Jurassic Park

Ok, so it’s not really Jurassic Park, just the Tree Fern Garden in Golden Gate Park. But this small corner of San Francisco sure feels prehistoric.

Tree Ferns in Golden Gate ParkTree Ferns in Golden Gate ParkTree Ferns along path

Having grown up with cold northeastern winters, I only saw ferns as houseplants until I moved to California. Seeing a fern the size of a tree still makes me think that I’m in the land of the lost. In the tropics and subtropics, tree ferns are often rainforest companions with orchids, but the closest orchids to these are at the nearby Academy of Sciences and Conservatory of Flowers.

Tree Fern above park bench and pathTree Ferns in Golden Gate ParkTree Ferns in Golden Gate Park

Besides these large and ancient ferns, Golden Gate Park always has plenty of blooms, even during our cool, wet winter. Dave snapped these beautiful floral photos during a recent visit, and also took a shot of these dinosaur descendants enjoying a duckweed covered lake. They all provide a congenial step back to eons past, with no worries of sharp, prehistoric teeth.

Flower in Golden Gate ParkFlowers in Golden Gate Park

Flowers in Golden Gate ParkDucks in Golden Gate Park

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7 Comments on “Jurassic Park”

  1. Peter Says:

    Great shots! Those trees look huge.

  2. Joy Blake Says:

    Thanks for the great photos!

  3. Elisa Says:

    That’s certainly quite a contrast to my little dainty maidenhair ferns. Now I’ll imagine them growing to full size trees!

  4. laura s Says:

    the shot with the park bench really shows how big they get. they do look like they come from the time of the dinosaurs.

  5. Ben Says:

    Very Jurassic – It looks like a T. Rex could charge around the corner any minute.

  6. nancy Says:

    quack quack

  7. GardenMama Says:

    Wow! I had no idea ferns can get that big!