Private Gardens at Ruth Bancroft

Jun27

My previous posts have shown you the Sculpture Show at the public Bancroft Dry Garden; here I’d like to share a few photos of the garden surrounding the home. Not in bloom (go in May) was the iris border where I think Ruth collected every bearded iris out there and I also didn’t take pictures of the multitude of citrus trees she’d collected. Martha did have her on her show a few+ years back and there are magazine articles on her as well. At 100, she would still go out in the morning to pull weeds in her garden. Garden Rant did a nice mention back in 2008.

She also has the largest stand of giant bamboo at the back entrance to her garden – it is stunning.

Love and need this salvia (penstemon?).

When you have the room, a backdrop of trees with differing textures and colors really sets a space apart – when you don’t have the room, think shrubs with differing colors and textures in the back or even tall perennials.

Another plant on my “to get” list – kniphofia

Yes, the white is completely wiped out when you take photos in the middle of the afternoon. What can I say? I drove down and it’s about a 3 hour drive (was worth the trip but no way I’d be there for early am shooting).

I love pomegranate trees – that’s the one in the center back with the red-orange flowers. There was a slight breeze – so all the grasses and bamboos were swaying – really nice effect in person.

Sometimes I start thinking I have to go all fancy when I build paths – but simple bender board and gravel does work.

At my previous home I had a 5 foot smoke tree I’d grown from a cutting. It was beautiful and I do miss it. All the HGTV shows are convincing folks they need gardens with “instant” results and full grown plants. If you’re patient, a few seasons are all it takes to start a garden with smaller, less expensive specimens. The process is the fun part.

The lavender border

Love this guy!

This post is participating in Macro Monday and Sundays in My City.

Bancroft Sculpture in the Garden Show, part 2

Jun25

Here are a few more photos from the Ruth Bancroft Garden annual Sculpture in the Garden show. Check their events for more information. My previous post is Part 1.

David Mitchell

David Mudgett, yep the ‘Sunken Cages’ were put in just for this show.

Melissa Mork (reminds me of Diego from Ice Age)

David Mudgett

Clayton Thiel

Steve Martinez

This post is participating in Sundays in My City and the parties linked below.

Ruth Bancroft Sculpture in the Garden Show

Jun21

Viewing sculpture in a beautiful garden – the perfect way to spend a weekend. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, a preservation project of the Garden Conservatory in Walnut Creek California, currently has their annual Sculpture in the Garden show. This garden plans and hosts some great events throughout the year. During the events you usually get to tour both the public dry garden and the more floriferous garden surrounding the home. If you’re around the bay area on July 8^th – you should try their evening Sunset Social – Art & Wine in the garden with wine tasting, food and live music for just $15. Admission other days is only $10. My good friend Karen and I decided to hit the opening weekend that boasts a crafts marketplace plus artists attendance.

Forgive me for not capturing all the artists’ names (they’re listed on the events page and I’m happy to update this post) and for doing a “middle of the hot afternoon” tour which means the lighting didn’t flatter these great works. Over 2 posts, I still won’t cover half the pieces – beautiful show.