LocalLandscape ArchitectCreates BotanicalGarden

ByBenTerrall

The “Public Stroll Garden” circling the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) building at 654 Minnesota Street is a beautiful example of the possibilities of greening urban environments. The work of Dogpatch-based landscape architect Topher Delaney, the garden is filled with plants that all have medicinal qualities; some are edible. The ora’s Latin names are written on metal sheets which separate the soil from the sidewalk.

According to designer and Dogpatch resident Susan Eslick, when she was sick with cancer last year she walked by the garden every day as it was being built. “It was really nice to see it grow into itself. For me it really did mean a lot.” Eslick said, “I found it very healing.” She recalled that some community residents had a “knee-jerk” negative response (due to a reflexively anti-development bias) when UCSF rst proposed the garden. “But I said we should be proud and thankful to UCSF for having the vision to approach Topher, a nationally renowned landscape architect.”

Scott R. Ziehm, assistant dean

ContinuedonPage25