Join us for the inaugural Dry Garden Botany Series designed for the plant enthusiast interested in taking a deep dive into the Garden’s unique plant collection.
October 2022 – March 2023
The series will start out with a lecture on basic botanical terminology and an orientation to the garden layout before focusing on 16 prominent plant families/groupings at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, such as agaves, aloe and yuccas.
The structure of the series will allow students from all over the world to participate in this multi-faceted learning experience as each topic will have a webinar and an in-person class option.
This is a new opportunity to broaden your knowledge and forge a deeper connection with the Garden’s collection. Our extraordinary, climate-appropriate plant palette will enrich your understanding of biodiversity and the importance of plant conservation in various habitats around the world.
Click on the class listings (two pages) below for a closer look at the dates and topics.
Logistics about the Dry Garden Botany Series
Webinar format:
- Each Zoom-based class is one hour. All webinars are recorded, and participants have one week to watch the recording as many times as they want before the link expires. A request for additional viewing time will be an extra charge.
- Go here for our cancellation and refund policies.
In-person instruction format:
- To participate in the in-person class, the student must also register for the webinar equivalent (which is typically scheduled three days prior to the in-person class). The expectation is for the student to watch the webinar recording before the in-person class.
- Each in-person class is 1.5 hours in an outdoor setting. Class will proceed, rain or shine. Participants will be walking through the Garden and must be comfortable on their feet during the entirety of the program.
- Each webinar will offer a comprehensive look at a plant collection; the in-person program will be a more curated approach to learning about a specific plant family/grouping depending on seasonality and Garden location.
- The maximum capacity for an in-person class is 12 people, due to the constraints of the Garden path.
- Unfortunately, the in-person classes will not be available as a recording for this inaugural year.
- Go here for our cancellation and refund policies.
Series Schedule
October 2022 – March 2023
Classes begin October 27, 2022 and end March 25, 2023 and are scheduled on variable days, depending on whether they’re online or in-person.
Webinars: Wednesdays*, 10-11:00 a.m. PT
In-person programs: Saturdays, 1-2:30 p.m. PT
*Exception: The first class, “Dry Garden Botany 101,” is on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 10 a.m. PT.
Questions about the Dry Garden Botany Series? Contact the program director at alice@ruthbancroftgarden.org
Class Details:
To open each section of the class details, click on the plus sign (“+”).
Dry Garden Botany 101 (webinar) | 10/27/2022
Date: Thursday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: With a focus on dry garden plants, this class will give you the basics for understanding how plants are scientifically classified into different families and an overview of the plant parts.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Garden Map & Bed Orientation (in-person) | 10/29/2022
Date: Saturday @ 10 a.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) ‘Dry Garden Botany 101’
Format: In-person class
Description: Learn about the unconventional approach that Ruth Bancroft implemented with the layout of the Garden beds and the design principle considerations. We will walk through the Garden to identify each bed and review the general plant compositions.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Agave (webinar) | 11/2/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the exceptional agave plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Agave (in-person) | 11/5/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) ‘Dry Garden Botany- Agave’
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the agave collection.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Bromeliaceae & Agavoideae (webinar) | 11/9/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Bromeliaceae and (non-agave) Agavoideae plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Bromeliaceae & Agavoideae (in-person) | 11/12/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar)Dry Garden Botany- Bromeliaceae & Agavoideae
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Bromeliaceae & Agavoideae (non-agaves) plant collection.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [Old World] (webinar) | 11/16/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Crassulaceae [Old World] plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture. (This includes Crassula, Cotyledon, Tylecodon, Kalanchoe, Adromischus, Aeonium, Sempervivum, and European sedums.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [Old World] (in-person) | 11/19/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [Old World]
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Crassulaceae [Old World] plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. (This includes Crassula, Cotyledon, Tylecodon, Kalanchoe, Adromischus, Aeonium, Sempervivum, and European sedums.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [New World] (webinar) | 11/30/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Crassulaceae [New World] plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture. (This includes Dudleya, Echeveria, Pachyphytum, Graptopetalum and Mexican sedums.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [New World] (in-person) | 12/3/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Crassulaceae [New World]
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Crassulaceae [New World] plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. (This includes Dudleya, Echeveria, Pachyphytum, Graptopetalum and Mexican sedums.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 1 of 2] (webinar) | 12/7/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about an assortment of succulents [Part 1 of 2] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture. (This includes Commelinaceae, Asteraceae, Fouquieriaceae, Burseraceae, Vitaceae and Rhamnaceae.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 1 of 2] (in-person) | 12/10/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 1 of 2]
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about an assortment of succulents [Part 1 of 2] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. (This includes Commelinaceae, Asteraceae, Fouquieriaceae, Burseraceae, Vitaceae and Rhamnaceae.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Arecaceae & Cycads (webinar) | 12/14/2022
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Arecaceae (palm) and cycad plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Arecaceae & Cycads (in-person) | 12/17/2022
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Arecaceae & Cycads
Format: In-person class
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Arecaceae (palm) and cycad plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Proteaceae (webinar) | 1/11/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Proteaceae plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Proteaceae (in-person) | 1/14/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Proteaceae
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Proteaceae plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Euphorbiaceae (webinar) | 1/18/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Euphorbiaceae plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Euphorbiaceae (in-person) | 1/21/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Euphorbiaceae
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Euphorbiaceae plant collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Trees (webinar) | 2/1/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the diverse tree collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Trees (in-person) | 2/4/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Trees
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the extensive tree collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 2 of 2] (webinar) | 2/8/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about an assortment of succulents [Part 2 of 2] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture. (This lecture will feature Nolinaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae plant groups.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 2 of 2] (in-person) | 2/11/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Misc. Succulents [Part 2 of 2]
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about an assortment of succulents [Part 2 of 2] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. (This lecture will feature Nolinaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae plant groups.)
