Summer Flower Fun

All Photos Taken At The San Francisco Zoo

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Today's Flowers

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Photos taken at the Dahlia Garden and the San Francisco zoo

Stargazer Lily

Dahlia

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Nap Time At The Zoo

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Our World Tuesday Memories and Moving Forward

San Francisco Botanical Garden Moon Viewing Garden

One of my favorite spots in the garden.

The garden has given me so much joy and these photos are from my archives of over 4,000 photos.  It has been a little over a month and though I still miss the garden, it is time to move on.  My memories are embedded within my heart.

The Wildfowl Pond where all my wildlife buddies would hang out all day.

My place of rest and renewal in Temperate Asia

I so miss my feathered friends singing to me each day.

My favorite tree, the Chinese chestnut tree.

Shannon watering, Thursdays at the main gate.

Shioko, my friend you are the angel of the gardens.  I'll be seeing you at McClellan.

A rarity in the SF garden, my favorite lily, the stargazer.

The monkey hand tree, one of the best shots I ever took in the garden :)

There's a trick to the Graceful Exit.
It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage,
a relationship is over - and to let go.
It means leaving what's over without denying its value.
- Ellen Goodman

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Macro Monday 2 Protea Cynaroides South Africa

Source: Photo taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Source: Protea Cynaroides (King Protea) Taken at the SFBGS

History

Plants from South Africa were being sold to Northern California around the Gold Rush days. Since then, many South African plants became available to California gardeners. These plants are drought tolerant and an excellent choice for California gardens.

The South Africa garden at the San Francisco Botanical Garden was designed and planted in 1985. The Western facing slope and three planting beds are separated by paths and waist high retaining walls. The walls retain the heat of the sun and transfer that heat to the beds behind them. Benches that reside along that path provide protection from the wind.

South Africa has a similar climate to San Francisco which has dry Summers and mild wet Winters which is why these exotic beauties do so well in the garden. These plants are able to survive long dry rain free Summers. This particular garden area displays how well these plants can not only survive but thrive in San Francisco.

The South African garden area is one of my favorites. Let's take a walk through the area and I will show you some of these gorgeous plants.

Protea Cynaroides (King Protea) South Africa National Flower

Source: Photo taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Source: Photo taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

The Protea Cynaroides also known as King Protea is the National flower of South Africa and in bloom at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. These blooms can measure up to ten inches in diameter and are comprised of hundreds of individual flowers surrounded by vivid colorful leaves or bracts as you can see in the photos.

Source: Agapanthus Africanus (Lily of the Nile)

The "Lily of the Nile" is known as the African lily. They are in bloom at the San Francisco Botanical garden. Their while and purple or blue colored blooms are just stunning and grace the garden with beautiful color all year long.

Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) Bud

Source: Photo taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Source: Sugar Bush Protea

The sugar bush protea is one of my favorite flowers in the garden. It can grow up to ten feet tall and is very popular with our feathered friends as it once was used as a sweetener for coffee and tea. If you come across this beauty during the late afternoon or early morning hours with the sun hitting the leaves just at the right moment, it displays a glow of light that is just gorgeous.

Source: Pink Ice Protea

Source: Leucospermum Cordifolium

The Protea genus was named after the Greek God Proteus who was known for his ability to change his colors and shape. The few displayed here are the perfect example of the exotic nature of these flowering plants. This is just a small display of what the San Francisco Botanical Garden houses all year round.

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Owls at the San Francisco Zoo

Source: Photo of the Eurasian Eagle Owl taken at the San Francisco zoo.

A Story Of Survival.

The San Francisco zoo is a haven for rescued wildlife and the owl population is no exception.

Meet Athena as pictured above. She is the Eurasian Eagle Owl who lives in the Children's zoo and is cared for by the Koret Animal Resource Center at theSan Francisco zoo..

It is illegal to import owls and birds in general into the United States because they can carry disease. Nevertheless, a smuggler back in 2005 thought he would bring in over a dozen owl eggs into the country by dyeing the eggs to look like Easter eggs and sell them for over five thousand dollars a piece. Only three of those survived and one of them was Athena.

