Ruth Bancroft Garden
1500 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek
Gardening experience: Total 34 years at this location.
Garden size: 60' x 30' native bed on Tour
Showcase feature: The three-acre garden is well-known for its dry garden collection of succulents and drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. You might not realize, though, that the garden also houses one garden bed (which is larger than most people's back yards) that contains California natives. Consideration of colors, textures, patterns, and form shaped Ruth's selection and aesthetic composition of plants, and this eclectic collection of natives in this not-your-average plant palette reflects this. Arid-growing plants, such as yuccas and prickly pears, rub shoulders with Sierran penstemons. Giant Coreopsis from the Channel Islands pop up around a bed of chocolate daisies (take a whiff, if they are in bloom). An assortment of native buckwheats bloom cream, pink, and yellow. Brian Kemble, Curator and Assistant Garden Director, will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions.
Other garden attractions:
- The Garden's normal admission fee will be waived for Tour guests! Take this opportunity to wander around the rest of the Garden if you haven't been here before.
- Port-a-Potty available!
- Mounded beds provide drainage; volcanic rock provides visual interest.
Garden Talks: 12:00 and 3:00 "California natives succulents" by Brian Kemble
Plants sold or given away: Succulents, cacti, California natives, and other drought-tolerant plants, as well as a variety of books on gardening with natives, will be available for sale in the greenhouse next to the entryway.
Directions:
Coming from the South: take Highway 680 North and exit at Ygnacio Valley Road. Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley and follow for 2 miles to Bancroft Road.*
Coming from the North: take the 680 South and exit at North Main. Follow North Main (South) to Ygnacio Valley Road. Turn left onto Ygnacio Valley and follow for 2 miles to Bancroft Road.
Coming from the West: as Hwy. 24 approaches Hwy. 680, stay in the middle lane and take the Ygnacio Valley Road exit. Turn right at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Ygnacio Valley Road and follow for 2 miles to Bancroft Road.*
* Turn left onto Bancroft Road and continue about 0.2 miles. The Garden is located on the right, just past Stratton.