NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE Field GUIDE

Golden Gate Park

According to the Center for Disease Control, over 1.14 million people have been diagnosed with AIDS in the since the pandemic struck. The Grove is a place for us all to gather, grieve, and grow.

www.aidsmemorial.org Cultural History Highlights

The mission of the National AIDS Memorial Grove (The Grove) is to provide a healing sanctuary and to promote learning and understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS pandemic.

1980s The AIDS Memorial Grove grew out of the response of a small group of people “It was an idea born out of to the overwhelming devastation desperation. We all felt the need for a place where people could wrought by the AIDS epidemic on the find solace, solidarity, and hope— San Francisco gay community. Early and the sense of renewal that is participants included Alice Russell- inspired by nature.”

Shapiro, Isabel Wade, and Nancy -Alice Russell-Shapiro McNally, all of whom had worked with co-founder and board co-chair urban environmental groups.

1990s Volunteers cleaned and restored the de Laveaga Dell, while raising funds for an endowment to maintain the memorial in perpetuity. In 1994, the first World AIDS Day commemoration was held in The Grove. In 1996, The Grove was designated a national memorial by an act of Congress. In 1999, The Grove received Silver Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence in the United States.

2000s Stewards of The Grove continued to develop new landscape and memorial features, including the meadow, stream, and various benches, gathering circles, portals, and pathways. Annual fundraisers supported new programs, landscaping, and stewardship projects.

2010 – Present Today, The Grove is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors that has a 99-year renewable agreement with the City of San Francisco through the Recreation and Park Department. Fiscally, The Grove is a project of the Tides Center, a non-profit corporation dedicated to social service and stewardship of the natural environment. The Grove is maintained by professional staff, including a full-time gardener, and countless volunteers, all supported by philanthropic friends, families, corporations, and foundations from across the United States. Natural History Highlights

Inhabitation The San Francisco Bay region has notably rich biological diversity due to the variety of habitat and unique geology. The area’s first human inhabitants, the Ohlone and Coast Miwok tribes, settled in the region more than 10,000 years ago. With Spanish colonization came the introduction of new diseases that decimated native populations, as well as invasive species that decimated native wildlife.

Cultivation In the 1860s, was carved out of sand and shore dunes that were known as the “outside lands” beyond San Francisco’s expanding borders. The park drew its name from the nearby Golden Gate strait. In order to develop on the dunes, the first stage of the park’s cultivation centered on planting trees. By 1879, over 155,000 trees were planted over 1,000 acres, securing the soil for development. Golden Gate Park is now 20% larger than New York City’s Central Park.

Recreation The Grove is located on the de Laveaga Dell, created through a gift from the estate of Jose Vicente de Laveaga in 1898. The original dell included a lake, meandering stream, irises, over-hanging oaks and spectacular ferns. In the early days, the Dell was known as the Deer Glen and used by the zoo to house animals. A bear was also housed in the rise at the far western end, now known as the Fern Grotto. The Dell was well-maintained during the first half of the 19th century, but later suffered from a lack of funds for maintenance.

Conservation Today, Golden Gate Park is managed by the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks. The broader region is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a U.S. National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco Bay area. Over half of North American avian species and nearly one third of California's plant species are found in the park. There are over 80 rare or special status wildlife species currently identified as permanent or seasonal residents of the park, or are dependent upon park lands and waters for migration. Of these, 12 are listed as federally endangered, and 12 are federally threatened. Species List 1 African iris Dietes iridioides Arum lillies Genus Arum Bear's breeches Acanthus mollis Blanket flowers Genus Gaillardia Bolivian fuchsia Fuchsia boliviana Bougainvillea Genus Bougainvillea 2 California buckthorn Frangula californica California poppy Eschscholzia californica Carmel ceanothus Ceanothus thyrsiflorus griseus Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens Common rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 3 Creek dogwood Cornus sericea Florist's cineraria Pericallis hybrida Forget-Me-Not Genus Myosotis French lavender Lavandula stoechas Giant rhubarb Gunnera manicata Heath or Heather Family Ericaceae 4 Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus Honey bee Apis mellifera Hydrangea or Hortensia Genus Hydrangea Indian strawberry Duchesnea indica Japanese maple Acer palmatum Kaffir lilies Genus Clivia 5 Lacecap hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla Lamb's ears Stachys byzantina Lion's tail Leonotis leonurus Magnolia Family Magnoliaceae Monterey cypress Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Mugo pine Pinus mugo 6 Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus Orchid rockrose Cistus purpureus Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii Pride of madeira Echium candicans Red hot poker Kniphofia uvaria Santa Barbara daisy Erigeron karvinskianus 7 Shasta daisy Leucanthemum maximum Silver fern Cyathea dealbata Spanish lavender Lavandula dentata Star pine Araucaria heterophylla Western swordfern Polystichum munitum Wood sorrel Genus Oxalis

1 African iris Dietes iridioides These beautiful flowers are named for the Greek goddess Iris, a messenger of the gods who traveled by rainbow. Another variety, the Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) ranges in color from white to blue, lavender, reddish purple, and deep purple. Arum lillies Genus Arum These bright green or orange berries belong to lovely flowering plants, although they are not closely related to the true lilies Lilium. Beware! All parts of the plants are poisonous.

