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Beautiful But Thorny at the Ruth Bancroft Garden

Cactus with yellow flowers, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaAloe microstigma, spiny succulent species with yellow and orange leaves, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaCactus with bright pink flower, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California

Agave victoriae-reginae, Queen Victoria Agave, variegated leaves with white stripes, succulent species, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaCactus with pink and yellow flower, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaTree form Yucca, succulent plant, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California

Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California is packed with incredible cacti and succulents. As my mother-in-law said, “This garden just screams OUCH!” Spines, thorns, and barbs abound, along with stunning flowers, brilliant leaf colors, and striking plant forms. The 2.5 acre (1 hectare) public garden features thousands of drought tolerant plants, from tiny succulents to tall trees.

Dudleya, succulent plant with greyish white leaves growing in brown rocks, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaVariegated agave, succulent plant with spines on leaves, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaCactus with bright yellow flowers, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California

Walnut Creek is about 30 miles (48 km) inland from San Francisco, but many climate zones away from the cool, foggy coast. Hot, dry summers are the norm, with little or no fog. The area can be +35°F (+19°C) warmer than the coast, with days over 100°F (38°C) in summer and autumn. It’s not suitable for most orchids, but many orchids are also succulents. We spotted a blooming Epidendrum in a shaded area, shown in the final photo below.

Aloe striatula and Aeonium, bright yellow Aloe flowers, succulent plants, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaSucculent in bloom, orange flowers, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaEpidendrum orchid, red and yellow flowers, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California

Ruth Bancroft was a walnut farmer’s wife who became fascinated with succulents. She started acquiring plants, skillfully designed her garden, and became an expert in low-water, or xerophytic, gardening. Ruth Bancroft died in 2017 at the age of 109, a quarter century after her creation had opened to the public. The incredible collection she built is thriving, and continues to inspire plant lovers who don’t mind screaming OUCH! See more with The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from the Ruth Bancroft Garden.

Explore posts in the same categories: Books, General Gardening, Photos

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2018 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Books, General Gardening, Photos.

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