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Ruth Bancroft Garden
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Botanical Gardens Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Botanical Gardens, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
1552 Bancroft RdWalnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 944-9352
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 10 am - 4 pm
Sat 10 am - 4 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
11 reviews for Ruth Bancroft Garden
11 reviews in English
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Review from James S.
Oakland, CA
2/19/2011
What an amazing place! I took my mother here on her last visit. I expected her to love it but, lo and behold, I was also amazed by it. It's unlike any garden I've been to before; it's all succulents. There's some amazing things growing here and the staff we remarkably friendly and helpful, showing my mother around and having lengthy plant-nerd conversations with her.
I've been back a couple times now. Recently, I attended when they were having the sculpture sale fund raiser. I read a review on here that complains about the sculpture sale. Very strange review. It's a fund-raiser. I'm guessing this place is a non-profit and needs to do stuff like that to keep the doors open. I'm glad they do. It was a cook event and the sculptures made the place even more interesting.
FYI - it's in the middle of Walnut Creek. I've driven by on Bancroft countless times and had no idea there was such an oasis in the middle of town. -
Review from Rebecca G.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/28/2010
This garden is absolutely amazing. It's $10 for admission, which I believe you simply put in a drop box, but I may be mistaken. I don't think I'd pay that much to come here, but I make sure to definitely go for their annual plant sale! There is free admission to the grounds during plant sales and you can walk the spacious property. I also just found out on the website that there's free admission on the first Tuesday of every month! I will definitely be going more often then! I love taking photos in the garden of the plants.
There are gigantic succulents, nothing like I ever seen before. This is truly a unique garden and it's clear this has been a lifelong passion of Ruth Bancroft. This garden is absolutely worth seeing! -
Review from Celeste B.
Oakland, CA
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I highly recommend visiting this oasis in Walnut Creek. The garden is beautiful and features succulents from around the world. The nursery has reasonably priced plants for sale. A wonderful way to spendva few hours.
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Review from Jen W.
CA
2/23/2011
I LOVE succulents, but this garden "meh" I would pass. Maybe it was the time of year, but Cactus Jungle in Berkeley is far more entertaining.
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Review from Jon P.
Berkeley, CA
7/3/2011
Surprisingly enjoyable with a wide variety of plants to see, especially cactus. It's quiet, parking is ample and it's free.
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Review from P G.
Palo Alto, CA
7/3/2011 15 photos
Art in the garden and a garden full of art. What could be better?! The only sad part is that it won't last. Current exhibit of 200 garden art pieces will only be there until 7/16/11 so don't wait to go see. The succulents that are always there are amazing. So many varieties that I had no idea there were that many in the Bay Area. The garden art is intermixed throughout the place and what starts as pretty low-key, just builds until you have to go through again. Metal, ceramic, glass, wood, you name it......pieces in all sizes, shapes and styles. Well worth the $10 admission fee to help out the Garden as well as see what fabulously talented artist we have in the Bay Area!
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Review from Jamie D.
9/14/2009 3 photos
I love gardens and this is one of them. As the brochure says (something similar to), this is not an English garden, so don't expect hummingbirds and romantic walks. If you don't have an appreciation of cacti and succulents, you will not enjoy your time here. If you are a self-navigator who loves a good price, you will surely go home with a new prickly or prickless friend and memories of a wonderfully laid garden.
Check out this mission statement:
The mission of the Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc. is to preserve this exceptional example of garden design and to continue to develop its collection of water-conserving plants for the education and enjoyment of the public.
Check out the website for very cool events. The one currently catching my eye is Fruit Tasting. Mmmm... prickly pears and jelly palms. I'm there! -
Review from Victoria h.
Berwyn, IL
3/18/2009
My friend and I were visiting another friend and had 1/2 day to spare. We took the County Connection (bus) to the garden and spent a good hour walking around, discussing flowers. The garden is huge and there are plenty of plant and flower varieties. The visit has inspired to me to check out other gardens in Chicago.
Here are the photos I took - http://www.flickr.com/... -
Review from Rebecca A.
San Francisco, CA
6/30/2008 12 photos
The Ruth Bancroft Succulent Garden is a beautiful and unique place to visit, and a place that is truly remarkable to take friends and family who are inspired by nature, or who might never have seen dry-climate plants growing naturally. It's located on 4+ acres and is the living tribute to its founder, Ruth Bancroft, who turns 100 this year!
The grounds are filled with agaves, yukkas, palms, sage, aloes and many other varieties of succulents, thriving in a beautifully maintained habitat that meanders through what was once a walnut farm. Bancroft's family lineage is truly intriguing and it's noteworthy that her husband's grandfather was one of the preeminent historians of Western History.
My mom was totally floored (and so was I!) by the mammoth agaves (which only bloom once in their 30 year life span!) and the other little-known factoids we learned on our private tour. I recommend a private tour- it is a wonderful way to acquire a true appreciation for these unique specimens. They also have a plant sale twice a year, the next one is October.... but you can buy anything from the greenhouse on site at any time. It's really kid-friendly, and they even have a pond with fish in the center of the garden. Parking on site is a nice plus. -
Review from C D.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/2/2009
If you area huge fan of succulents, this is the garden for you. if you're not so into succulents, and you do the self-tour, It's not all that great as far as botanical gardens go.
There were a bunch of sculptures throughout the garden, which were clearly labeled with name, artist and price. unfortunately, those were the only thing that was clearly labeled in the garden. Some plants had markers that were faded and written sideways - that were hard to read, but most didn't.
The self guided tour book was a little hard to follow as it assumed you already know what all these plants are called(all these plants with no markers), which apparently are key to navigating the garden. I would recommend going when they have a guided tour. -
Review from Cynthia T.
San Diego, CA
7/20/2010
Had to edit since it seems my original review was too complicated for some people. Let me preface by saying I love all types of gardens, desert to tropical and everything in between. After visiting Meijer Gardens this place seems even more of a joke.
1. Cost was $10 per person, which for the tiny size of the garden is a lot of money, especially if you go as a group it gets really pricey.
2. We were told over the phone the garden was fully accessible for persons with disabilities, which we found out was not true, after we'd already paid. Thick gravel and port-a-potties at the farthest point from parking are basically impossible for someone with a walker.
3. While sitting in the only accessible shade a garden worker came up and started leaf-blowing the patio next to us. As in 2 feet away blowing dust and gas fumes all over us. He wouldn't stop when asked politely; it had to be pointed out that he had earplugs and a mask, and we did not.
4. The plants weren't labeled, which is one of the reasons I like visiting gardens--to learn about their plants. At least give the name, and I can look up the details on my own later.
4. Although the plants weren't labeled, all the "art" was. Clearly and boldly, especially the price, which was frustrating since the plants weren't. One or two pieces were beautiful and well placed, but the rest (a lot) were thrown in hodge podge without any arrangement, so they just took away from the garden instead of adding to it.
