Salesforce Rooftop Garden Tour

Spent a wonderful day at the Salesforce Rooftop Garden in San Francisco! Mari and I took BART to Embarcadero Station, and then walked the short distance to the Transit Center. From Salesforce Plaza at Street Level, we could look up to Salesforce Park on the fourth floor, and the gondola perched at its upper terminus. We didn't realize it at the time, but behind the white lacy metal screen below the trees is the third floor Bus Deck of the Transit Center (click on the photo to enlarge it and see more detail). The buildings towered over us and provided contrast with the forest of trees and plants on the fourth floor.

View of the gondola and trees in Salesforce Park (floor 4),
from Salesforce Plaza (Street Level)

Winding trail around Salesforce Park

We checked the gondola schedule, hoping to catch a ride up to the Rooftop Level. It didn't seem to be running, so we rode the elevator up instead and explored briefly. At 10:00 AM we joined the monthly walking tour at the Main Plaza (there is also a monthly birding walk and many other health, dance, and musical events). Our tour guide and botanical expert, Ingrid, introduced us to the history and development of the Transit Center and the botanical garden. The garden design celebrates the Mediterranean climate and incorporates plants from all of the earth's five Mediterranean climate zones – Mediterranean Europe, central Chile, South Africa, Western Australia, and the California coast.

Transbay Transit Center Concept - the big picture (click to enlarge) 

Ingrid describes the Wollemi pine at
Salesforce Park (Wollemia nobillis) 

We were surprised to learn that the plants and trees are rooted in only five feet of soil. The roots receive ample water and spread out to anchor themselves, without the need to send down deep tap roots to find water. The soil supports a Redwood grove and many other tall trees. 

View of one of the skylights that help illuminate the Transit Center floor below

Mari snaps a shot of a Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana)

The tree and plant collection is amazing. I was especially interested to see my first Wollemi pine specimen. It is one of those "fossil plants" from dinosaur days that was thought to be extinct, until a small grove was discovered near Sydney, Australia in 1994. I remember my Dad (a retired forester) sharing a newspaper article with me about the discovery. Another dinosaur plant (in terms of size) is the Gunnera, which is a tough plant with huge leaves that grows to an enormous size and then dies back during the dry season. (Note that its roots are high in tannins and used to create a black dye and to tan leather, hence the use of tinctoria in its scientific name).

Chilean Rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria) 

Deep shade under the trees

After the tour we found a table in the shade, and ate our lunch with hiking buddy, Josephine, who joined us. It was fun to relax in such a beautiful environment, surrounded by trees and tall buildings, and catch up on all the news. After lunch, Mari and I sought out the gondola again. This time, we found it at the Street Level terminus below us, seemingly unattended with no intention of moving. We decided to pursue the gondola ride in another visit.

View of the gondola at Street Level
from the Park Level (floor 4)

Instead, we explored each floor of the Transit Center, marveling how beautiful and clean everything is, and filled with natural and diffused light. We studied a comprehensive poster showing all the bus, Muni, and train options available. I felt inspired to both learn the system and do more exploring using my Clipper Card; and to return to the garden to see its seasonal changes. This is a wonderful public garden and a destination worth exploring!

View of the Bus Deck Level (floor 3)

McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Garden

While on our way to Bend for the graduation, my husband and I stopped at the McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which is situated on the Sacramento River in Turtle Bay Exploration Park, located in Redding, California. Two years ago, we stopped to see the Sundial footbridge and the riparian forest in the same park (see Sundial Bridge in Redding).

Bridge Gate Entrance

Shady Oak Forest

The arboretum and botanical garden occupy 200 acres of land from which sand was quarried to build the Shasta Dam. From pictures, it looked like it was a wasteland afterward, but some forward-thinking folks planted trees and native plants and reclaimed the area. Now the arboretum supports a riparian forest of mature oaks that provide deep shade for its visitors.

Medicinal Garden

Chilean Garden, with Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana) tree

The botanical garden is a series of "rooms", each with a different theme, interspersed throughout the arboretum along paths that wander in and out of sun and shade. Benches are everywhere and provide shady respite from the hot sun and bright light, and great views of the garden rooms.

Meadow

The main theme is Mediterranean, with gardens for each of the five zones: South Africa, Mediterranean, Chile, Australia, and California. Additional gardens include the Butterfly Garden, Children's Garden, Meadow, Sounds of Water, a wonderful native California Garden, and more.

Sounds of Water

California Coffeeberry

The plant collection is not extensive, but they have chosen wonderful examples for each region. The plants have room to grow and spread, and they thrive in the hot climate of Redding, tempered by proximity to the Sacramento River. Another feature is the presence of art throughout the garden. I enjoyed Earthstone by Colleen Barry, and the mosaic pyramids by ceramic artist Paul Rideout, both local artists. A mobile app and informative signage provide information.