She was rescued by the United States Fish and Wildlife service at the San Francisco airport and was brought to the San Francisco zoo for her own protection and to receive the care she needed after her traumatic event. Because her first imprint (meaning the first impression she saw was a human and was always handled by humans) she could not be released into the wild. The smuggler is now serving time in federal prison.

Athena can live up to sixty years old and has a permanent home at the San Francisco zoo.

Eurasian Eagle Owl Facts.

Eurasian eagle owls can weigh up to ten pounds with a wingspan of over five feet. They are the largest in the world. Though nocturnal they can be active both day and night. They feed on rodents, birds, rabbits and even sometimes small deer. At the SF Zoo Athena dines on mice.

Athena is a strikingly beautiful bird and one of the more popular owls at the San Francisco zoo. Like many of the other owls at the zoo, she travels to San Francisco schools on a regular basis in order to educate and entertain school children.

Source: Photo taken of the Great Horned Owl at the San Francisco zoo.

Stolen At Birth

The Great Horned Owl, Archimedes, who lives at the San Francisco zoo was stolen at birth by someone who took him from his nest. They did not know how to care for an owl and as a result he was in poor health when rescued by the zoo and was taken to the Koret Animal Resource Center.

At the zoo, he was treated and is now doing well. He has an acute sense of hearing, as do all owls. He spends most of his time at the zoo among the grass habitat, behind Wilbur the barn owl.

He is difficult to find within that habitat but if you are lucky enough to get a glimpse of him, he is quite a sight to see.

Great Horned Owl Facts

Great horned owls can live up to twenty years in the wild but in captivity much longer. The female great horned are larger than their male counterparts and can weigh up to four pounds. These beautiful owls will basically eat anything they can find though at the zoo they are fed mice.

I also wanted to note that the mice that are fed to the owl population at the zoo are mice that were previously used in various laboratories for testing and before they are fed to the owls they are tested and cleaned of their intestines to make sure they are clean (no disease).

In the wild, they feed on rodents, herons, squirrels, chipmunks, songbirds, lizards and much more. Whatever moves, they eat.

Remember the movie the Exorcist? Well these owls can rotate their heads in the same manner. I personally have not seen the great horned at the zoo do this but I have seen Athena do it.

Wilbur The Barn Owl

Source: Photo of Wilbur the Barn Owl at the San Francisco zoo

History and Interesting Facts.

The docents and zoo staff at the Koret Animal Resource Center in the Children's zoo are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I have been learning so much not only about Wilbur but all of the animals within that particular area.

When Wilbur and his two brothers were born they contracted West Nile Virus. They were all treated for the disease. His two brothers were cured and sent out into the wild. Wilbur, however, though cured of the disease, has neurological problems and attention deficit disorder which prohibits him from being released into the wild. He is cared for by the Koret Animal Resource Center staff and is inoculated on a regular basis.

Wilbur is fed five to eight mice per day. When he is full, he will emit a high screech chirp that tells the zoo staff, "I've had enough!" Although I have not personally seen this, I am told while he is eating, he will do the "Chubby Checker twist." No one really knows why he does this but I am told it is entertaining. I hope to have video of this soon.

Source: Photo taken of Wilbur the Barn Owl at the San Francisco zoo.

Wilbur Taking A Bath

I was elated to see Wilbur at play while visiting the zoo. Though he is a home body and loves his barn, he will come out and play a little while right before dusk. His fans are always on hand for his antics and taking a bath is fun for everyone. He will jump in his bath, stomp in the water a few times then get out and perch on the rim of his bucket and turn around and look at his adoring fans. He will do this about three times, then go back into his barn and rest. I am learning that he does have quite a personality so I do not know if this bath ritual is entertainment for the crowds or just something he does. Either way, it's good to see him animated.

Acute Hearing

As I mentioned before, owls have acute hearing and barn owls in particular hunt with their ears. Wilbur I have found has very sensitive hearing. When he is asleep if he hears a familiar voice like that of the docents and myself, he will open his eyes and turn his head towards the voice he hears. I am always happy when I visit and I whisper his name and he awakens.

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The Dahlia Garden Golden Gate Park Floral Friday Fotos

Photos taken at the Dahlia Garden in Golden Gate Park

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