The 55-acre botanical exhibit is now divided into five epochs of geological time. The new layout allows visitors to move chronologically through the eras, recreating the feel of the ancient ecosystems.
"When you came to this garden in the past, you couldn't fathom what the stories were that this garden was trying to teach us, and I myself walking through here many times was confused. This renovation is taking all that potential and clarifying it," said primary donor Thomas Rohlen.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden's mission is to sustain a distinct collection of Mediterranean, mild temperate and tropical cloud-forest plants.