Bear's breeches Acanthus mollis This garden plant is also common in the wild. It grows in dry areas, roadsides and wastelands, especially in the rocky and bushy places. It is tolerant of drought and shade and generally does not exceed an altitude of 980 feet above sea level. Blanket flowers Genus Gaillardia The common name refers to the flower's resemblance to brightly patterned blankets made by American Indians. The flowers bloom in the summer and there are more than two dozen known species of Gaillardia. Bolivian fuchsia Fuchsia boliviana There are currently almost 110 recognized species of Fuchsia. Fuchsia boliviana is native to southern Peru and grows well in the shadows of the canopy, seen in The Grove along the pathway between the Main Portal and Circle of Friends. Bougainvillea Genus Bougainvillea Currently, there are over 300 varieties of bougainvillea around the world. Because many of the hybrids have been crossed over several generations, they can be found in pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. 2 California buckthorn Frangula californica This native plant is also known as coffeeberry because its berries contain seeds which look like coffee beans. American Indians found it to be an herbal laxative, but only in small quantities since the effects of the plant are quite powerful. California poppy Eschscholzia californica Its golden blooms were deemed a fitting symbol for the Golden State, so it was designated the California State Flower in1903, winning over the Mariposa lily and the Matilija poppy. Picking it is legal, but discouraged. Carmel ceanothus Ceanothus thyrsiflorus griseus This native species makes its home at all stops between Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties. Flowers vary from dark shared of indigo to denim blue. ‘Diamond Heights’ is a variegated selection from a landscape planting in San Francisco. Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens The tallest trees in the world, they can contain up to 200 other species in their branches and live for thousands of years. Their Latin name means "forever living" and California designated it the official State Tree in 1937. Common rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum There are many different species of Rhododendron in The Grove, adored for their large, colorful flowers. Warning! Honey produced with its pollen can be quite poisonous in humans if consumed in sufficient quantities. Common yarrow Achillea millefolium American Indians considered it to be a "life medicine,” so they chewed it for toothaches, earaches, headaches, and drank it as tea to reduce fever and aid in restful sleep.

3 Creek dogwood Cornus sericea Often used by American Indians in basket making, its wine red stems standout against its small cream or white colored flowers and leaves that turn red, yellow, orange, plum, and/or pink in autumn months. Florist's cineraria Pericallis hybrid Great in the shade, this flower adds intense color to darker shadows in The Grove. They produce daisies that range in color from white through pink and purplish red, to blue and purple. They attract aphids and, thus, a variety of aphid-eaters. Forget-Me-Not Genus Myosotis It’s common name was calqued from the French, ne m'oubliez pas and is often worn as a sign of faithfulness and enduring love.

French lavender Lavandula stoechas This purple flower can be found next to its neighbor, Spanish lavender, inside The Grove – without borders. The French and Spanish plants look almost identical, except that the French flowers are purple, not white. Giant rhubarb Gunnera manicata Leaves with diameters well in excess of four feet are commonplace, with a spread of 10 feet by 10 feet on a mature plant. Despite the common name, this plant is not edible – admire their size, but not their taste. Heath or Heather Family Ericaceae In many parts of the world, a "heath" or "heathland" is an environment characterized by an open dwarf-shrub community found in acidic soils, often in association with an oak canopy, in a type of ecology known as an oak-heath forest. 4 Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus Introduced to North America in 1885 and valued for its fruit, it is now considered an invasive species that can quickly get out of control, with birds and other animals eating the berries and then spreading the seeds. Honey bee Apis mellifera About 130 agricultural plants in the U.S. are pollinated by bees, and the annual value is estimated at over $9 billion. 17 states have designated it their official State Insect.

Hydrangea or Hortensia Genus Hydrangea These “Mophead” flowers are large round flowerheads resembling pom-poms or the head of a mop. There are hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas; compare these to the Lacecap hydrangea found in The Grove Guide. Indian strawberry Duchesnea indica Also called Mock strawberry, or False strawberry, it has foliage and fruit similar to true strawberry. The fruits are white or red, and entirely covered with red seed-like casing known as its achenes.

