photo adventure #5: the strybing arboretum

The Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park is definitely worth visiting any time of the year. It occupies 55 acres and houses more than 8,000 plant species. It’s open 365 days a year and the photo possibilities are endless. At this time of year, the foliage change is amazing to see and if you like bird-watching, this is the place (several ponds act as gathering spots).

The best time of day to photograph the Arboretum is early morning (supposedly) but the one time I took pics there was right before sunset. The trails are well-defined but you may want to bring a friend along as this place is heavily wooded and has a lot of dark corners (even during the day).

There are many tropical species of plants so there’s no shortage of interesting material to shoot. There are also lots of not-so-shy squirrels who will actually pose for you. To get a good idea of what makes up these gardens, take a look at their Visitor Guide. All in all, I highly recommend visiting this little piece of the country in the middle of a very crowded city.