A city gem reborn: San Francisco Botanical Garden displays plenty of planting ideas

Sunset, Oct, 2004 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

If you're looking for garden inspiration, plan a visit to the newly christened San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. The 55-acre sanctuary, formerly known as Strybing Arboretum, is home to 26 display gardens containing 7,000 varieties of plants from around the world. And it has a new look to go with its new name.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The recently revitalized Zellerbach Garden (above) features striking pastel-colored flower borders that incorporate a variety of plants adapted to home gardens. Here, the yellow and burgundy foliage of coral bells, heuchera, and New Zealand flax grow as accents among the pink, purple, and blue flowers of ornamental oregano, penstemon, scabiosa, and true geraniums.

The renovated Eastern Australian Garden, designed by Bernard Trainor, features sculptural walls by ReedMadden Design. Look for banksia, grevillea, and new varieties of kangaroo paw.

INFO: To celebrate the garden's name change, attend the Garden Feast benefit luncheon Oct 14 (11 a.m.; $150). Open daily; free. Ninth Ave. at Lincoln Way; www.sfbotanicalgarden.org or 415/661-1316 ext. 1.

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS J. STORY