Supporting The Garden will help ensure the preservation of this world class botanical garden. The Garden’s mission 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. Please don’t hesitate to make a one-time donation or set up a recurring monthly donation using your credit card. As always, your gift is tax deductible.

A wonderful way to support The Ruth Bancroft Garden is to plan a gift in your estate or will. Estate gifts can be specified to go into our Endowment Fund, creating a lasting source of income to preserve The Garden. Click here for more information.

Basic Membership - $35
• Free admission for tours and open days
• One free Guest Pass (good for tour admission)
• Notices of Garden events
• Invitation to Members Only Plant Sale
• 10% discount at The Ruth Bancroft Garden Plant and Merchandise purchases

• 10% discounts at select area nurseries and garden centers
• Discounts on selected tours & events

• Discount on educational workshops
• Subscriptions to The Newsletter of The Ruth Bancroft Garden and monthly Email Bulletin

• Free subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine
• Pacific Horticulture magazine subscription discount
• “Artist Day” – members can visit on Fridays to paint, photograph, draw, etc.

• Entry to American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program gardens

Family Membership - $60
• Two membership cards

• Free admission for two children under 18 when accompanied by a cardholder
• Two Guest Passes
• Basic benefits

Cereus - $100
• Basic benefits
• Two membership cards
• Four Guest Passes

Aloe - $250
• Above benefits plus
• Opportunity to purchase plants by appointment

Agave - $500
• Above benefits plus
• Invitation to donor event for Garden Supporters

Visionary - $1,000
• Above benefits plus
• Two nonmember Guest Passes for Members Only Plant Sale
• Unlimited free admission to The Garden for you and your guests

Preservationist - $2,000
• Above benefits plus
• Private use of The Garden

Golden Barrel Benefactor - $5,000-$10,000
• Lifetime membership with all privileges
• Private use of The Garden
• Permanent donor recognition

Student Membership - $15
• All benefits of Basic Membership.

Senior Membership (65+) - $25

• All benefits of Basic Membership.

Garden Club Membership - $50
• Notices of Garden events.

• Subscriptions to The Newsletter of The Ruth Bancroft Garden and monthly Email Bulletin

Corporate Sponsorships - $2,000 and above
• Private group tours for employees
• Private use of The Garden
• Recognition on website and other print materials
• Employee membership cards as required
• Notices of Garden events
• Invitation to Members Only Plant Sale
• 10% discounts at select area nurseries and garden centers
• Discounts on selected tours & events
• Subscriptions to The Newsletter of The Ruth Bancroft Garden and monthly Email Bulletin
• Pacific Horticulture Magazine subscription discount
• Additional benefits based upon sponsorship such as recognition on donor plaque, etc.

10% Nursery Discounts when you present your membership card at:
• Navlet’s Garden Center (all locations)
• Merlot Nursery, Walnut Creek
• The Dry Garden, Oakland
• Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, Richmond
• Magic Garden, Berkeley

Please use our Secure site to Join, Renew or Donate. You can also fax or mail in a Membership Application

Volunteering at The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a wonderful way to enjoy this exceptional garden and contribute to its success. Become a volunteer and join our Propagation Crew, Event Team or Office Assistance group!

We welcome you to join our incredible team of Volunteers! Download our Volunteer Application, fill it out, and email it to freya@ruthbancroftgarden.org, or mail it to The Garden. We accept applications year-round. Experience the satisfaction of contributing to The Ruth Bancroft Garden by donating your time, skills, and energy.

If you want to know more about our volunteer opportunities please see below. If you have other questions, contact our volunteer coordinator Freya van Dien.

Volunteers at the Annual Sculpture Show Register	Work Party in the Nursery

Without the enthusiasm and dedication of volunteers, The Ruth Bancroft Garden would not be here today.  Since this garden was planted in 1972, and all the way through it’s development from a private into a public garden, volunteers have been instrumental in maintaining the garden and supporting the organization behind it.

Volunteering at the Ruth Bancroft Garden is a great opportunity to contribute to the success of this exceptional example of garden design, and care for its collection of water-conserving plants for the education and enjoyment of the public. As a volunteer at the garden you will have the opportunity to learn more about gardening with water conserving plants, be a member of an interesting community of volunteers, spend time in a relaxing environment, and be a part of this inspiring garden and the organization behind it.

2009 Volunteer Party	2009 Volunteer Party Buffet

The Ruth Bancroft Garden has a variety of interesting volunteer opportunities.

Garden work
• Nursery: propagating, repotting and cleaning plants for plant sales and plantings in the garden.
• Garden Maintenance: weeding, deadheading, planting, pruning, composting, etc.
• Garden Construction: landscaping, irrigation, building, etc.
• Grown at Home Propagation. Grow RBG plants at home for plant sales and new plantings in the garden.

Volunteer potting an Agave	Plant Sale House during the Spring Plant Sale

Event Assistance
• Event organization & production, Register assistance at Plant Sales, Member host and Membership • Sales, Traffic Control, Merchandise (buying, organizing and selling)

Office Assistance
• Front Desk: welcoming visitors, answering phones, filing, data entry, etc.
• Outreach & Development: mailings, soliciting donations, distributing printed materials.
• Computer work: graphic design, website maintenance.

Education
• Become a Docent! Our annual training between October and March will prepare you to lead tours in the garden.
• Children’s programs: assisting with special projects and classes.
• Adult Education: assisting with hands-on workshops, lectures, special trips, etc.

Docents
Interested in sharing your love for plants with others? Become a Docent at the Ruth Bancroft Garden! Our Docent Training Program that takes place each year between October and March.

Docents Leading Tours in the Garden

The docents at the Ruth Bancroft Garden play a vital role, interpreting the flora of the garden, to hundreds of visitors per year. The docent training provides you with knowledge about our collection of drought tolerant plants, the history of the garden, it’s geographic location, and trains you in interpretive skills and public speaking. As a trained docent you are certified to lead tours through the garden and share your knowledge with our visitors.

The benefits of becoming a docent, besides the satisfaction of working in a beautiful place, and contributing to your community, include a free garden membership, and ongoing Docent Enrichment educational opportunities.