I had to go to the DMV this morning, without an appointment, to get my driver's license extension renewed. I was at least the 30th person in line 15 minutes before they even opened. I got the license renewed in October but the extension they gave me expired a week ago and I still haven't received my new license. They're having some technical difficulties and it currently takes 3-4 months to get your license replaced. Be aware of that if you have something coming up that requires possession of a valid picture ID. Anyway, the San Francisco DMV is right next to the Panhandle which is one of my favorite San Francisco places. I haven't been here in a year or so. It was only 9 am, so I had the park mostly to myself.
California transitioned to winter, our rainy season, a few weeks ago. They predicted a dry winter but we've had a lot of rain. It was nice to get out after being sequestered in my study room for the last several days.
The Panhandle is located near the geographic center of San Francisco on land that was once vast, rolling sand dunes. Park development began in the 1870s, transforming sand dunes into tilthy soil. The Panhandle contains Golden Gate Park's oldest trees.
There are many Australian eucalypts, including Eucalyptus globulus and E. viminalis, as well as Californians like Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Also, lots and lots of beeches widespread in the northern hemisphere (Fagus sylvatica), and miscellaneous pittosporums and acacias.
Here's an Auraucaria heterophylla. Maybe it's A. cunninghamii. I feel confused about it all of the sudden. Whichever, the Victorians were immensely fond of this genus.
The Panhandle borders the Haight-Ashbury and Western Addition neighborhoods and serves those communities as a recreational area and open space.
The basketball courts will be used for pick-up games later today, I'm sure.
There's some nice gardening here... by Guillermo.
The Panhandle is eight blocks long and one block wide with busy thoroughfares, Fell Street and Oak Street, running anti-parallel on the northern and southern sides. There are some big, old San Francisco houses and apartment buildings on those streets, from a range of time periods.
Anyway, I spent the next three hours leisurely walking all the way home. Come back soon and we'll visit the Haight-Ashbury and then I'll show you the coolest artificial Christmas tree you have ever seen.
3 comments:
Those trees look fabulous, and everything looks green and hydrated. Thanks for the tour.
Our DMV had made huge strides in customer service during the last decade. It has now gone all to hell with state cutbacks. If you can't transact business with them on-line, God help you and bring a book.
Thanks for the nice tour!
Wonderful to see the Panhandle again. I just had a strange dream last night that I was lost in SF, trying to get from a thrift store to my friend's house, and I had no idea which way to go... I looked out the front door of the thrift shop (in my dream,) saw the Panhandle, and instantly felt oriented. Then to see this today! Neat. Looks great. Winter has really set in up here in WA and all is rather drab right about now. Good luck with your studies! Bonnie
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