I had not visited the
Ruth Bancroft Garden since 2019, that's six long years!
That wrong was righted when
Gerhard and I visited the garden during my trip to Davis/Sacramento and the Bay Area area in March.
As I edited my 300+ photos I was initially trying to get them down to a single post size. Afterall people seem to be turned off by two photo-heavy posts back to back on the same subject. Then I realized what I was doing and stopped. Who cares!? I love this garden and if I want to share that many photos then so be it. Enjoy them or don't. But really... why wouldn't you enjoy them?
This garden is fabulous and inspiring!
All the photos thus far are of the street-side entry garden.
Now we're in nursery area just in front of the garden proper. The tile mosaic walls "
were created by artists Donna Billick and Amanda Larson. 200 community members designed the tiles that make up the walls as part of a tile-making workshop led by Donna and Amanda. Each wall is 20' long and 4' tall and depicts a variety of succulents, cacti, and other low-water plants."
I know that info because Gerhard's blog came up in a search (
here).
There were a lot of fabulous plants on offer in the nursery, most of which I had absolutely no hope of getting home with me.
Well okay, these cute little Oxalis palmifrons ($20) could have fit in my bag, but lucky me, Gerhard gave me a few dormant bulbs he had kicking around his place, so I didn't need to buy them.
Agave titanota 'Black and Blue' ($80)
The cactus were $250, I'm not sure what the Euphorbia ammak was going for.
Agave bovicornuta 'Holstein' ($85). I included prices only because I continue to be shocked at the price of plants these days!
Meanwhile, there were also Dustin Gimbel sculptures looking very much like agave bloom spikes...
And mechanical cactus (?). I have no idea what these art pieces were selling for.
Inside the garden now...
There are 41 photos in this post, so I'm only going to occasionally comment. Just scroll and enjoy...
What an odd fountain! I like it...
But I wasn't entirely sure what the idea was. Were the log and bromeliads an afterthought?
Wow! That's a sizeable Kumara plicatilis, aka Aloe plicatilis, the fan-aloe.
I think these are Ferraria crispa?
Striking eucalyptus...
Agave franzosinii and A. ovatifolia.
About the A. franzosinii: "
A very large and attractive century plant that can grow to 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide. It is usually seen as a single large open rosette with broad powdery bluish-gray large leaves that undulate and bend gracefully. The underside of the lower portion of the leaf is often patterned with dark green where the glaucus covering was rubbed off from contact with older leaves which gives this part of the plant an almost dark variegation." (
source)
The shade structure on the right, which also creates a framework for winter protection.
Leucadendron 'Ebony'
I was thrilled to see the bird-planted cactus (pooped seeds) were still growing in that palm tree...
Variegated Agave ovatifolia I believe?
And another...
Agave macroacantha is where we end Part 1 of this visit. There will be more drool-worthy plants up on Wednesday!
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I haven't been in person for a few years, and need to correct that a.s.a.p. The new street side garden looks so cool. Let me be the one to add that 300+ photos is fine to post :)
ReplyDeleteLet's meet up!
DeleteYes, I'd love to!
Delete300+... that sounds like a challenge! Hope you both have a fun visit.
DeleteI enjoy ALL your posts. You are a skilled photographer and narrator. I believe I discovered your blog ten years ago and have loved every one. I especially appreciate how you capture the context of the plants within the garden. Picture heavy or no they are all good.
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for the kind words!
DeleteWow, the rock garden along the wall and the mosaic walls are really special! And the plant collection and placement are fabulous, too. This seems like a destination I would love to visit someday.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a trip during the dead of winter?
DeleteGreat photos! You took pictures of things I didn't even notice. And that first photo, wow, I'd forgotten how dramatic the sky was that day.
ReplyDeleteI think the Dustin Gimble sculptures belong to the garden.
You and Walker were chatting, I was roaming and snapping photos. The Gimble sculptures seem very at home there so that's good to hear.
