Ruth Bancroft Garden July 2017 private garden tour, part 1
On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a tour of four private gardens in the Walnut Creek area organized by the Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG). It doesn't come as a surprise that the focus was on water-wise landscaping--and that succulents featured prominently in all gardens.
The first garden I want to show you belongs to Carol Le Page and her husband. Carol is the Communication and Event Coordinator at the RBG. Their front garden is the result of the very first lawn transformation workshop offered by the RBG a few years ago. Under the direction of Australian plantsman extraordinaire Troy McGregor, at the time the nursery manager at the RBG and now a professional landscape designer with his own company, Gondwana Flora, the workshop participants converted what was a typical lawn-centered front yard into the stunning focal point it is today. The global plant palette combines succulents from the Southwest, Mexico and South Africa with Mediterrean natives and treasures from Australia and New Zealand. The result is a colorful tapestry rich in texture and contrast.
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The first garden I want to show you belongs to Carol Le Page and her husband. Carol is the Communication and Event Coordinator at the RBG. Their front garden is the result of the very first lawn transformation workshop offered by the RBG a few years ago. Under the direction of Australian plantsman extraordinaire Troy McGregor, at the time the nursery manager at the RBG and now a professional landscape designer with his own company, Gondwana Flora, the workshop participants converted what was a typical lawn-centered front yard into the stunning focal point it is today. The global plant palette combines succulents from the Southwest, Mexico and South Africa with Mediterrean natives and treasures from Australia and New Zealand. The result is a colorful tapestry rich in texture and contrast.
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| Carol's magazine-worthy front yard |
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| One of three Agave ovatifolia |
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| Stipa gigantea is a perfect foil for Agave ovatifolia |
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| Agave ovatifolia #2 |
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| Agava ovatifolia #2, with Desert Museum palo verde (Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum') in the back |
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| Agave 'Blue Glow' |
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| NOID acacia |
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| Agacia cognata 'Cousin Itt' (foreground) with Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' behind it |
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| Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' and golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) |
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| Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' and Dyckia hybrid |
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| Agave ovatifolia #3 |
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| Euphorbia myrsinites |
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| Phylica pubescens |
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| California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) spilling onto a small deck off to the side of the house |
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| California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) and orange Cape balsame (Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark') |
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| Desert Museum palo verde (Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum') |
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| Grevillea, possibly 'Superb', 'Peaches and Cream' or a similar hybrid |
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| View from the sidewalk |
Carol and her husband have every right to be proud of their front garden. It is home to many of my favorite plants, and I love the way they have been combined. This is water-wise landscaping at its finest.
- Ruth Bancroft Garden July 2017 private garden tour, part 1
- Ruth Bancroft Garden July 2017 private garden tour, part 2
- Ruth Bancroft Garden July 2017 private garden tour, part 3
- Ruth Bancroft Garden July 2017 private garden tour, part 4
That Agave ovatifolia is a dream! sheer elegance! I wish I could find it in some nursery here! I only have small Agave potatorum and the classic Agave Americana in pots, I don't plant them in the ground because they get huge very fast! the constant humidity, warm climate and black soil make colossi here.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad you have such a limited selection of agaves to choose from in Argentina. Somebody should start a specialty nursery!
DeleteYes, I'd love to have more agave varieties, today I saw several gargantuan Agave americanas in the street planted by a drainage ditch, they like water more than people think!
DeleteI was really impressed with that garden--sure glad I didn't skip it ! I hope RGB continues to do tours like this.
ReplyDeleteOh and I forgot to mention, I went back and looked at the street view again this morning. Wow! What a transformation.
DeleteI loved this garden. I would be very happy if it were my own!
DeleteThey did a great job! I wish Phylica pubescens had fared as well in my garden. It looked great for about 6 months but never looked good following the winter rains and I finally pulled it. I still have a small plant from Annie's, though it's not doing much of anything.
ReplyDeleteMy Phylica pubescens was the first victim of the summer heat. I need to replace it with something more heat tolerant...
DeleteI really need to plant things like that delosperma in my rather bare front gravel garden. Thanks for the inspiration, and looking forward to more!
ReplyDeleteDelosperma should do well in your garden. I think it's too hot for it here.
DeleteThe 'Firespinner' hated my garden, malingered a year, then died. So pretty and healthy there. Is that ovatifolia the 'Vanzie' version? What a gorgeous plant.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful front garden, I bet they don't miss their old lawn every single day. Thanks for the tour. What a great idea of RBG to do that.
My 'Firespinner' bloomed beautifully this spring. Now it's dead. The same happened with another Delosperma cultivar last year. At yet it looks perfect at Carol's house, pretty much the same climate as here. I wish I knew why.
DeleteI don't know for sure if the Agave ovatifolia is 'Vanzie' but the leaves seem to have a deeper channel than the species. Truly a stunning specimen--all three are.
I should of signed up for the tour, Carol's garden looks great.
ReplyDeleteIt really does. You should swing by! It's only 10 minutes from your house.
DeleteThanks for sharing, your trip. While I like all the planting use and variety, the ramada or pergola with the large globe lights really make the space.
ReplyDeleteShade structures are always a bonus, in my opinion (says the guy who wishes he had one in the backyard).
DeleteHow beautiful, thank you for all the photos!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. I love taking photos of beautiful gardens.
DeleteI need to tune into what's happening at the RBG. Seeing it through your camera is nice consolation however.
ReplyDeleteThe RBG is the desert in your backyard!
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