In the heart of Mt. Sutro Forest 900 feet above downtown San Francisco lies Rotary Meadow, filled with native plants and offering an idyllic destination for anyone seeking a brief respite from the noise and energy of our beautiful urban city that lies below. Rotary Meadow commemorates both the 100th anniversary of Rotary International as well as the role of our Rotary Club in the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945.
On Saturday, August 10, 2024, Dan Davies led several Rotarians in a gardening and weeding project at Rotary Meadow. Much of the work involved cutting back non-native blackberry bushes and other invasive plants to make room for native plants so they can thrive in their natural habitat.
Ildiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards, was on site along with other members of the non-profit, and they helped to educate Rotarians on where to focus our energy while keeping clear of the native plants that we were there to protect.
Given the elevation and time of year, the team arrived in misty fog, but the fog quickly faded, and the morning was sunny and cool — perfect for outdoor work along with pleasant conversation. While working, a hawk visited us. As the team wrapped up after noon, we could hear the Outside Lands festival in the distance in Golden Gate Park.
