San Francisco Bay Area
Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 5:00PM I took a lot of photos during my trip to the San Francisco Bay area last month. I already posted on California Coastal Images and the Filoli Gardens. Keeping in my mind that this is a blog for plant and nature loves, here are a few more images.
First, I stayed at a remarkable Bed and Breakfast in Santa Clara, the Madison Street Inn, and I have to mention the comfortable accommodations and the fabulous breakfasts prepared by innkeeper Tess. The old Victorian home was nestled amidst beautiful plantings, and one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen graced the corner of the property. The ancient California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) shaded a huge section of the yard and reached over the house's eaves:
Burlingame, California is home to another distinctive tree, the Tasmanian Blue Gum tree, a species of Eucalyptus globus. Native to Australia, these trees were first planted in Burlingame in the 1870s. They line the El Camino Real thoroughfare. I made my son stop the car so I could take photos of the astonishing giants.
Aeoniums grow well in California's climate. These were in a planter outside a retail store in Burlingame:
This was my first visit to San Francisco, so naturally I had to see the Golden Gate Bridge. I took the following pictures from a beach in the Marina District, a spot frequented perhaps more by locals than by tourists, but with great views of the Bridge:
A happy dog plays on the beach in the Marina District.
Sailboats in San Francisco Bay
I took the following shot from Herons Head Park, a wetlands habitat reclaimed from concrete, asphalt, metal and other debris left over from a previous construction project in the Bay. The park is home to numerous forms of wildlife and attracts over 100 bird species each year.
A short walking distance from the Marina District beach, the Palace of Fine Arts was built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a world's fair celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal. It also gave San Francisco a chance to demonstrate its recovery from the devastating 1906 earthquake. The Palace originally was built to exhibit works of art and is still used for that purpose, though it also is a popular tourist attraction and a fashionable place for weddings.
I saw many other sights during my visit to California. I hope you have enjoyed those I have shared with you.
Best wishes! Deb
Reader Comments (17)
I loved seeing your nature shots of San Francisco, Deb! As many times as I've been up there, my focus has almost always been on the city itself, the traffic, architecture and general hustle-bustle. I've been been to the SF Botanical Garden once but so long ago I barely remember it and I've never seen the bridge from the Marina District - you got beautiful shots!
What a charming spot where you stayed. It's almost like I could smell the trees and taste her cooking. I've only passed through SF as a teen, so I don't remember much about it.
Those trees are just awesome! It makes you seem very small when you meet wonderful old trees like that.
I have enjoyed your holiday scenery very much, it is a really beautiful part of the world.
was looking at a huge Eucalyptus today.
Only 60 to 80 years old said the gardener.
I grew up in CA and the smell of eucalyptus reminds me of my childhood. Such a great B&B. :o) Love that giant tree!
San Francisco and the California coast north and south of the city are some of my favorite places to visit...Your photos are really special.
thank you Deb, you brought back some very happy memories of a holiday several years ago when we stayed with friends in San Francisco. We spent our first morning (after the long, long flight from Rome) visiting the giant Redwoods, i was a wonderful peaceful start to our trip.
I love San Francisco. Whenever I visit, I hate to leave. It's a wonderful place. Aren't those trees wonderful? Your photos have brought back many happy memories for me - thank you!
Hi Deb! What a fantastic trip you had! It bought back so many memories to see that gorgeous scenery of the Golden Gate Bridge. It really is just such a breathtaking city isn't it? I loved the picture of the sweet bed and breakfast - just so pretty and that California Pepper tree - just amazing! So glad you had a great time!
-Kate
p.s I've been having problems posting comments on blogs recently - almost as if Wordpress is not interfacing well with other platforms.. I know that I commented on your posts from last week but when I checked I don't see the comment. So annoying..as I would hate you to think I was not commenting :-( Hopefully this one works!
I love California and I love SF, so I really enjoyed this post, Deb! My favorite images are those of the trees. Magnificent! I'm glad you had a nice trip!
That first tree has a lot of character! Looks like it could come out of Lord of the Rings. Beautiful pictures of Golden Gate Bridge and the park. San Francisco is one of those enchanted cities.
Beautiful! And those trees are amazing, especially the California Pepper Tree.
I very much enjoyed your CA tour, especially those trees. We have nothing like them in the East, so I love seeing something different, and our your beach shots. Beautiful. Lucky you too. I have been to San Fran a couple of times, but there is always more and more to see. Cute doggie too.
What a fun vacation! San Francisco is a great city--I like to go there in the spring or fall, because the summers are too cool for me (I'd rather be in the warm Midwest). But what a great city! Those trees are amazing--especially the California Pepper Tree. Wow!
Wow, those trees are just stunning! What gorgeous bark! And such giant trees! Heron's Head Park sounds like such a great, successful conservation project and wonderful place for bird watching. I used to have relatives that lived in San Francisco a long time ago, but it's been years since I've been there. Sounds like such a wonderful trip!
You certainly captured some gorgeous scenes from San Francisco but oh those Eucalyptus globus are incredible.
Fantastic! Going to say that this San Francisco has done one or two of these things and you're taking us there.