Far Out Flora

Gardening in the Outerlands of San Francisco

Tag Archives: mission

Clarion Alley Murals

March 6, 2012 by Matti | 8 Comments

Capitalism is Over - Clarion Alley Mural

Capitalism is Over - Clarion Alley Mural

Going a bit off topic today for a quick street art fix.  No better place for an urban hike than the Mission hood…and the murals on Clarion Alley never lets us down.

Capitalism is Over - Clarion Alley Mural

Capitalism is Over - Clarion Alley Mural

Exactly where’s Clarion Alley?  This particular nugget is found between Mission Street and Valencia a couple step south from the 16th St BART station.  It’s not the most pleasant part of the Mission, but if you head a block or two in any direction, it only gets better.

Oh, back to the murals.   There’s a community of artist that put paint to walls all over the Mission neighborhood.  Clarion Alley is pretty active, that is new artwork replaces some older work.

Elephants on Parade - Clarion Alley Mural

Elephants on Parade - Clarion Alley Mural

Themes vary from current events, to local folklore, to blissful feats of skills. It’s easy to stroll through the alley in a couple of minutes, but I suggest picking out a piece and get lost in it for a spell.

Clarion Alley Mural by Jef Martinez

Clarion Alley Mural - Lo llevas por dentro, Mission '04 by Jef Martinez

I was drawn to this mural by Jef Martinez’s, Lo llevas por dentro, Mission ’04. It has to be the succulents and foliage that caught my attention. The detail below is a sagittate leave…maybe its some sort of Alocasia…don’t you think?

Sagittate Shaped Leaf (Alocasia?) - Clarion Alley Mural

Sagittate Shaped Leaf (Alocasia?) - Clarion Alley Mural

I bit of history on the The Clarion Alley Mural Project (aka CAMP).  It seems to have been established around 1992 by six local residents and inspired by the older Balmy Alley murals.

Lonestar Swan feeding the pigeons - Clarion Alley Mural by Daniel Doherty

Lonestar Swan Feeding the Pigeons - Clarion Alley Mural by Daniel Doherty 2006

This one is probably my favorite of the bunch during this trip… Daniel Doherty’s Lonestar Swan Feeding the Pigeons.  Want some more Clarion action…pop over to Found SF.

– Far Out Flora

Mission Santa Barbara

January 2, 2011 by Megan | 8 Comments

Mission Santa Barbara

Mission Santa Barbara

We hit Southern California over the holiday starting in Santa Barbara.  Wow, amazing how fast the use of succulents changes…can I say Agave attenuata galore.  After getting a tip, we swung by the Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Kalanchoe sp.

Kalanchoe sp.

This isn’t your standard supermarket kalanchoe, but not certain of the species.  The flowers are amazing.  Any thoughts on the species?  We did some poking around and looks like it may be Chandelier Plant (Kalanchoe tubiflora).  A Succulent Life has a nice pic of the K. tubiflora.

Varigated Century Plant - Agave americana var. variegata

Variegated Century Plant - Agave americana var. variegata

There’s a ton of succulents hanging out outside the building.  This Agave americana var veriegata was impressive.

Santa Barbara Mission

Santa Barbara Mission

Aloes (right is Aloe plicatilis)

Aloes (right is Aloe plicatilis)

Flowering aloes.  Love the plicatilis on the right.  How long before our Fan Aloe gets that big…hum.

Aloe sp.

Aloe sp.

Another aloe.  Not familiar with these guys above and below.  Maybe an Aloe ferox below.  Any thought on species?

Aloe ferox?

Aloe ferox?

Mission in Santa Barbara

Mission in Santa Barbara

We decided to skip the inside tour, but looked pretty cool.  So many plants…so little time.  Couple more stops in Santa Barbara then we head further south.

– Far Out Flora