Conservatory of Flowers - Envelope # 16

It was a rather dreary foggy morning in the Inner Sunset when we arrived at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Opened in 1879, this is the oldest municipal greenhouse on the West Coast. Spending time in 5 rooms exploding with exotic flowers and plants turned the dreary day around. 

Carnivorous Aquatic Plants such as the bladderwort will vacuum trap insects. Unable to photosynthesize, these plants need bugs to survive.

 Gorgeous Orchids

Exotic Orchid 

Hundreds of Dahlias, outside of the Conservatory....

San Francisco via iPhone

Wildlife in San Francisco - Envelope 15

Wildlife in San Francisco... An interesting envelope to open.  When I think of wildlife I think of an all night-er somewhere in the Tenderloin.  But this wasn't the San Francisco wildlife that this envelope had intended.

There is an abundance of wonderful wildlife in the city. From the zoos, the aquariums and the seals; to the hawks, raccoons and coyotes that naturally roam my neighborhood; I settled that this "assignment" fell somewhere in-between...

First Visit - The Bison of Golden Gate park

A permanent fixture in the city, these American Bison have transformed this corner of the park into a piece of the Wild West. These creatures move slowly behind the protective fence. Deceivingly so, as they have been reported to be able to run up to 40 miles an hour.

These are among the last surviving species of the American Bison or Buffalo. The park has a successful breeding program which has contributed more than 100 calves to the remaining 200,000 North American Bison population. 

Hawk in our backyard

Another fascinating "wildlife" phenomena is San Francisco's Organic Weed Abatement Program. We discovered the goats one morning 2 years ago when we woke up to an overwhelming amount of "Maaaaas"...  Right under Sutro Tower, the traveling goats had arrived!

Every year in early July, the goats are dispersed through out the city to trim back weeds and over growth. These goats attack the brush and devour the brush at warp speed.  This year instead of the "Maaaas", we woke up to overjoyed children, "The goats are back! The goats are back!"

© 2012 by Hayley Thisltehwaite. All Rights Reserved.

The Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park)

I am honored to have this San Francisco treasure so close to my home. The Japanese tea garden is the oldest in the United States.  I had visited here in my 20s with a dear friend of mine when I was living in Los Angeles.  Now it is a little over 2 miles away from my home.

Cherry trees, koi fish, birds, and plants imported from Japan give visitors and the garden Zen.  The tranquility, the beautiful bridges & buildings, the sweet smells, the perfectly manicured garden transported me to a world 5,000 miles away.

But at the end of the day,  it's an affectionate koi fish that stole my heart.  He followed me and my camera around. My panoramic experimentation turned  into an up close and personal with a Koi fish that I named Buddy. Yes. Buddy... like a dog.  Buddy helped me see things differently that afternoon.  I'd even venture to say that we made a connection. I waited across the pond, and gosh darn it, he would swim to meet me. I would even call him and he would turn. I was amazed. A grounds keeper approached me and told me how to pet the orange koi. I realized this fish was something really special. I didn't want to leave, but I did.  I said good-bye to Buddy. And hoped that our encounter somehow resulted in good fortune.

© 2012 by Hayley Thisltehwaite. All Rights Reserved.

Happy 75th Birthday, Dear Golden Gate!

An absolutely amazing fireworks show for an amazingly beautiful bridge. My children shouted "Happy Birthday" and "We love you!" as the breath-taking show filled the night.

© 2012 by Hayley Thisltehwaite. All Rights Reserved.

The Labyrinths - Envelope # 12

I arrived at Grace Cathedral, crushed with disappointment.  We have been spending the last few months of our lives dedicated to navigating the San Francisco Public School lottery process.  After our second round draft submission and lots of painful waiting; we received our letter from the school district.  I didn't make it past the first paragraph;

"The San Francisco Unified School District regrets that we are unable to offer your child an assignment to any of your Amended Choice requests because the school you requested are at maximum capacity for the 2012-13 school year.  Please note that since you did not register at the previously assigned school, your child will not have an assignment for School Year 2012-2013."
 
I could not fathom how we had spent months of research, touring, blogging, debating and consideration to wind up with Nothing. We had "coded in" over 15 schools.  My daughter's assignment school scores a 3 out of 10. Far from our home and not in the best neighborhood; I could not stomach the thought of stunting her future by enrolling her. Now we have lost that school too!  We will continue to work the system, but clearly the system is broken. I feel broken.

I continued to walk the Cathedral numbed...  But I went about my business... framing, shooting, compensating for the lack of light.  The beauty of the church seeped in and soothed my nerves.  I actually missed this calming force.  I breathed.  I thought.  I prayed.

At first I really didn't know what to make of the labyrinths. I had never actually seen one in person.
I expected a maze... maybe in a garden. There were 2.  Not as large or 3-dimensional as I imagined.  The path was non-branching. It ended in the center. There were no choices, just one way.

At the end of all my shooting, I put down my tripod and camera bag, to walk the labyrinth. Slowly as I walked through the turns, I was able to find peace within.  My mind quieted. I felt lifted. Public school lotteries seemed galaxies away. As I came to the end of the labyrinths, I exhaled the weight of the world off my shoulders.

Musee Mecanique - Envelope #9

Eerily Happy...  This is how I felt wandering around Musee Mecanique at Pier 45.  It's an amazing place packed with American nostalgia.  Clowns, fortune tellers, wizards, arcade and mechanical music machines breathe a life of their own into this oversized shed.

Oh Look a Cute Clown - Rather Spooky

Row after row of coin operated antique machines.. up to .25 or .50 a play. A child's heaven.  Lining up my shiny quarter in the slot... hearing that click of the metal arm and the clink of the coin is a most satisfying experience.   From Pole Position to a Proximiscope from the 1880's, I long for a simpler point in time.  These machines are handcrafted, one-of-a-kind. Made by men who dreamed of bringing entertainment to others. It's hard to see the profit scheme here.  The love put behind each detail can't be found in the aisles of ToysRus.  Unlike an iPhone ap, these games actually make me smile.

Diorama - I fell in love with these slices of American life, gone by.

The wizard reveals a fortune

 Proximiscope from the 1880's - Persistence of Vision....  a favorite toy gimmick 

Execution - The Arcade Game

Opium Den - Another favorite- I'm twisted, I know.