under glass, under sky

The white frame is visible through the leaves. Beyond their uneven edges, the Conservatory of Flowers repeats its curves and narrow panes, each piece fitted to the next. From a distance, the building appears to be a standing mosaic. Moving closer, foliage interrupts the view. A leaf covers a window; a branch obscures an arch. The building keeps appearing and disappearing as the eye darts through green.

Opened in Golden Gate Park in 1879, the wood-and-glass Conservatory holds an eclectic collection of tropical plants. The pale exterior gives little indication of the abundant color and life within. Beyond the entrance, the building becomes a succession of environments, each arranged around what its inhabitants need.

// Continued on PAGE 60 in VOLUME I //

PHOTOGRAPHY // Thom Milkovic