Sunrise this AM...

Looking south from San Francisco toward Guadalupe Canyon & San Bruno Mountain...

February 28th, 2013

Wild Fennel...

There's gold in them thar hills. Well, the gold is mostly gone now but the hills of San Francisco are still covered with another prize--wild fennel.

Wild fennel leaves growing on stalks along a San Francisco hillside.

Originating from Southern Europe, wild fennel is believed to have been introduced to California by the Spanish at least 200 years ago. The stems and leaves of this invasive plant are what produces its strong anise scent.

Unlike the commercially grown fennel that you see in supermarkets, wild fennel does not produce a bulging bulb. This herb grows in stalks that can become 6-10 feet tall and is sought after for its spring shoots, feather-like leaves, seeds and flower pollen.

Wild fennel favors the Mediterranean climate of San Francisco, flourishing in a variety of Bay Area places including vacant lots, weedy hillsides, grasslands and pastures as well as within coastal scrub. Open habitats nearby fresh or brackish water sources such as the banks of creeks, estuaries and/or bays might also harbor wild fennel.

The peak of wild fennel plant growth is during the months of July and August but seeds can germinate year round and it is possible for seeds to remain dormant in the soil for years before germinating. 

Seeds remain on a wild fennel stalk.

The zenith of wild fennel seed production is reached during August and September (but seeds will grow from about May until November). The seeds are one way that this perennial herb propagates through the assistance of water, animals, and humans that all act as disbursement agents. New wild fennel plants are also produced from existing root crowns.

Yellow flowers begin to appear on wild fennel plants when they are about one and a half to two years in age with blooms appearing around the month of May through September.

Pollinators will gravitate to yellow flowers on fennel stocks.

If you decide to go foraging for wild fennel when you're in The City, use caution. Although it usually feels great to get something for free, keep in mind that dogs love to mark their territory (urinate) in pretty much all of the various wild fennel habitats and tainted leaves are unlikely to taste good in your salad for instance. Another detriment to harvesting desirable wild fennel is air pollution in the form of car exhaust. So for these reasons especially, try to acquire your wild fennel from remote / lightly-traveled areas and be sure to wash each piece before consumption.

The last time I cooked with fennel was during this past Thanksgiving when I made Martha Stewart's Cherry-Pecan Stuffing. I distinctly remember crushing fennel seeds with my mortar & pestle as that a pleasingly fragrant licorice smell rose up from the result of freshly ground powder. The stuffing tasted so good that I am likely to make the recipe again next year!

Carly Dreibelbis...

The San Francisco Beacon is in full swing! After a week of postings, I now wish to give credit to my sister, Carly Dreibelbis, for the creation of the banner at the top of the blog. The gull portion of this image is utilized for photo representation at social media websites (Facebook & Twitter).

Carly and I grew up together in State College, PA, where she currently resides, working as a graphic designer for Pennsylvania State University. She really impressed me with her talent when I asked her to make the banner because I simply described what I wanted and she did it in practically no time almost exactly as I had envisioned.

In her bio, Carly says, "Photography is where most of my work began as a way for me to document my surroundings and experiences. As I developed my interest, I found inspiration in my day-to-day life. It has ranged from everyday encounters with my eccentric father and his "semi-urban farming," trips into cities and even simple walks in the woods. In a rut, I will relentlessly turn my camera on anyone close to me, shoot rolls of black and white film, or drive through state forests on the outskirts of town."

Carly's dog Dempsey is one inspiration for her photography.

Many clients have solicited her professional services including Madecasse.com (product photography) and ladymoonfarms.com (food photography). She is available for photography,  illustration and graphic design including web graphics, identity, logos, stationery, business cards etc. If you would like to work with Carly, she can be reached at her freelance email address: Carly.dreibelbis@gmail.com 

Carly Dreibelbis

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park...

Possessing a nice balance of scenic beauty amid urban landscape, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (located within Fisherman's Wharf) is an experiential gem of The City because of its plentiful attractions and entertainment options.

Signage noting the park.

The Hyde Street Pier is where a fleet of historic vessels are on display and serves as eastern boundary of the park. It is also one place where you can watch the Blue Angels air show during Fleet Week which happens annually during the second week of October (but maybe not this year due to looming fiscal cliff budget cuts).


Balclutha, an 1886 square-rigger ship docked at Hyde Street Pier.

Aquatic Park Historic District is located just off Van Ness Avenue on the west side of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and includes a maritime museum that was originally constructed as a Streamline Moderne style bathhouse by the Works Progress Administration in 1936. The exterior of this musuem resembles a large ocean liner and inside you will find interesting underwater-themed murals that were created Sargent Johnson and Hilaire Hiler in the 1930's.

Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building/Maritime Museum (Photo Souce: National Park Service)

Outside to the right of the museum are concrete bleachers that give way to a small beach and man-made lagoon on a site once known as Black Point Cove. This is where you're likely to see swimmers from the Dolphin Club (established in 1877) braving the cold bay waters (temperature is only around 50 degrees Fahrenheit).

To the right of the maritime museum bleachers is Victorian Park. Booths of artist merchants line the southern end of this park which is nearby Ghirardelli Square, an area that once served as the headquarters of famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.

Looking east through Victorian Park.

The south-eastern corner of Victoria Park is where the Hyde Street cable car turnaround is located. From here you can board a cable car and travel all the way down to Powell and Market Street in Union Square. Across the street from the cable car turnaround is the iconic Buena Vista Cafe, home to America's very first Irish Coffee!

Corner entrance to Buena Vista Cafe.

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Visitors Center is inside the historic brick cannery warehouse that was erected in 1908 and located to the right of the cable car turn around.

Beach Street entrance to The Cannery.

Especially on a warm sunny day, Jack's Bar (part of The Cannery) is an excellent place to stop for a drink because of the comfortable outdoor seating and selection of over 85 draft and bottled beers.

Outdoor seating area of Jack's Bar.

But my favorite part of this area is the the Municipal Pier that makes up the western side of Aquatic Park. This is where the 4th of July fireworks are set off each year with Victorian Park serving as an excellent viewing place. What I like the most about Municipal Pier is the fact that although it is eroding and deteriorating pretty badly, you can still walk out over the bay waters on it to see wonderful views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and Alcatraz.

Gated Entrance to the Municipal Pier

Golden Gate Bridge from Municipal Pier.

Maritime Museum and Ghirardelli Square from Municipal Pier.

And if you want to visit Point San Jose in Fort Mason, consider taking a less-traveled shortcut nearby the Municipal Pier. Look to the left side of Van Ness Avenue near the entrance to the Municipal Pier for a little path leading to stairs located below two water tanks that are part of the San Francisco Pumping Station #2.

Stairs from Van Ness Avenue to Point San Jose.

Follow this path along the headland to find a couple benches built into the wall of the cliff as well as more expansive views of the San Francisco Bay Area than you would see from the ground below.

Aquatic Park and bay view from the pathway to Point San Jose.

Flowering dogwood tree on the pathway to Point San Jose.

Angel Island, Alcatraz & the Municipal Pier from pathway to Point San Jose.

This path will lead you right to the picnic tables behind Point San Jose (see last post).

Fort Mason...

Fort Mason, named after Richard Barnes Mason (a former military governor of California) in 1882, was a U.S. Army post from 1864 to 1966 that played a significant role in the transport of troops and supplies to the Pacific during World War II (but the Spanish are credited for first establishing this former stronghold in 1797).

Nowadays, the 1200 acre Fort Mason area is utilized mostly for civilian and cultural purposes. The Fort Mason Center within the Fort Mason area is a complex of renovated late nineteenth and early twentieth century military buildings that are home to more than 50 non-profit cultural and environmental organizations as well as Greens Restaurant, serving exceptional vegetarian cuisine since 1979. Also part of Fort Mason Center is the Festival Pavilion where several exciting events are held annually including the Bay Area Brew Festival and the Pacific Orchid Exposition.

Entrance to the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. 

Fort Mason's location near the north-eastern edge of The City allows for expansive views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay Area. The gardens and parks within Fort Mason provide for plentiful recreation opportunities too.

Golden Gate Bridge behind Fort Mason Center buildings.

When the weather is nice, the Great Meadow Park at Fort Mason is a where you're likely to find scores of sunbathing Marina dwelling locals and tourists, especially on the weekends. You are also likely to see bikers, hikers and exercise enthusiasts burning calories all along the paved pathways circling the park.

Great Meadow Park at Fort Mason

Looking toward the bay, follow the foot traffic you'll see along the northern edge of Fort Mason Green until you reach these crossroads...

Battery Street at McDowell Road

Head east along Battery Street for a short distance to reach the often overlooked Point San Jose where you will find the restored West Battery cannon that was originally erected in 1864 during the Civil War era.

West Battery

(The following paragraph and image caption were updated in 2018 to note current info) To the right of the cannon, there were several day-use only picnic tables that could be reserved for parties through Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Special Park Uses Group. Unfortunately, these tables were removed around 2018.

Point San Jose was utilized for gatherings.

Behind the West Battery, you will notice a historic looking building that currently makes up the San Francisco Fishermans Wharf Hostel. If you're hungry for a bite to eat or maybe an espresso drink, just go up the back stairway and you'll reach Cafe Franco, a perfect place to pause and enjoy bay views that is open to the public (although it's not very obvious).

Stairs to Cafe Franco.

Inside Cafe Franco.