Photo by WolfmanSF. CC by 4.0.

Aquarium keeping is clearly as much an art as it is a science. Yet, outside of public aquariums, we do not often see aquaria formally displayed in public galleries. That alone makes one current exhibition at Golden Gate Park’s Conservatory of Flowers unique and exciting.

The oldest public wood-and-glass plant conservatory in the North America, the Conservatory of Flowers has been a celebrated San Francisco landmark for over a century. Over two million plant enthusiasts from all over the world have visited the Victorian-era facility since its renovation and reopening in 2003.

Running until 4:00 P.M. Sunday, April 4, 2015, this ambitious exhibition, “Aquascapes: The Art of Underwater Gardening,” showcases a wide variety of ornamental freshwater flora and fauna in artistically crafted aquaria. Exhibit interpretation focuses on some tricks of the “nature aquarium” trade, as well as the natural history of the aquatic plants themselves. Because it is an exhibition of living art, visitors are encouraged to return to see how items in the collection grow over time.

For a list of some of the livestock that can be seen in the exhibits, please visit: http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/special-exhibits/aquascapes.