We've partnered with Contra Costa Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District to present a self-guided tour of inspiring home gardens in Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette, and Moraga. This tour highlights the beauty, creativity, and diversity of waterwise gardening in our local communities.

Thanks to a generous invitation from the Bancroft family, visitors will have the rare opportunity to step beyond the Garden gates and tour Ruth Bancroft’s private iris garden — led by members of the Mt. Diablo Iris Society. Long before she became known for her succulents at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, Ruth was an avid […]

When most people hear “bromeliad,” they picture delicate air plants clinging to rainforest trees, but this remarkable plant family extends far beyond the tropics. In dry garden settings, the Bromeliaceae reveal a bold and unexpected side: dramatic towers of Puya blooms, strikingly architectural Dyckia, Aechmea, Deuterocohnia, Ochagavia, and Hechtia, and an array of forms adapted […]

This in-person workshop is a three part series on Wednesdays (May 13, 20, 27) from 10am-12pm. In this fine arts approach to watercolor basics with Wendy Soneson, you’ll learn about proper materials, brush and paper uses, and color mixing. We’ll learn about right brain drawing and how to compose a painting of some of the […]

Columnar and Opuntia cacti, with their paddle-like arms and upright, sculptural forms, are among the most iconic plants of the dry garden. They also make striking accent plants. In this online lecture, we will explore the wide range of columnar and paddle cacti growing in the Garden, with special attention to their fleeting blooms, distinctive […]

Discover the bold beauty of the Ruth Bancroft Garden’s cacti, some of our most iconic and unforgettable plants. Join us in search of the fleeting blooms of summer as these sculptural desert treasures put on their seasonal show. Along the way, learn about their fascinating adaptations and specialized care from the Garden’s horticulturalists and nursery […]

 Join curator Brian Kemble for the second webinar in our series on cacti in the garden, featuring the fascinating world of globular and barrel cacti. With his deep knowledge and longtime experience, Brian will explore the beauty, diversity, and unique adaptations of these striking forms. This engaging session is perfect for cactus enthusiasts and curious […]