The fruits are edible, but have very little flavor. Japanese maple Acer palmatum Many different cultivars – a plant or group of plants selected for desirable characteristics that can be maintained by propagation – are found in The Grove, known for their attractive leaf shapes and colors. Kaffir lilies Genus Clivia These are herbaceous evergreen plants, with green, strap-like leaves. Individual flowers are more or less bell-shaped, occurring in umbels on a stalk above the foliage; colors typically range from yellow through orange to red. 5 Lacecap hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla There are hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas, including the lacecap hydrangeas, commonly named for its unique flat shape, which resembles a cap. Colors range from blue, pink, to white, depending on the acidity level of the soil. Lamb's ears Stachys byzantina This plant is commonly called ‘lambs ears’ because of the curved shape and white, soft, fur like hair coating. Commonly grown for children's gardens, they are easy to grow and the thick felt- like leaves are fun to touch. Lion's tail Leonotis leonurus This plant has tubular orange flowers in tiered whorls, typical to the mint family, that encircle the square stems. It is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive properties.

Magnolia Family Magnoliaceae The magnolia family has ~219 species in 7 genera that evolved in disjunct or fragmented areas due to events such as ice ages, continental drift, and mountain formation.

Monterey cypress Hesperocyparis macrocarpa These tall, fast-growing trees were used to stabilize the sandy soil and to break winds throughout Golden Gate Park. In the wild, the species is confined to two small populations, near

Monterey and Carmel, California. Mugo pine Pinus mugo Dried cones and buds gradually drip syrup, which is then boiled down to a concentrate and combined with sugar to make what is commonly called “pine cone syrup” – often used as a maple syrup alternative. 6 Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus Garden nasturtiums are grown for their flowers, and also because both their leaves and flowers are edible; they can be used in salads, imparting a delicately peppery taste. The seeds are also edible, and can be used as a caper substitute. Orchid rockrose Cistus purpureus These pink flowers, which appear in summer, have petals with a dark blotch towards the center. The dry, woody perfume of the rockrose leaves comes from its parent plants, which have been used for centuries in perfumery. Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii American Indians have been known to eat the berries, but since they have high tannin content and are thus astringent, they were more often chewed or made into a cider. An iconic example is found near the base of the creek in The Grove, near the Crossroads Circle. Pride of madeira Echium candicans This large, evergreen, shrub-like woody perennial has small white or purple blossoms in dense 20" long cone shaped clusters. The striking blooms of this drought – and deer - tolerant evergreen make it attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Red hot poker Kniphofia uvaria Tall, dramatic red-hot pokers create architectural impact in sunny areas. Their bold spikes of brilliantly colored tubular flowers are set among sword-shape leaves. Most varieties are hybrid selections that need a humus-rich soil that is well-drained with lots of light. Santa Barbara daisy Erigeron karvinskianus The Latin name for the daisy family, Asteraceae, is derived from the type genus Aster, which is a Greek term, meaning "star". Several genera are popular with the horticultural community, including marigold, chrysanthemums, dahlias, heleniums, and zinnias. 7 Shasta daisy Leucanthemum maximum This flower’s inflorescence (a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches) is generally a large, solitary flower head which may exceed 8 centimeters in diameter. Silver fern Cyathea dealbata These leaves appear on the coat of arms of New Zealand and many New Zealanders get a tattoo of a Silver Fern, as a statement of being from New Zealand. Next to the kiwi, the Silver fern is one of the most widely recognized symbols of New Zealand. Spanish lavender Lavandula dentata This white flower can be found next to its neighbor, French lavender, inside The Grove – without borders. The French and Spanish plants look almost identical, except that the Spanish flowers are white, not purple.

Star pine Araucaria heterophylla Although this distinctive conifer tree is commonly called a Star pine due to its symmetrical shape as a sapling, it is not a true pine. Its widely spaced branches and symmetrical, triangular outline, has made it a popular cultivated species. Western swordfern Polystichum munitum This evergreen fern native is to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns occurring along the Pacific coast from southeast Alaska south to southern California, and also inland as far away as the Black Hills in South Dakota. Wood sorrel Genus Oxalis Some species are called yellow-sorrels or pink-sorrels after the color of their flowers. Other species are colloquially known as “false shamrocks” and some are rather misleadingly called "sourgrasses."

Acknowledgements

The Grove Field Guide is a capstone project submitted by Adam Charles Bad Wound in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the California Naturalist Certificate at the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Adam serves on The Grove’s Board of Directors. Find online at: www.badwound.org/grove-field-guide/

California Naturalist is a certification program developed by the University of California to foster a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists trained and ready to take an active role in natural resource conservation, education, and restoration. Find online at: http://ucanr.org/sites/UCCNP. The summer 2012 cohort was instructed by the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN), an award-winning, science-based watershed protection organization that engages community members to take action in order to help the salmon recover and thrive. Find online at: http://www.spawnusa.org. SPAWN is a project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network. Find online at: http://www.seaturtles.org.

iNaturalist.org is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn more about the natural world. Follow and contribute to the Grove Field Guide project online at: http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/grove-field- guide. Nearly all image identifications in The Grove Field Guide were submitted by iNaturalist users and many associated descriptions were obtained from open-source origins via Wikipedia.

Questions? Email: [email protected].