tillandsia | Far Out Flora

Playland at SF Conservatory

December 26, 2011 by Matti | 4 Comments

Original Playland at the Beach Sign

We popped in the Conservatory of Flowers to check out Playland at the Conservatory. Half blast from the past…half mini landscapes, 100% fun. Back in the day, a ton of attractions started springing up near the Sutro Baths down in our hood. Officially becoming Playland at the Beach in 1926 this boardwalk-esque amusement park peaked around the 50s and finally shut down in 1972. SF Conservatory does Playland proud bring back the essence of the fun and games.

The Fun House

Most of these miniature buildings and rides are created using found objects and reclaimed materials. Take a closer look at the Fun House. Looks like a couple of board games, including a chess board and a game of backgammon were used for the facade.

The buffalo and Windmill

These are two of my fav things you can still see in Golden Gate Park (GGP). First introduced to GGP in 1890s, you can still see bison hanging out in the Buffalo Paddock. It’s one of those bizarre sites when tromping around the park, and a great stop if you have visitors as it’s a mellow and always fun stuff to see. The Dutch Windmills are just down the road from the bison. One of the two has been standing in the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, but they just finished restoring the second windmill a couple blocks from our place.

The Cliff House

Pretty sure this is originally how the Cliff House used to look. Nice traveling tip, you can still explore the Giant Camera Obscura, which is adjacent to the Cliff House.

Big Dipper Roller Coaster

Gorgeous pink Cryptanthus and an assortment of Tillandsias popping out in the foreground of the Big Dipper roller coaster.

Ferris Wheel

Can’t have an amusement park without a Ferris Wheel. Oh, forgot to mention all the toy trains and cable cars buzzing around too. We visited last year’s Garden Railway tour, and the Conservatory of Flowers did a great job changing it up since then.

Zoltar and a Laffing Sal

Bring a handful of quarters and dimes cuz there are games to play, including the Zoltar (I wished I was a kid again).

Matti in the Dodger Bumper Car

…and it came true. Hey, when you sit in this original Dodger bumper car, put the pedal to the metal…you’ll get a big treat. The exhibit runs until Apr 15, 2012. As you know time flies, don’t let this one get away.

– Far Out Flora

Thigmotrope Vertical Garden

November 9, 2011 by Matti | 8 Comments

Flora Grubb Living Wall

Flora Grubb Gardens updated the look of their impressive woolly pocket wall last week. You can see how it looked last spring above. It’s always good to freshen things up. Their new transformation is pretty sweet…vertical garden on one side and Thigmotropes on the other. Thigmotrope? It’s their clever new way to mount Tillandsias on your wall.

Setting up the wall

I was without the good camera so I busted out the iPhone. Dead center is where that original wall garden hung. Here you can see them fork lifting the bones for the new wall garden into place…detail below.

New Wall Set up

Filling in the Garden Wall

After getting the bones in place, some of the Flora Grubb gurus got to work planting the shady side reusing the woolly pocket planters from the original hanging wall.

Filling in the garden wall

Shady side in progress

Man, it’s a treat to watch pros at work. Lots of Philodendrons and ferns were incorporated taking advantage of the lack of direct sunlight.

Living Garden Complete

More or less…the woolly pocket wall was finished. How keen of them to build a window in the middle.

Front of the new installation

Okay, here’s where it get even cooler. On the front of the structure, they inaugurated their newly released Thigmotrope Satellite. These metal guys are a fun way to display your Tillandsias on the wall. Good news for those of us who are running out of flat space in our homes. BTW, Tillandsias (aka Air Plants) are a great plant for those that have challenges keeping plants alive.

Thigmotropes installed with Tillandsias

I promised to bring the good camera with me soon to Flora Grubb to get some better pics. Seeing it completed…all I can say is the Thigmotrope rocks! Great work guys.

– Far Out Flora