Flores Extranjeras
No, this is not the name of some drag queen in the Mission but it is the Spanish phrase for Foreign Flowers of which San Francisco has many. In fact, the most illustrious and fragrant of these female spirits are introduced species. Here are a handful of the most noteworthy specimens that grow "wild" in our Fog City neighborhood spaces and Victorian front steps.
Small things pack a big punch. Jasmine, a member of the olive family and native to subtropical and tropical climes of Asia and Africa, has tiny white flowers exuding a delicious, vanilla scent. It seems to adorn every stoop here. Jasmine is sometimes applied to Green Tea (which I personally dislike, finding it allergy-producing) and most widely known as a perfume. The leaves remain green year-round.
Jacaranda Trees can be spotted all over the Mission and Bernal Heights. They flower in Spring and last until early Summer. They are native to subtropical and tropical areas of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. I lifted a photo of jacaranda trees in Bhutan from Wikipedia. I actually find them comforting on cloudy, foggy days.
To continue on the theme of purple (a deeply healing and diplomatic color), we visit the South of France and the corner of Castro and 17th to bring you Lavender. This member of the mint family, widely known in the "old world" has flowered twice (potted-style) in our garden, once in July and again in early October. Lavender can be used as a sleep aid both as a tea before bed time or as an "herb pillow" hidden in your pillow case. Simply pick up any small muslin bag that you would use for loose tea and fill it with snippets of lavender flower heads. Freeze the bag for a couple of days and then remove it and place in the closed corner of your pillowcase. The mild scent can last for a good ten days; the perfect balm for hair-pulling insomnia. Below is a photo of several bundles we made from just one pot.
Finally, my favorite flower. It's one that I first fell in love with during my time living in Guatemala. Bougainvillea is warm and bosomy without being gaudy like Rhododendron (sorry, New England).
It's the perfect flowering plant for any trellis, symbolizing hospitality. Native to the Southern Americas, bougainvillea, like the others listed here, is sensitive to frost. Luckily in San Francisco most of our winters are frost-free. On frost-years, the average visit is one or two days.
Small things pack a big punch. Jasmine, a member of the olive family and native to subtropical and tropical climes of Asia and Africa, has tiny white flowers exuding a delicious, vanilla scent. It seems to adorn every stoop here. Jasmine is sometimes applied to Green Tea (which I personally dislike, finding it allergy-producing) and most widely known as a perfume. The leaves remain green year-round.
To continue on the theme of purple (a deeply healing and diplomatic color), we visit the South of France and the corner of Castro and 17th to bring you Lavender. This member of the mint family, widely known in the "old world" has flowered twice (potted-style) in our garden, once in July and again in early October. Lavender can be used as a sleep aid both as a tea before bed time or as an "herb pillow" hidden in your pillow case. Simply pick up any small muslin bag that you would use for loose tea and fill it with snippets of lavender flower heads. Freeze the bag for a couple of days and then remove it and place in the closed corner of your pillowcase. The mild scent can last for a good ten days; the perfect balm for hair-pulling insomnia. Below is a photo of several bundles we made from just one pot.
Finally, my favorite flower. It's one that I first fell in love with during my time living in Guatemala. Bougainvillea is warm and bosomy without being gaudy like Rhododendron (sorry, New England).
It's the perfect flowering plant for any trellis, symbolizing hospitality. Native to the Southern Americas, bougainvillea, like the others listed here, is sensitive to frost. Luckily in San Francisco most of our winters are frost-free. On frost-years, the average visit is one or two days.
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