You have to see it to believe it! The flowers and fruit on the Medinilla ‘Gregor Hambali’ plant grow directly on its main stem, rather than on its branches. The botanical word for this is “cauliflory” (no relation to cauliflower!) Each little flower has the potential to become a fruit! In this case, the bright magenta flowers become deep purple berries. Some of the flowers have dropped off now but the berries remain. Medinilla ‘Gregor Hambali’ is derived from a tropical jungle plant from Papua New Guinea where it is a semi-epiphytic shrub. 🌿➡️ To find this other-worldly plant, visit the Aquatic Plants Gallery soon!

While you're dodging the rain clouds, come check out this African Violet Family member, Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, in the Aquatic Plants Gallery.🔸This stunning cloud of color works perfectly for its favorite pollinator... ...the hummingbird! 🔸 The bright fuzzy ball is composed of 5 fused sepals that are topped with a few petals that open to allow the plant’s pollinator, a hummingbird, access into the bubble. The brightly colored flowers serve to enhance visibility, while the tiny entrance ensures that the bird bill touches the anthers and stigma while it searches for the nectar inside the bubble. This species is native to Ecuador and its conservation status is Near Threatened according to the IUCN. Pearcea hypocyrtiflora can be grown as a houseplant under humid conditions and does well in a terrarium. Pink and white veins network across the dark green leaves to create the perfect backdrop for the bubble-like neon orange flower structures. Come see it soon! 🧡

🌳🌺 SAVE THE DATE 🌺🌳 Gala for the Gardens Saturday, May 20, 2023 11am – 2pm San Francisco Botanical Garden Gala for the Gardens (formerly Garden Feast) marks our first year as the Gardens of Golden Gate Park, joining the magic of the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden. The Gala is an opportunity to celebrate—and raise money for—these three historic garden treasures and places of community. 🌸 Bringing together these garden gems is significant for San Francisco and its visitors. The Gardens are much more than an urban oasis of extraordinary beauty. They are living museums that are open to all. 🌼 Your support helps us ambitiously advance Gardens of Golden Gate Park as a top cultural and environmental institution for generations of visitors to come. 🌴 Become a Sponsor Today! Link in Bio Sponsor by Friday, March 31, to be recognized in the printed invitation. To sponsor or to learn more about the benefits, please visit gggp.org/gala or contact Brooke Bedingfield at 415-515-2969 or bbedingfield@sfbg.org. 🌲 Tickets coming soon. More event details on our website: gggp.org/gala 🍃 #galaforthegardens #gardensofgoldengatepark #conservatoryofflowers #sfbotanicalgarden #japaneseteagarden

🌿 Spots Open for Middle School Garden Camp! 🌿 This summer, for the first time ever, Garden Camp is welcoming rising 6th through 8th graders! Offered from July 17 - July 28, or July 31 - August 11, this program will give campers an opportunity to learn about the Gardens of Golden Gate Park in-depth. Middle Schoolers will have special observation time at the Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers, including interviews and Q&As with Garden staff! Campers will also learn to tend to the earth, how to nature journal, and how to plan their own unique gardens. ✏️ Register your rising 6th through 8th grader for Garden Camp at sfbg.org/gardencamp See you this summer! 🌿

While the @sfbotanicalgarden's magnolias continue to bloom, one of the Conservatory's two magnolias has joined the party. Magnolia lillifera, the Egg Magnolia, is in bloom! It is located in Lowland Tropics to the right of the Highlands door. 🔎Get up close to look (and smell) - The egg magnolia is highly valued in Asia for its fragrance and the egg-shaped flowers only stay open for one day! The flowers are small relative to many species of magnolia, but the flowers scent is intense. When blooming, the fragrance of tropical fruit fills the air in the galleries. The common name ‘egg magnolia’ is derived from the egg-like shape of the blooms. 🌼 There's one bud that's going to bloom any second now and a few more on the horizon... so visit soon! Reserve tickets and more at conservatoryofflowers.org

We have a winner! 🏆🌺 One of the Pacific Orchid Expo's largest installations was built by the Conservatory's horticulture team and designed by horticulturist Mario Vega. "This year’s Pacific Orchid Exposition theme was diversity. This display aims to illustrate the diversity of orchids in that they grow epiphytically on trees, as lithophytes on rock, and as terrestrials in the ground. The rainbow-colored orchid model is a reference to the diversity of humankind. The black rabbit represents the lunar new year and is painted black since that color is not clearly represented in the flower. The model is made of plaster of Paris and wood. The ‘rock’ is recycled from earlier displays and is made of Styrofoam and grout. The plants in the display were provided by The Conservatory of Flowers and The Golden Gate Park Nursery." - Mario Vega Comment 👏🏼👏🏼 to congratulate Mario and the horticulture team on winning runner-up for Best Visiting Society or Individual/Group Exhibit!

If you're looking for long weekend ideas, come to the Gardens! 🌸🌿🍵 Witness the unusual Jade Vine bloom while you warm up at the Conservatory of Flowers, wander through the magnolias in Peak Bloom at the Botanical Garden, and enjoy a cup of tea and some mochi at the Japanese Tea Garden. Get access to all three gardens for 3 days with the Gardens of Golden Gate Park Pass - available online and in person. SF residents and veterans are free with ID. 👉🏼 Reserve your tickets online at gggp.org

With heart-shaped leaves and blooms that are bleeding red, these Pleurothallis orchids seem to know that it's Valentine's Day ♥️ Orchid genus Pleurothallis, also known as The Bonnet Orchids, are from one of the largest orchid genera with 1200+ species. While most Pleurothallids have tiny blooms, Pleurothallis gargantua has the largest. Pleurothallis gargantua is a terrestrial orchid that can be found in the steep mountain forests in Ecuador. The flower grows out of the base of the leaf and is pollinated by tiny insects such as gnats or grass flies. 🔍 Pleurothallis teaguei and Pleurothallis gargantua wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!💌

The Conservatory is ready for you to visit, so come see what’s new! This spectacular Jade Vine (Strongyloden macrobotrys) is blooming in the Potted Plants gallery! Is it neon turquoise? Aquamarine? Have you ever seen another flower with this rare color? A woody perennial of the legume family, the Jade vine climbs up trees in search of sunlight in its habitat along streams of the Philippine rainforest. The species is threatened due to habitat loss and it has been deemed Vulnerable, a designation just short of endangered. With only about 20% of Philippine rainforests left, this is one of many species in this region impacted by deforestation. The Jade vine is thought to be pollinated by bats, because of the shape of its flowers. Its strikingly bright color must be luminous even by night when bats are on the move.