The hillside garden at 20th and Noe Streets is renamed the “Cork Oak Tree Community Garden” in recognition and celebration of its official San Francisco Landmark Tree No. 15 (Quercus suber), at the top of the garden.  After one year of working with SFDPW’s various departments and SFWD, the garden has a new water supply for irrigation.  And the garden is responding like crazy with new growths. Three tree ferns-Australia Lacy Tree Fern (cyathea cooperii) and Tasmanian Tree Fern (dicksonia antarctica) that were dried out and almost dead are now rebounding with new fronds.  The large Giant Bird of Paradise on the left of the garden is also flowering.  Be sure to look for the old cuckoo clock that’s converted to a birdhouse!

The Wine Barrel Garden on the sidewalk at the base of the garden has been very successful.   The African Euphorbia Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona) from Central Africa was rehomed from a business in the Fisherman’s wharf area 2 years ago.  There’s five barrels of Golden Bamboo.  The barrel garden has recent arrivals:  a young olive tree from a good friend,  a wonderful Hercules Aloe, and finally the Life Plant (Kalanchoe pinnata) from another good friend in the Castro.  It propagates by having hundreds of baby plants on the edge of its leaves which is why it’s  known as “Mother of Thousands.”  And a newly arrived Pencil tree (Euphoribia tirucali) joined the collection.

Next phase for the garden: a mural project for the blank walls that retain the roadway going to “upper 20th” Street!  Stay tuned for more details.

DHIC thanks Dave Dea and the other volunteers who maintain this and other gardens alongside the seven stairways in our neighborhood!  You are great stewards of our green outdoor spaces that enhance the beauty of the neighborhood.