - Garden of Fragrance
Tuesday, October 22, 1:30-3pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden, Meet at Main Entrance

Join your peers for a volunteer-led walk through the Garden of Fragrance. All are welcome to share and improve our knowledge of these amazing collections.

Register here >> 

Enrichment: Conservatory of Flowers Stations
Friday, November 1, 1-3pm
Conservatory of Flowers, Orchid Pavilion

Join Director of Education Annette Huddle in the Conservatory of Flowers as we refresh and relearn about the different interpretation stations in the Conservatory. Meet our College Corps interns and grow your knowledge of the space!

Register here >> 

Event: Fall Potluck
Wednesday, November 6, 12-1pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden, Bookstore

Join us in celebrating all things fall- the changing light, the beautiful leaves, and the crisp air. All volunteers are invited Wednesday, November 6, 12pm-1pm to our small celebration beside the bookstore. Please bring an autumnal treat to share, savory or sweet. Bringing a treat is optional, but eating treats is mandatory. As always, we'll provide the tea. We hope to see everyone there.

Register here >> 

Book Group: The Tree Collectors
Thursday, December 12, 10am-12pm
Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture

All Gardens volunteers are invited to our next Book Group event. The next book group will discuss The Tree Collectors, by Amy Stewart. We hope to see you there!

Register here >> 

We are saddened to share the passing of long time Gardens volunteer, Tony Gridley.

Here are some words reflecting on Tony's experience from Kristen Natoli, Chief Nursery Specialist at the Conservatory of Flowers: Tony was a long-time docent volunteer, I believe since 2007. He was very active in the Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society and the San Francisco Fern Society.  He drew from the group knowledge he gathered from these amazing plant communities and from his own vast knowledge, spurred by his interest in tropical plants, to bring information to our visitors. He brought charisma and a fantastic sense of humor to all his encounters with the visitors, staff and other volunteers. Tony had the unique ability to read his audience and meet them where they were, from kids’ groups to plant geeks and with visitors who didn’t even know they were interested in the plants until they met Tony. It was a better day at the Conservatory whenever he appeared, and he will be greatly missed.

Thank you for everything. We hope to see you out there soon!

Warmly, 
Jenn + Annette

Jenn Tapler | Interim Volunteer Program Manager
Gardens of Golden Gate Park 
(415) 661-1316 Ext. 404
jtapler@gggp.org

P.S. Did you miss an update? Catch up by viewing past newsletters. 

Gardens of Golden Gate Park

1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122