A Tale of Three San Francisco Bay Area Gardens
They are all rooted in the past yet firmly grounded in the present
Story by Patricia Kutza
The San Francisco Botanical Garden, the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, and the Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery form a San Francisco Bay Area botanical triangle that, when combined, features approximately ninety-three acres of some of the most iconic plant species on planet Earth.
Whether they come for respite, inspiration or immersion, visitors will find these spaces lovingly-maintained gifts that keep on giving.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Along with the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers, the San Francisco Botanical Garden belongs to the entity, Gardens of Golden Gate Park. Located only ten minutes away by car from the Pacific Ocean, its fifty-five acres are the home to ten distinct garden collections that showcase the plants indigenous to such regions as Australia, Chile, Andean Cloud forest and South Africa, to name a few.
Its variety of landscapes — from forests to expansive lawns to cloistered nooks — make it the perfect setting for such popular events as its annual Flower Piano show and Garden Gala.
University of California Botanical Garden
Across the San Francisco Bay and located in Strawberry Canyon at an altitude of 732 ft, the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley offers a highly diverse collection of plants, including rare and endangered species. Similar to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, its collection is organized geographically, with nine regions that span the globe.
Aligned with its initial mission back in 1890 to preserve as much of native California plants as possible, it continues to showcase these native plants (one-third of the Garden’s acreage is dedicated to them) as well as cacti, sunflower, orchid, lily, and heath found in such Mediterranean climates as Australia, South Africa, and Chile. The Garden also features two unique areas that are perfect for hosting memorable events — the Mather Redwood Grove and Amphitheater and the Julia Morgan-designed Julia Morgan Hall.
Ruth Bancroft Garden
With a much smaller footprint of 3.5 acres, the Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery, located in Walnut Creek, makes up in sheer scale what it may lack in size. Gargantuan succulents are grouped together in ways that accentuate their rhythm, color and texture. Crushed rock from nearby Mt. Diablo improves drainage while offering more variety to the Garden’s topography. Like its San Francisco and Berkeley-based counterparts, this garden favors Mediterranean climate natives and includes such varieties as the Chilean wine palm and valley oak as well as its huge collection of cacti and succulents. The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery leverages its unique collection by holding such events as the Garden of D’Lights — a winter holiday light display — and its annual Sculpture in the Garden art exhibit and sale.
Educating the public is a big component of all three gardens’ missions. Both the San Francisco and Berkeley-based garden websites offer extensive digital resources such as plant databases and virtual garden tours. The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery offers Dry Garden Design and Dry Garden Botany Certificate programs.
If You Go
San Francisco Botanical Garden
University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery
Consulting their websites before visiting is a good idea since the gardens close periodically for maintenance. They also add alerts about the best times to visit to take advantage of seasonal changes in color and texture — reminders that these gardens are an ever-changing feast for our senses as well as our souls.
