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We've got smart lizards in the Garden. The plant in flower is Stapelia grandiflora, one of a large group of plants in the Milkweed Family which are known as "carrion flowers". This name refers to their ingenious method for getting pollinated. They emit a foul odor that resembles a carcass, and this attracts flies who think there is an actual carcass - but it is all trickery. There is no meal for the flies, and if they lay eggs (thinking that they will supply the maggots with flesh to feed on), the maggots all die. But in the meanwhile, the flies pollinate the flower. Once pollinated, the flower gives rise to a pair of long seed capsules. When these ripen, they split open to release the seeds, which have long silky hairs so that they will be carried away by the wind. Clearly, we have a fence-post lizard at the Ruth Bancroft Garden who has figured out that the Stapelia flower is a wonderful place to hang out if you want to catch flies. Stapelia grandiflora is native to South Africa. Find out more info about this plant from our Curator, Brian Kemble's Tumblr page on our website : https://ruthbancroftgarden.tumblr.com/
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This weekend we're having a special "Thank You" sale. RBG Members will receive 25% off all their Nursery purchases - plants, soil, pots, tools, books and more - all day Sat. 10/17 and Sun. 10/18.* If you're not already a member it's a great time to join. We have a special October New Member offer that makes the savings even better. See Link in Bio for more details. * Excludes art, consignment items, admission, class and membership fees.
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Plants in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family are great additions in dry gardens as they are typically low maintenance and deer resistant. The season officially changes tomorrow and now is a great time to be thinking about adding new plants into your garden. Learn how to incorporate these into your landscape in our next webinar, "Basic Design Principles- Gardening with Euphorbia Plants" on Saturday at 11am. Go to linkin.bio for more info and to register. . . . . . #ruthbancroftgarden #ruthbancroftgardennursery #botanicalgarden #plantnursery #yelpeastbay #eastbaynursery #walnutcreekca #diablo #publicgarden #succulents #cacti #rareplants #homeandgarden #wildgarden #ourgardensyourhome #historicgarden #gardenview #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #gardengram #historicsite
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Gardening is filled with trial and error. When introducing new plants from a different climate to a new region, lots of research can be done. When Ruth was planting in the garden she did this with each new plant. Yet in 1972, a year after Ruth started her planting in her new garden, there was a huge frost that came to Walnut Creek and killed most of the plants she had planted. While most of the plants in our garden are from a similar climate to Walnut Creek: Mexico, South America, Africa and Asia; many are not able to handle our frosts. Ruth adapted to this frost by moving many of the plants that survived and that were not able to handle the frost into her greenhouse. She also noted many of the plants that died so she could be more cautious when putting plants in the garden. The plants that were more hardy or able to survive under a frost cloth, she left out. In response to our frosty winters, our shade covering was built in the garden to help protect more sensitive plants from the frost! Gardening involves lots of trial and error. Because gardening is science we need to remember that all of the steps we do to take care of plants are similar to conducting an experiment. So anytime you have a plant that struggles and dies, remember to act like Ruth and try again with the new knowledge you gained. For this week we are focusing on some of our frost tolerant plants in the nursery, that also survived the many frosts in the garden. 1st Slide: First planting near pond and after of 1971 frost (behind pond). 2nd Slide: Impact of 1971 frost - Buita Palm is still here in the garden! 3rd Slide: Type of Buita palms that are for sale in our nursery! 4th Slide: Ruth planting in our shade structure. 5th: Some of the many cold tolerant plants we have in the nursery! . . . . . #ruthbancroftgarden #ruthbancroftgardennursery #botanicalgarden #plantnursery #yelpeastbay #eastbaynursery #walnutcreekca #diablo #publicgarden #succulents #cacti #rareplants #homeandgarden #wildgarden #ourgardensyourhome #historicgarden #gardenview #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #gardengram #historicsite #monthofRuth
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The fun starts TODAY at 5pm PST. There's still time to register for our Virtual Garden Gala and help support the Garden at our biggest fundraiser of the year. "Doors" open at 4:30pm for a pre-show featuring a presentation of Agaves As Art by curator and honoree, Brian Kemble. Register for just $10 and receive a $10 Nursery coupon back after you attend the Gala. More info and registration see link in bio
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Our Garden is lucky to have so many people who make our garden a spectacular place. Brian Kemble, our garden curator, just celebrated 40 years at the garden. Starting as Ruth's right-hand man, he helped take care of the more laborious plants in the greenhouse with his already expansive knowledge of plants. He then moved on to help her collect and choose plants for the garden, becoming another landscaper and large influence in the garden. Recently he was featured in a news article about his time at the garden that you can read linked to this post. Much of the work done in the garden was from his help and knowledge of cacti. Because of this we set up this commemorative plaque in the garden and will celebrate him during our Gala this Saturday. Brian's also creates wonderful photographs of plants in our garden. We are selling some of these prints during our live auction happening now! Stop by the Garden anytime and see Brian's plaque. Register for the Gala or checkout our online auction at ruthbancroftgarden.org/gala2020. Join us to celebrate the Gardens growth and those who helped create and grow the garden we see today! . . . . . #ruthbancroftgarden #ruthbancroftgardennursery #botanicalgarden #plantnursery #yelpeastbay #eastbaynursery #walnutcreekca #diablo #publicgarden #succulents #cacti #rareplants #homeandgarden #wildgarden #ourgardensyourhome #historicgarden #gardenview #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #gardengram #historicsite #monthofRuth
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Chimeric signs of the end of times?!? 😜 Never before seen at the garden, we have unusual growth on two distinct Opuntia species that can’t seem to make up its mind whether it’s a pad or a fruit! #bizarre #cactus #succulent #pricklypear #horticulture #ruthbancroftgarden #nofilter
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Help support the Garden by participating in this year's Virtual Garden Gala on Sept. 19 and our online auction which opens today! Check out all the wonderful items and exclusives we have to bid on. Come back often for hidden treasures and secret surprises! Join the fun and register to attend our Virtual Gala happeing Sat. Sept. 19, 5-6pm. Just $10 to register and registrants receive a $10 Nursery coupon after attending the Virtual Gala. To browse and bid, click Link in bio. Visit www.Ruthbancroftgarden.org/gala2020 for more details and registration.
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#Albuca bracteata is most often seen as a house plant with a large green above-ground #bulb, but it can also be grown in the garden if temperatures don’t get much below freezing. It is native to southern and eastern South Africa, where it grows in shady or semi-shady places. At the Ruth Bancroft Garden, we have it planted under the canopy of a tree, where it gets protection from the sun as well as winter cold spells. See link in bio for more details and pictures. . . . . . #ruthbancroftgarden #botanicalgarden #walnutcreekca #diablo #publicgarden #succulents #cacti #rareplants #homeandgarden #wildgarden #ourgardensyourhome #historicgarden #gardenview #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #gardengram #historicsite
