Art and Nature Collaborate to Create a Serene Escape

With the sun finally fighting its way to a more prominent position in our daily lives, many of us are ready to seize the chance to spend some quality time in the great outdoors. As hillsides and hiking trails may still be covered in mud and muck, however, one way to ease into your outdoor time is to start at city parks.

Fortunately for those of us on the northern end of the Peninsula, a little taste of outdoor zen is not far away. South San Francisco’s has its own secret garden just waiting for picnic escapes, quiet afternoons spent reading under the sun or just peaceful stolen moments to admire the landscape.

The park’s sculpture garden, a long paved stretch of benches, trees and artwork sitting cozily between the tennis courts and parking lot, is a hidden gem often passed by most visitors. Featuring unique installations (some changing, some permanent) and a small but aesthetically pleasing diversity of plant life, the garden can often be found empty on sunny days.

Spend a morning talking with a friend or watching hummingbirds flit from shrub to shrub. Sit in the lap of Yang and peer at Yin standing opposite in Keith Bush’s interactive installation, “Ponder.” Enjoy the peaceful comfort of the garden’s unique combination of nature and human creativity, and above all, take a moment out of busy times to stop and exhale.