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Asphodelaceae (webinar) | 2/15/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Asphodelaceae plant collection (such as aloes, gasterias and haworthias) at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Asphodelaceae (in-person) | 2/18/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Asphodelaceae
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Asphodelaceae plant collection (such as aloes, gasterias and haworthias) at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Aizoaceae (webinar) | 2/22/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Aizoaceae plant collection (formerly referred as the “mesembs” or ice plant family) at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Aizoaceae (in-person) | 2/25/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Aizoaceae
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Aizoaceae plant collection (formerly referred as the “mesembs” or ice plant family) at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Shrubs & Herbaceous Plants (webinar) | 3/1/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about shrubs and other herbaceous plants at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Shrubs & Herbaceous Plants (in-person) | 3/4/2023
Date: Saturday @ 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Shrubs & Herbaceous Plants
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about shrubs and other herbaceous plants at the Ruth Bancroft Garden
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Bulbs (webinar) | 3/8/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the assortment of extraordinary bulb collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Bulbs | TBD
Date: TBD
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Bulbs
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the extraordinary bulb collection at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Barrel & Globular] (webinar) | 3/15/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the Cactacaceae [Barrel & Globular types] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Barrel & Globular] (in-person) | 3/18/2023
Date: Saturday at 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Barrel & Globular]
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the Cactacaceae [barrel & globular types] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Columnar & Opuntioids] (webinar) | 3/22/2023
Date: Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT
Format: Zoom webinar
Description: Learn about the iconic Cactacaceae plant collection [columnar & opuntioid types] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in this comprehensive online lecture.
Register here.
Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Columnar & Opuntioids] (in-person) | 3/25/2023
Date: Saturday at 1 p.m. PT
Prerequisite: (Webinar) Dry Garden Botany- Cactaceae [Columnar & Opuntioids]
Format: In-person program
Description: Join us for a walk through the Garden to learn about the iconic Cactacaceae plant collection [columnar & opuntioid types] at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Register here.
Meet our Instructors & Staff
Brian Kemble – Curator
Brian has been at The Ruth Bancroft Garden since 1980. He is highly regarded in the horticultural world and is a prolific writer and lecturer on botanical topics, especially relating to succulent plants. With a BA in Philosophy from Antioch College, and Brian began concentrating on succulents soon after moving to San Francisco in 1971. Brian’s work for the Garden has included hybridizing aloes, agaves, gasterias and some South American cacti. He has traveled extensively in Mexico, Madagascar and southern Africa, studying and photographing plants in their native habitats. His plant photographs have been featured in numerous publications on succulents.
Walker Young – Assistant Curator
Walker joined the Ruth Bancroft Garden staff in January 2012 and since then has come to function as custodian of the Garden’s aesthetic. He acts as point person in the collaborative process of preserving, renovating, and rejuvenating Ruth’s beds, taking particular joy in sculpting undulating mounds and arranging rocks in the Garden to form a unifying backdrop and compositional foil to the Garden’s plant collection. Along with the Curator he propagates rare succulents from seed to be used in the Garden and manages care of the private collection. His most significant contribution to the plant palette has been the donation of a cycad collection, which he has used as an intermediate texture connecting the garden’s collection of radially symmetrical rosettes with its softer drought-tolerant herbaceous perennials.
Cricket Riley-Landscape Design Services Director
Plant-centered design is the focus of all of Cricket Riley’s work at the Garden. Educating the community on the beauty, diversity and sustainability of regionally appropriate planting is always her goal. In addition to creating garden designs and ordering and promoting Nursery plants, Cricket also teaches a wide range of topics from dish garden tutorials to basic garden design principles. Cricket has an AA in Landscape Architecture from Merritt College, a BA in History from UC Santa Cruz, and an MA in Broadcast Journalism and Near Eastern Studies from NYU.
Szymon Szary-Horticulturist
Szymon started out as a Garden volunteer and then joined as staff in May 2020. He has a Bachelor’s in Zoology from Roehampton University in London, where he also worked as a Research Assistant and Lab Technician. In addition, he holds a Master’s in Ecology degree from the University of Brighton. In his free time, Szymon’s all about nature and outdoors: from cultivating cacti and other succulents in his own garden and greenhouse to spending months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or living off the land in the Rocky Mountains in Idaho.
Teddy Spencer – Assistant Nursery Manager
A passion and love for plants, especially cacti and succulents, first brought Teddy to visit the Garden in early 2020. He became a Member and then joined the Nursery Sales Staff team shortly thereafter. Prior to the Garden, Teddy worked professionally as a member of the stage actors union, performing locally as well as internationally. In his free time, you’ll likely find Teddy working in his own garden with the reliable help of his rescue pup, Dweebs. Other hobbies include mushroom foraging, disc-golfing, upcycling, and backyard birdwatching. Teddy received his MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University, and a BA in both Psychology and Musical Theater from CSU, Chico.
Troy McGregor – Owner of Gondwana Flora
Troy is the owner of Gondwana Flora (a design-build landscaping company) and Waltzing Matilija (a nursery specializing in Australian, South African and other unusual plants from the Southern Hemisphere).
Alice Kitajima – Program Director
Alice’s roots in the horticulture world are long and strong! After graduating from UC Berkeley with degrees in Forestry and Music, she has worked at the New England Wildflower Society’s “Garden in the Woods,” Arnold Arboretum, Descanso Gardens and Lyon Arboretum at the University of Hawai’i. Alice joined the Garden staff in February 2016 from the volunteer ranks of the Garden, where she assisted the Garden staff with plant records management. She now oversees the Education Department and Volunteer/Internship Programs at the Garden.
