Our time in San Diego was short, only three full days to explore the city. Rather than running around trying to see it all we decided to take it slow and spend two of those days exploring Balboa Park together (I spent the 3rd day at the San Diego Botanic Garden, of course). At 1,200 acres and with 17 museums, 19 gardens, a zoo, performing arts buildings, and on and on...there was plenty to see.
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This year the park celebrates it's 100-year anniversary. The name dates back to the city being host to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and was chosen in honor of "Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean while on exploration in Panama." Read more of the history of the park here, and the 100-year anniversary celebration here.
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Andrew was not a fan of the Spanish-Renaissance style buildings constructed for the exposition, I liked them. They complimented the plants!
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The gardens we explored were the Palm Canyon, Old Cactus Garden, Australian Garden, the Lath House and the Desert Garden. We also visited the Zoo, the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Museum of Man, and wandered through the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
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Look bananas!
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The Museum of Man is located under the California Tower, in the domed California Building...
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Inside the museum there was an exhibit on agave fashions throughout the ages (haha, kidding).
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Not as slick as my tweezers and hemostat but looks like it would certainly keep your fingers prickle-free.
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The starburst tile design on the dome copies a design on the dome of Santa Prisca Church in Taxco de Alarcón, in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico. Translated the inscription reads: "A land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey."
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This is a Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig. No doubt the fence around the tree is an attempt to keep vandals away, as you'll see in future posts the destruction of plants seems to be a popular local pastime.
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It's over 100 years old now...
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Pretty darn impressive...
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The sign reads San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation / San Diego Floral Association.
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My sister-in-law is from Colombia, she and my brother keep trying to get Andrew and I to vacation there with them. I really wanted to see what was in in their botanical library, sadly they were not open during our visit.
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Okay, time to wander through the Palm Canyon. A majestic Bismarckia nobilis guards the entry.
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Thankfully I could get up close and check out the impressive base of this fig.
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Earlier in the week, before we arrived, there had been a destructive rain-storm pass through. I'm so glad we missed it!
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I think this is a Caryota obtusa?
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Conveniently the Palm Canyon leads right to the Old Cactus Garden, and that's where we'll pick back up tomorrow!
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All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This year the park celebrates it's 100-year anniversary. The name dates back to the city being host to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and was chosen in honor of "Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean while on exploration in Panama." Read more of the history of the park here, and the 100-year anniversary celebration here.
Andrew was not a fan of the Spanish-Renaissance style buildings constructed for the exposition, I liked them. They complimented the plants!
The gardens we explored were the Palm Canyon, Old Cactus Garden, Australian Garden, the Lath House and the Desert Garden. We also visited the Zoo, the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Museum of Man, and wandered through the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
Look bananas!
The Museum of Man is located under the California Tower, in the domed California Building...
Inside the museum there was an exhibit on agave fashions throughout the ages (haha, kidding).
Not as slick as my tweezers and hemostat but looks like it would certainly keep your fingers prickle-free.
The starburst tile design on the dome copies a design on the dome of Santa Prisca Church in Taxco de Alarcón, in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico. Translated the inscription reads: "A land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey."
This is a Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig. No doubt the fence around the tree is an attempt to keep vandals away, as you'll see in future posts the destruction of plants seems to be a popular local pastime.
It's over 100 years old now...
Pretty darn impressive...
The sign reads San Diego Botanical Garden Foundation / San Diego Floral Association.
My sister-in-law is from Colombia, she and my brother keep trying to get Andrew and I to vacation there with them. I really wanted to see what was in in their botanical library, sadly they were not open during our visit.
Okay, time to wander through the Palm Canyon. A majestic Bismarckia nobilis guards the entry.
Thankfully I could get up close and check out the impressive base of this fig.
Earlier in the week, before we arrived, there had been a destructive rain-storm pass through. I'm so glad we missed it!
I think this is a Caryota obtusa?
Conveniently the Palm Canyon leads right to the Old Cactus Garden, and that's where we'll pick back up tomorrow!
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.