Balboa Park

Sunday, October 12, 2008

We spent the early afternoon in Balboa Park today. I love Balboa Park. It's been around forever (my Hot Mom used to go there when she was a student at the University of California at San Diego), and the city takes really good care of it.

The picture to the left is the Park Organ. No one was playing it while we were there today because of a wedding, but the last time we were there, it was going full blast.

This tree is fenced off in front of the Natural History Museum. I'm not sure what kind it is, but it's very cool.
The Koi Pond is sadly lonely - most of the koi were killed recently during an inadvertent tap water influx - chlorine poisoning. Poor fishies. It's going to cost the city many tens of thousands of dollars to replace them.

Those of you that also read Jim's blog story Deep Thunder may recognize this fountain from the story. No fiery angels this time around, though.


After a short trip through the Hall of Nations and the Natinal cottages, it was off to Target. We're back home now, eating Ho-Ho's and drinking Mike's. Wild and crazy, yes, we are.

5 comments:

mom in northern said...

you may remember that Balboa's botanical collection is worth more money than their zoo

How come you didn't visit it...for old times sake... since we used to spend ever Sunday AM there when you were a kid...???

mom in northern said...

The fenced in tree...just proves you can google anything...


This is one of the notable trees of San Diego. It's a Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla, an Australian native), which was probably planted in about 1914 during the preparations for the exposition for which Balboa Park was first developed. While many people would like to attribute its planting to Kate Sessions, San Diego's pioneer horticulturist and street tree planter, there is no documentation to verify this claim.

Janiece said...

Thanks for the scoop on the tree. it sure is beautiful.

We'll visit the botanical collections the next time I'm here...since I don't like the zoo, I'm sure the botanical garden is a good substitute.

mom in northern said...

Unfortunately a very large chunk of their botanical collection is in the Zoo.

Anonymous said...

I love Balboa Park and have very fond memories of it, especially the Museum of Man - involving Halloween, a teenage drama club, strobe lights and big meaty cow bones.

Good times.