A weekend trip to San Francisco brought us to the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park, where we saw a replica of one of the largest flowers in the world, the Rafflesia arnoldii.  This flower grows in the rainforests of Borne and Sumatra. 

Rafflesia arnoldii, can grow to 3 feet across and 7-15 feet tall, it is a reddish brown with white spots.  This is a parasitic plant with no leaves, stems or roots.  It attaches to the host plant vine Tetrastigma for water and nutrients.  It also smells like rotting meat when in bloom.  The rotting meat smell attract the carrion-fly with the pollen attaching itself on the back of this fly. Scientist say that they don’t believe that the carrion-fly helps much with pollination of this flower. This flower is either male or female  and is almost extinct due to the difficulty in pollination and the disturbance of tourist to this area.

After the visit to the Academy of Science we went to the beautiful dahlia dell garden in the park.  Where dahlia’s from dinner plate size to as small as buttons can be seen.  Soft , brilliant, multi-colored dahlias, red and yellow together and a bright white with the name of “porcelain” Dahlia’s in almost  every color you could think of or want.

If you have not seen this beautiful garden in a while take a trip to Golden Gate park to see them, before they are gone for this year.  Don’t forget your camera!