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Ruth Bancroft Garden: A Desert Oasis in Walnut Creek

Discover a world of drought-tolerant beauty at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, a unique botanical treasure in Walnut Creek, California.

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The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a 3.5-acre botanical garden in Walnut Creek, California, featuring a stunning collection of drought-tolerant plants from around the world. Founded by Ruth Bancroft in the 1970s, the garden showcases the beauty and diversity of succulents, cacti, and other arid-climate flora.

A brief summary to The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

  • Wednesday 9 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-4 pm
  • Friday 9 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-4 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during the spring or fall for the best weather and to see the most plants in bloom.
  • Check the Garden's website for upcoming events, including plant sales and workshops.
  • Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the designated picnic areas.
  • Wear comfortable shoes, as the pathways are unpaved.
  • Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. From Highway 680, exit at Treat Blvd and head east. Turn right onto Bancroft Road. The garden will be on your right, after making a U-turn at Stratton Road. Parking is available at the main entrance. Additional parking can be found on Stratton Rd and Banbury Rd. Please be respectful of the neighbors when parking on the street.

  • Public Transport

    The Ruth Bancroft Garden is accessible via public transportation. From the Walnut Creek BART station, take County Connection bus #3 towards Concord. Get off at the Bancroft Rd and Ygnacio Valley Rd stop. Walk north on Bancroft Road for approximately 0.2 miles. The garden will be on your right. A one-way bus fare is approximately $2.25.

  • Walking

    If you are arriving from nearby neighborhoods, such as Ygnacio Valley, walking to the Ruth Bancroft Garden is a pleasant option. From Ygnacio Valley Road, turn onto Bancroft Road and walk north for approximately 0.2 miles. The garden will be on your right. Please note that there are sidewalks along Bancroft Road, but they may be uneven in places.

Unlock the Best of The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

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Discover more about The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

The Ruth Bancroft Garden, located in Walnut Creek, California, is a testament to the vision and passion of its founder, Ruth Bancroft. What began as a personal collection of potted succulents in the 1950s has blossomed into a world-renowned 3.5-acre garden, displaying over 2,000 species of drought-tolerant plants from California, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and Australia. In the 1880s, historian and publisher Hubert Howe Bancroft, Ruth's husband's grandfather, established a 400-acre fruit farm on the land, growing pears and walnuts. By the 1970s, with the farm ceasing operations, Ruth seized the opportunity to create a garden from her burgeoning collection. With the help of Lester Hawkins, she designed the layout of the garden, arranging the plants to showcase their architectural forms, colors, and textures. Today, the Ruth Bancroft Garden stands as a living classroom, demonstrating the beauty and ecological benefits of dry gardening. Visitors can explore the garden's winding paths, discovering a diverse array of plants, from towering cacti to delicate succulents. The garden is particularly known for its impressive collection of Aloes, with their vibrant blooms providing color throughout the year. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is not only a place of beauty but also a center for education and conservation. In 1989, it became the first garden to be preserved by The Garden Conservancy, ensuring its legacy for generations to come. The garden offers guided tours, self-guided tour booklets, and children's activities, making it an engaging destination for visitors of all ages.

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