Pyramid, by Paul Rideout

Earthstone, by Colleen Barry

I especially enjoyed the native plant garden with its healthy plants thriving in the Mediterranean microclimate; and the Chilean Garden, with its monkey puzzle tree and Chilean Palm tree.  I also enjoyed the water garden, and its stone water structure and water ways, feeding several interconnected ponds where water plants, like lily, Iris, reeds, and grasses grow.

California Native Garden

I recommend this garden if you visit Redding, or just pass through on your way north or south. You can "do" most of the garden in an hour and a half (even pausing to relax under the shady oaks), but you might be tempted to linger longer. Be sure to look for the Italian Ice cart by the Bridge Gate Entrance for refreshment (we enjoyed the sugar-free cherry and pineapple on the day we visited).

Chilean Wine Palm	Blue Puya (Puya beteroniana)
Lamb's Ear	Matilija Poppy
Water Lily	Unidentified

HTML Tables

Summer Details at Filoli

Can you feel it? The slight change in the air that indicates the seasons are changing. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the change from summer to fall is very subtle. But you can feel it in the morning and evening fog, and you can see it in the long afternoon shadows and the leaves changing from green to shades of brown. As for me, I’m hanging on to the late summer beauty as long as I can.

Glimpse of the Filoli Garden House through summer plantings

Bold summer border

Late summer beauty, like what my aunt and I experienced in our recent field trip to Filoli (see Filoli in Summer). The colorful borders. The beds of roses and dahlias. The shady allées of trees and bushes.

Rose garden. The roses are well cataloged and signed for easy identification

Dahlia garden. The dahlias are also cataloged and signed.

Shady olive orchard provides a Mediterranean feel

I’m also filing away some of the details for future garden ideas – the interesting signage, the cataloging of plants, and the use of containers to extend summer color for as long as possible.

Citrus tree	Row of containers on the stairs
Burgundy inflorescence	Interesting signage
Splash of purple	Containers add color

HTML Tables

We have a month or two of summer heat ahead of us, but the shorter days are coming, and with them, incremental seasonal changes in nature. Luckily, my aunt and I can visit Filoli in any season to see something new, and we always have Fentons Creamery and Restaurant!

What's Blooming in June?

With the kick off of summer, comes a whole new palette of flowering trees, shrubs, and plants here in the San Francisco Bay Area. You would think by June that the blooms would be subsiding, but not so!

Rambling Roses

I’ve started to see roses (Rosaceae spp.) everywhere – from the hot inland areas of San Ramon, Dublin and Pleasanton, to the sheltered, sunny gardens of the East Bay. I don’t grow roses, but love to see their vibrant colors, and inhale their sweet fragrance. I especially like the rambling roses that are used like street trees out in Dublin.

Bougainvillea

The Bougainvillea has asserted itself with its hot pink blooms – a perfect plant for a hot, sunny location in the garden. The California native Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron hybrids) bloomed earlier in the month. Daylilies (Hemerocallis), Society Garlic (Tulbagbia spp.), and Agapanthus have started their “forever summer” cycle of blooms. No wonder we love them as staples in the garden!

Flannel Bush	Agapanthus (in white)
Fortnight Lily	Daylily

HTML Tables

Fortnight lily (Dietes spp.), Delphinium, Four O’clock Flowers (Mirabilis spp.), Fleabane (Erigeron spp.), and many others are also blooming. They are all at home in our Mediterranean climate.

Four O'clock Flowers (I think)	Delphinium
Fleabane	Silk Tree

HTML Tables

Flowering street trees, like Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica hybrids), Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin), and Chitalpa (a cross between Desert Willow and Southern Catalpa) have been blooming all month. This seems earlier than usual; my recollection is that these trees typically bloom in late summer. They are a pleasure to see, as street trees or in gardens, whenever the conditions are right for them to bloom.

Crape Myrtle

Chitalpa

What's Blooming in May?

Here we are at the end of May, and the plant world is still blooming in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is not surprising because of our Mediterranean climate, where almost anything grows. The rains have pretty much subsided for the season (but we may still experience some short-lived showers in places).

Echium spp.

Aesculus californica

The Echium bloomed in early May, and I’ve seen Aesculus californica (California buckeye) blooming all through the month. Many succulents are producing flowers as well, including the beautiful Leucospermum cordifolium (pincushion).

Leucospermum cordifolium

May seems to be the month of white blossoms. The rhodies and magnolias are putting out their blooms, as well as the California blackberry. In my yard the ornamental black cherry tree has been flowering, as well as the white Mimulus that I purchased at the San Francisco Garden show (definitely a good purchase). The Salvia provides relief with its hot pink color, as does the Plumbago that grows along Interstate 580 near San Leandro with its blue color.

Rhodie spp.	Possibly another Rhodie spp.
Salvia spp.	Mimulus spp.
Rubus ursinus	Magnolia spp.
Plumbago spp.	Prunus spp.

HTML Tables

This is just a sampling - I have seen many other species blooming including both Callisteman viminalis (Bottle brush) and Campsis radicans (Trumpet vine) with their deep red flowers, and Jacaranda with its purple flowers. I wonder what is in store for us in June!