Related stories: Aloe • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ A sign that described the Australian Garden was attached to the rail that separated the sidewalk from the garden. ☞ The Willow Wattle grew tall in the Australian Garden, in the Rooftop Garden atop Salesforce Transbay Center. ☞ The Australian Garden created a relaxed and relaxing scene alongside the path. ☞ A Bush Sunset Kangaroo Paw (Aangozanthos) grew delicate purple flowers. ☞ Native grass grew alongside the sidewalk just inside the Australian Garden. ☞ A showy banksia grew tall in the Australian Garden. ☞ A showy banksia grew next to a Willow Wattle in the Australian Garden. View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ The sign was attached to the railing separating the sidewalk from the plants. That sign read in part: "A cloud forest is a type of rainforest that occurs on high mountains in the tropics and is so named because it is often shrouded in mist and fog." ☞ A compact garden was a modest example of a cloud forest. ☞ A modest bush exhibited a single flower. ☞ Plants in the cloud forest had unusual colors. An orange grass grew next to a pale green bush. View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

☞ A ginkgo tree grew in the prehistoric garden. A ginkgo can be recognized by its unique leaves. ☞ Tall, handsome ferns grew in the prehistoric garden. ☞ The prehistoric garden occupied the space behind a curve in the sidewalk. In places, ferns grew out over the fence. ☞ Some of the ferns in the prehistoric garden appeared brown along the edges and threadbare. ☞ A sign was attached to the rail separating the sidewalk from the plants. That sign read in part: "The Ginkgo, Araucaria and Cycads in this garden can be thought of as living fossils because these species have existed on earth since prehistoric times." View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ A sign was attached to the railing that separated the sidewalk from the plants on the Roof Garden of the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center. That sign read in part: "Lavender, There are 39 different species of Lavender, whose native ranges extend from areas of Mediterranean Europe to the Middle East and southwest India." ☞ One unusual form of a lavender plant is as a bushy tree that was so large it shaded part of the path. View all

Related stories: Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ Some forms of aloe had long trunks and resembled short trees. ☞ Other aloe grew directly on the ground, with no trunk. This is the classic look of aloe. ☞ All the forms of aloe had thick leaves that curved to a sharp point. ☞ The sign was attached to the railing separating the sidewalk from the plants. The sign read in part: "Aloes belong to a group of plants known as succulents, whose thickened stems and leaves store water within the plant." ☞ A closer view of an aloe tree (or bush) with its many leafy heads. View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ The leaves of the cork oak were a shiny green. Each leaf had an uneven edge. ☞ A sign was attached to the fence separating the public from the plant displays. The sign read: "Quercus suber, commonly called the Cork Oak, is a medium size evergreen oak tree with thick rugged bark. Native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa, it is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other cork products, such as flooring, furniture and footwear. The cork bark is harvested from living trees." ☞ Two cork oak trees towered over people on the path. They were majestic trees that gave a sense of authority to the scene. View all

Related stories: Gunnera Tinctoria at Strybing Aboretum

☞ A half dozen baby Gunnera tinctoria plants grew in pots buried in the soil at the northern end of the Roof Garden. ☞ A cluster of Gunnera tinctoria grew right up to the edge of the path. Notice that shade-loving native grass grew next to the Gunnera tinctoria. ☞ The elevators down to Beale Street were located on the far side of a patch of Gunnera tinctoria. ☞ Many of the Gunnera tinctoria grew at the northern end of the roof garden. That location received a mixture of sun and shade. These Gunnera tinctoria had larger leaves than the first batch, almost two feet (50 cm) across. View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • Cloud Forest • Cluster Lily (Agapanthus) • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ The sign was attached to the fence bordering the roof garden. It described (in part): "Oaks are a resilient and varied genus that has colonized all corners of the globe. There are more then 25 native California oak species, which are found throughout the different regions of the state, from dry deserts to lush mountains and forests." ☞ Yellow wildflowers bloomed in a tiny meadow surrounding the oak trees. ☞ A tall California Oak tree grew next to a path that connected the roof garden to an office building. View all

Related stories: Aloe • Australian Garden • California Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Cloud Forest • Cork Oak (Quercus suber) • Gunnera Tinctoria On Rooftop Garden • Lavender (Lavandula) • Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) • Prehistoric Garden

☞ A sign described this plant as: "Many South African plants grow well in San Francisco and throughout California. They are so familiar in the landscape that many people think they are California natives." ☞ The floral heads of the Agapanthus were composed of many small purple and lavender flowers. They were strikingly lovely flowering plants with long green leaves. View all

Related stories: Monkey Puzzle Tree At Shore Acres State Park

☞ The Monkey Puzzle trees were tall and rose majestically in front of a high-rise office building. ☞ The garden had three Monkey Puzzle Trees on display. From a distance they looked like ordinary bare limbed trees. ☞ The Monkey Puzzle Tree and the origin of its name were described on a metal sign attached to the fence bordering the garden. ☞ The Monkey Puzzle Tree's branches were covered with thousands of spiked leaves. ☞ The trunk of the Monkey Puzzle tree was not as spiked as its branches, but was still very spiky indeed. View all

Related stories: Andy Goldsworthy • Cemeteries • Harmed Trees • Julius Kahn Playground • Letterman Digital Arts Center Recycled Water Pond • Paths • Signs • The Presidio In 1963 • Views From

☞ A vast lawn became the common front lawn for the brick buildings bordering it. The bay was crowded with sailboats all out there to watch the Fleet Week air show. ☞ A view of the back of one of the brick residences on the Presidio grounds. Steps led up to glassed in back porches. View all

Related stories: Andy Goldsworthy • Brick Buildings • Cemeteries • Harmed Trees • Julius Kahn Playground • Letterman Digital Arts Center Recycled Water Pond • Signs • The Presidio In 1963 • Views From

☞ Metal frames, individually filled with dirt, became stairs which made traversing a steep portion of path easier. Note, however, that one could also take a side path (next to the stairs) to walk down this hill. ☞ A yellow and pinkish fungus (Laetiporus Sulphureus ) and chalk graffiti decorated a log end alongside a path that ran along the north border of The Presidio. View all

Related stories: Andy Goldsworthy • Brick Buildings • Cemeteries • Harmed Trees • Julius Kahn Playground • Letterman Digital Arts Center Recycled Water Pond • Paths • Signs • Views From

☞ In 1963, contemporary cars (whereas now vintage cars) were parked diagonally on a hill facing a building on the Presidio grounds. A man (perhaps a workman) reached into the back of a parked pickup truck. View all

Related stories: Andy Goldsworthy • Brick Buildings • Cemeteries • Harmed Trees • Julius Kahn Playground • Letterman Digital Arts Center Recycled Water Pond • Paths • Signs • The Presidio In 1963

☞ A partly obscured view of the Golden Gate Bridge as seen through a forest of ivy covered trees. Sure there are better views of the Bridge, but there is something comforting about glimpsing the Bridge while walking along an amazingly long path through the Presidio. ☞ While traversing a path on a hill along the north side of the Presidio, a classic cityscape of downtown San Francisco appeared between two massive tree trunks. This view was a classic one, because it appeared to predate the Salesforce Tower, yet existed at the same time. View all