Tag: botanical building

A legacy of creating beauty in San Diego.

This memorial plaque should be read by all who love beautiful San Diego. It’s set in a bench by the fountain east of Balboa Park’s Botanical Building.

Here’s what it says:

In Loving Memory Of RUTH C. SMITH

Known for her generosity and her Love for San Diego

San Diego can be proud of Ruth C. Smith for her work to preserve Kate O. Sessions and Mt. Soledad memorial parks; for her promotion of the ecology by the planting of 10,000 trees in San Diego Parks, and the beautiful poinsettia display at Balboa Park’s Botanical Garden from December 3rd to January 3rd.

As the founder of the City Beautiful of San Diego, Ruth C. Smith has left a legacy of beauty for all San Diegans to enjoy for years to come.

She was loved by everyone.

Will you have a similar legacy?

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Trees, columns, steps for new Balboa Park pergola!

The historical pergola that’s being recreated in Balboa Park is making great progress! Just a quick post to show what I observed yesterday.

Trees have been planted behind the structure. Steps are being installed in front of it. Columns are appearing. Looks like other features are on the way, too!

This pergola recreates one built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition–but since long gone. The structure is rising near the west end of the Botanical Building, at the perimeter of the new Central Gardens, which are also now being developed.

When all is finished, it’s sure to be beautiful!

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Making progress on Balboa Park’s Central Gardens!

Today I noted that progress is being made in creating Balboa Park’s Central Gardens. Work continues to be done around the Botanical Building and along one side of the Lily Pond!

The new pergola west of the Botanical Building is taking shape, the grassy area around the fountain to the east is all dug up (as you can see in the above photograph), and new grass and garden plants can be enjoyed by park visitors in various other places!

675 Poinsettias in Balboa Park’s Botanical Building!

This holiday season, if you have a chance, head into Balboa Park’s Botanical Building. You’ll discover 675 poinsettias! That’s what I was told by a representative of Forever Balboa Park!

There are poinsettia displays at the center of the Botanical Building, beside the fountains at either end, along windows, and here and there planted in the surrounding lush greenery.

All that holiday color is a sight to behold!

Enjoy these photographs which were taken during the first day of December Nights…

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Balboa Park’s new pergola rises!

Balboa Park’s new Botanical Building Pergola is rapidly rising!

Three weeks ago I noticed the beginnings of construction. This newly created pergola, which will stand near the west end of the Botanical Building, recreates one of twelve pergolas that were originally in Balboa Park during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

You can see my previous photographs and learn more about the project by clicking here. Now compare!

Nearby, workers are continuing to install the Central Gardens that will surround the Botanical Building.

I must say the pergola structure appears larger–longer and taller–than I imagined it would be.

When finished, the shady, restful Botanical Building Pergola should be another beautiful and practical landmark in Balboa Park!

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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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Plants appear for Balboa Park’s new Central Gardens!

How exciting! I see that potted plants have arrived in Balboa Park, to be planted in the new garden areas by the Lily Pond and around the Botanical Building!

The nine new garden areas together are called the Central Gardens. It’s a major addition to the park we all love!

Creating the Central Gardens with their new walkways and new pergola is Phase Two of the Botanical Building and Gardens revitalization.

You can follow the progress of the project and learn more about it by checking out this special Forever Balboa Park website.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Balboa Park readies for the Holiday Season!

It’s late October. Early mornings and late evenings in San Diego have become chilly.

Walking through Balboa Park this afternoon, I noticed certain preparations are already underway for the Holiday Season!

The Old Globe’s annual “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Tree is going up in their outdoor Copley Plaza. I’m told the tree’s assembly began yesterday. In addition, nearby banners are being replaced and holiday lights are being strung.

The 20th annual Globe Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 9 at 6:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the center of the Botanical Building, a very beautiful harvest display full of Autumn color and pumpkins has been erected by the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department.

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Evening photos in Balboa Park on Labor Day.

Labor Day is coming to a close.

This evening, before the Spreckels Organ Pavilion’s Classic Rock Band’s concert featuring music of The Beatles got started, I walked a bit. I meandered around Balboa Park and took these photographs.

The sun was setting. Here and there building lights were appearing. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion was jammed with concert-goers. A few people were walking down El Prado, or by the Botanical Building as the sky gradually darkened…

The music began…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Phase 2 of Botanical Building’s revitalization begins!

If you’ve walked around San Diego’s Balboa Park in the past week, you might have noticed fencing has appeared all around the newly renovated Botanical Building. Phase 2 of the Botanical Building and Gardens revitalization is now underway!

Lush gardens are to be planted all around the Botanical Building! Even behind it!

The new landscaping will be receiving a $10 million makeover, with nine themed garden spaces. You can get an idea of how things might appear when all is said and done by visiting this Forever Balboa Park webpage.

Phase 2 includes installing dozens of historically accurate benches near fountains and around the Lily Pond, and recreating a grand pergola to match the one that disappeared during the federal government’s wartime takeover.

It’s hard to imagine how the Botanical Building in Balboa Park could become even more beautiful. But it’s going to happen!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Orchids, staghorns returning to Botanical Building!

If you’ve been inside the newly restored Botanical Building in Balboa Park, you might’ve noticed certain plants seem to be missing. Orchids and staghorn ferns!

I visited the beautifully renovated building today. It’s now so airy and light filled.

I asked a Forever Balboa Park volunteer about additional plantings that are planned. He told me that the orchids and staghorn ferns that have been so popular in the past will be returning soon.

As I understand it, the colorful orchid displays will be just inside the Botanical Building’s front doors, as they were previously. The staghorn ferns, however, won’t be directly mounted to the building’s interior wall. Apparently that had caused damage. They’ll be mounted in a different manner that protects the integrity of the newly restored building.

Picture the beautiful entrance once again filled with orchids…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!