Entrance plantings at Ruth Bancroft Garden

When I visit the Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG) in Walnut Creek, I typically focus on what’s inside the walls. Last Saturday, after the Lover’s Day Aloe Tour was over, I decided to photograph what’s outside the gate at 1552 Bancroft Road: the entrance garden. It’s not a big area, but it’s packed with succulent goodies. This is the first thing you see as you approach the garden, and it’s a nice preview of the treasures waiting for you inside. Granted, these plantings are not as mature as the ones in the actual garden, but they represent a nice cross section of xeric plants that thrive in our area.

Note about parking: When visiting the RBG during regular hours, park in the small lot next to the office at 1552 Bancroft Road. This is where the entrance garden you see in this post is located. For special events (including plant sales), you take the north entrance at 1500 Bancroft Road and park behind the garden.

Plantings along Bancroft Road

Plantings along Bancroft Road

Tree stonecrop (Sedum dendroideum)

The agave on the left is Agave schidigera; the aloe on the right is Aloe broomii

Aloe broomii

Agave schidigera and Aloe broomii

Agave montana

Agave montana

Agave montana

Agave nickelsiae

Opuntia ‘Baby Rita’ and Aloe microstigma

 

Aloe microstigma

 

Aloe microstigma, yellow-flowering form

Agave gentryi

Agave gentryi

To see Google Street View images of the entrance garden, click here. It’s clear these images were taken several years ago; the plants are larger now and some have been replaced.