DeleteI agree with others. No problem here with many photos! Without your posts would never know about most of these gardens in my lifetime. Grateful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Between this post and Wednesday's there will be 85 photos of the garden.
DeleteYou haven't visited in 6 years but I never have, which is disgraceful! To be honest, I've only visited the Sacramento twice, both for family events, and I didn't make it to either RBG or Gerhard's garden, which was poor planning on my part (although one of these visits was during a snowstorm years before I was blogging). RBG is a wonderful California jewel. I was stunned by the Ferraria crispa display as I feel lucky to get a few flowers from my one plant each year. As to RGG's agave collection, it's unparalleled.
ReplyDeleteKris! Get yourself up there!! You're right about the agaves, it's paradise for an agave lover like me.
DeleteWhoever doesn't like lots of photos, it ain't me! Nice to see yours of that very special place.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hoov!
DeleteOk, what is the magic number of photos per post that shall not be exceeded? I've definitely done several at 40+. I figure no one is forced to read or look at the pictures if they don't want to... Oxalis palmifrons - the best oxalis, IMO. I was trying to figure out in that first picture whether that was a real red-flowered, tall cactus in front of the Echium or a piece of artwork... scratching my head.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not sure if it's a number or the narrative. I don't care to see 16 pictures of the same plant from different angles. I do like seeing how it fits and relates to other plants and the way the garden flows. I like looking at the combinations and how they work, how someone is using plants to make it vibrant or unique. As someone with a smaller space it's also a good reality check. No, "maximus plantus" WILL NOT FIT! whew, just in time, I'll find something else...
DeleteI don't mind pieces that are information about a single plant, but that also creates its own different kind of narrative. Here it is unhappy in shade, happy in sun, different colors, etc.
I try not to go above 50, I think that's my cut-off for a single post. The plant/art you're asking about Jerry is a blooming cactus that's tied for support. I think a new planting. There's also something blooming red behind it, adding an extra layer of confusion.
DeletePortland Nursery Division street had quite a large euphobia amak when I was there a few weeks ago. They'd even marked it down 20%! It might even still be there! It was when I left, anyway...
ReplyDeleteI really like your picture posts! You either show me places I'd like to go (known about or totally new) or sometimes will never get to go-how wonderful!
If I had a nice big conservatory a large Euphorbia ammak would be a great addition.
DeleteYes, it was really cool to run across a large one "in the flesh" but like you I do not have that kind of storage space- what I have is too full! And then there was the eyewatering price. I can buy lots of other things for what they were asking. Was it out of line? I'm not sure, 6ft tall many armed Euphorbia ammak in Portland? I could see that as something possibly warranting a hair under 4 figures (before markdown) but it's too rich for me for a single plant. It's almost guaranteeing I'd somehow accidentally kill it in a week. (I am going to continue to try to live in denial on how much in total I spend on plants)
DeleteNever, ever, add up those receipts.
DeleteI've never stopped reading any of your posts because I ran out of stamina... More is more. I may even go through a second time due to the plethora of visual information.
ReplyDeleteThe somewhat overcast sky made for great photos. The tile mosaic walls out front are amazingly cool.
I remember Gerhard's posts during the time the shade structure was being created/renovated. It has really come into its own and is looking excellent.
The cute little Oxalis palmifrons: yes please!
Chavli
I'm praying I can get those Oxalis palmifrons to come out of dormancy successfully. Currently they're just a pot of soil hanging out, waiting for water in a couple months. Fingers crossed.
DeleteLovely post. Post as many images as you like! The uninterested or bored will scroll scroll scroll more quickly!
ReplyDeleteI've definitely found my people!
Deletelooks like lots of new work since I've been there, e.g. the bldg with the corrugated siding that's such a great backdrop for planting and Dustin's sculptures, so I'm overdue for a revisit! Thanks for the look around, it's more fabulous than I remember.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty darn fabulous. Get yourself back there soon!
Delete