An impression of beauty and delight

Julia ♦ February 7, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

A garden adorns the stark concrete of a spiral walkway in the Embarcadero Center,
San Francisco, January 2004

“There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly, that cannot be tamed into such a state as may give an impression of beauty and delight.” — Gertrude Jekyll

Among the things I love best about San Francisco are the unique garden spots tucked away seemingly throughout the city.  Though they lack the appealing open landscapes of more rural areas, urban settings have an allure quite different from the charms of the countryside.  Some cities are uglier and more damaged than others, but almost all of them have hidden jewels of rooftop gardens, small but well planned parks, and tiny splashes of color provided by enterprising city dwellers who understand how to transform a nondescript space into an oasis of visual delight.  I can easily spend hours on a sunny day wandering around downtown areas with my camera, in search of such discoveries.  Wherever you are today, I wish for you the surprise of a refreshing encounter with unexpected beauty.

This post was originally published seven years ago today. You can view the original with comments here.