Natural History Wanderings

San Francisco Botanical Garden in the Rain and Fog

I still tend to think of  the San Franciso Botancial Garden by its old name Strybing Arboretum.  In spite of the drizzling rain, we got ourselves out of the house, over the Bay Bridge and to Golden Gate Park.  Upon arriving at the garden we discovered it was closed and didn’t open until 10 AM.  The website had not been updated and didn’t have the winter hours.  A very nice staff person working outside the garden, let us in early after realizing we came from the East Bay.

The weather was a moody ethereal fog with light rain or drizzle on and off.  Good light for  the remaining fall colors and end of the year flowers.  Current blooms included salvias, camellias,  red-hot pokers, proteas, fuschias, tree dahlias, mazanitas, calla lilies, nerines, aloes and cestrums  in bloom.   Although mainly focused on the plants, it was also an active day for birds and even turtles were  out on the rocks in the pond.  Besides some of the common regulars (Coots, Mallards, California quail, Western Gulls), also spotted were Anna’s Hummingbird,a Black Phoebe, a Cooper’s  or Sharp-shinned hawk, and my favorite of the day, a female Hooded Merganser.  Some photos from today:

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For information go to San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum just remember that the garden is opening at 10AM.