Free with Garden Admission

About the special exhibit by Brian Kemble (Curator)-

Agaves are a prominent group in the Ruth Bancroft Garden, and they have also been a particular focus of Brian Kemble’s many trips to Mexico and the southwestern U.S. Their bold sculptural form makes them stand out as focal points in a landscape, and a closer inspection brings into focus some of their other delightful features, such as decorative teeth, curling threads on the leaf edges, or the “bud-printing” that leaves embossed impressions on the leaf surfaces. Their dramatic flowering process adds a whole new level of drama; from the emergence of the asparagus-like stalk to the spectacle of a plant in full flower. Not infrequently, agave leaves turn colors when they come into bloom, like the leaves of a deciduous tree in autumn, sporting hues that would not be seen at earlier stages of their lives. All of this serves as grist for the photographer’s mill, and this exhibit serves as a chance for Brian to share with others some of the wonderful agaves he has been delighted by.

Brian he has been at the Garden since 1980, working for many years with Ruth before the Garden opened to the public. Since his first trip to Mexico in the early 1980’s, he has made a point of seeking out the habitats of various Agave species, and he has also sought to grow as many of them as possible at RBG, including hybrids created by pollinating plants in the garden.

This exhibit is free with Garden Admission.

$12 | Adults (age 18-64)
$10 | Seniors (65+)/ Students/ Active Military (with valid ID)/ Teachers (with ID)
$5 | Children (age 5-17)
Free | Children 4 and under
Free | Ruth Bancroft Garden Members
Free | Garden Conservancy Members
Free | EBT cardholders via Museums for All