One of the World’s Greatest Magnolia Collections Ushers in the New Year with a Dazzling Display of Flowers at San Francisco Botanical Garden.

In a cool and misty corner of San Francisco, the New Year begins with one of the city’s most breathtaking natural marvels as nearly 100 rare and historic magnolias at San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park burst into bloom. Velvety silver buds on the often bare branches of these elegant trees open into dazzling pink and white flowers, filling the wintery Garden with dramatic splashes of color and sweetly fragrant scents. The annual floral spectacle, with trees reaching 80 feet, is at its peak from mid-January through March, and families can take advantage of a free Magical Magnolia family adventure map that takes families on either a stroller friendly path or a more adventurous route off the beaten path to search for furry buds and giant flowers on magnolia trees large and small.

San Francisco Botanical Garden is home to the most significant magnolia collection for conservation purposes outside China, where the majority of species originated. Its current collection includes 51 species and 33 cultivars, including many prized examples from Asia.

WHAT:            
Annual Magnolia Bloom at San Francisco Botanical Garden – A not-to-be-missed floral spectacle as nearly 100 rare and historic magnolias at San Francisco Botanical Garden burst into vibrant pink and white bloom

WHEN:            
January 15 – March 31, 2015; open every day

TIME:            
7:30am to 4pm (January)
7:30am to 5pm (February – early March)
7:30am to 6pm (2nd Sunday in March – April)

WHERE:                        
San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

TICKETS:            
San Francisco Residents: FREE with proof of residency
Non-residents: $7 general, $5 youth 12-17 & seniors; $2 children 5-11; children 4 and under FREE; families of 2 adults and one or more child pay just $15

The Garden is free daily 7:30-9am and all day on second Tuesdays of the month

INFORMATION:            
www.SFBotanicalGarden.org, (415) 661-1316

In addition, the Garden offers these special programs for families:

Children’s Story Time in the Library
Sundays, January 4 & 18, February 1 & 15, March 1 & 15; 10:30 – 11:30 AM
FREE (admission required for docent walks following story readings)

Enjoy a lively reading of special stories in the Library on a different theme each month – Blooms and Branches, Garden Mysteries, Girls Grow in the Garden and more. Then take a guided walk through the Garden that connects the morning’s stories to living plants. For families with children ages 4-8.