Indoor Eden: Victorian Jardinières, SFO Museum

SFO Museum presents a mini-lecture and curator-led tour of Indoor Eden: Victorian Jardinières in SFO’s International Terminal.

During the Victorian era (1837–1901) houseplants became more accessible to the masses. Plant enthusiasts adored hardy species such as parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans) and the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), given its common name for its ability to tolerate dismal conditions, such as low light and gas-lit homes. Simultaneously, a passion for ferns of all kinds, referred to as “pteridomania,” reached a fever pitch. Commonly referred to as jardinières from the French word for “female gardener,” ornamental pots and plant stands served as essential components of indoor décor. Larger potteries, like Minton in Staffordshire, as well as smaller art pottery studios, such as Bretby and Ault Pottery in Derbyshire, supplied the demand for wares. "Indoor Eden" showcases an array of English jardinières, pedestals, and vases, while also exploring historical topics, from Wardian cases, or the first terrariums, to fern fever and floriography. These objects and stories combine to explain some of the origins of our love of houseplants, decorative planters, and the continued desire for green spaces today.

Directions to the Aviation Museum & Library: www.sfomuseum.org/aviation-museum-library/hours-directions For more information visit sfomuseum.org

Parking: International Terminal A Garage; bring your parking ticket with you for complimentary validation. (Note: Please do not put your parking ticket near your cellphone or metal.) For those interested in taking BART to the airport, there is a stop at the International Terminal.

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