Sculpture in the Garden @ Ruth Bancroft Garden

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Sculpture in the Garden is a much-anticipated annual event at the Ruth Bancroft Garden:

For one month every year, The Ruth Bancroft Garden transforms into an outdoor art gallery. The Garden's world-class collection of succulent and drought-tolerant plants provides a spectacular backdrop for artists to display their works. Follow the meandering pathways to discover art that ranges from classical to irreverent, spiritual to functional. (Source: RBG web site)

This is the 19th time that Sculpture in the Garden has been held at RBG, and I can’t think of a better way to showcase outdoor art. After all, succulents are nature’s very own sculptures!

In spite of the heat gripping much of the western U.S., I made the drive to Walnut Creek this morning, and I photographed many of the pieces on display. No matter whether you’re a fan of art in the garden or not, I’m sure some of the sculptures will win you over or at least make you smile.

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Agave franzosinii flower spike

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Agave americana ‘Marginata’

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Aloe capitata var. quartziticola

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Agave nickelsiae

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Agave attenuata ‘Boutin Blue’

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Actually, the real reason why I went to the Ruth Bancroft Garden this morning was to meet some of the garden bloggers attending the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling in San Francisco. I wasn’t able to join this year’s activities, which started on Thursday evening and will end on Sunday evening (tonight), but I hope to attend next year’s get-together in Portland, Oregon.

Here’s yours truly with Loree Bohl of Danger Garden. I’m sure many of you follow her blog. If not, be sure to check it out!

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Loree and I had fun walking through the garden and browsing the wonderful selection of plants at the RBG nursery. I ended up coming home with an Aloe peglerae, a Leucadendron ‘Ebony’ (a brand-new variety with dark burgundy leaves), and a Lomandra confertifolia ‘Wingarra’ (a new-to-me Australian rush).

RELATED POSTS:

  • Peter Herpst of The Outlaw Gardener has an excellent two-part post on his blog: part 1 | part 2. Part 2 includes photos of many additional sculptures that were on display last summer.
  • Loree Bohl also covered the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling visit to the Ruth Bancroft Garden.

Comments

  1. This was a great post about the sculptures that we all saw today. I found all those enormous Agaves simply mind-blowing. I enjoyed meeting you briefly. I hope you can make it to next year's Fling in Portland!

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    1. I agree, those agaves are an incredible sight. I'm so glad the Ruth Bancroft Garden was included on the Fling agenda. Looking forward to seeing you again next year in Portland!

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  2. When did you snap all those fabulous photos? Seriously! You work fast with the camera. I am so glad you drove down, it was wonderful to spend some time with you...hope to see you son in Portland!

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    1. I take so many photos so quickly, I surprise myself sometimes :-).

      I'm glad, too, that I was able to make it to RBG. Too bad you didn't have a car, I would have loved to help you fill that trunk with plants from the nursery!

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  3. You were in good company there :) RBG always looks so enticing, sculptures or not!

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    1. I hope you'll visit one of these years. It would be great seeing the two of you!

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  4. It was wonderful meeting you Gerhard! This was an incredible garden and the artwork was an interesting addition! I look forward to seeing more of you in Portland!

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    1. Peter, it was so great to meet you! I wish there had been more time for hanging out but you guys were on a tight schedule. I'm looking forward to reading your impressions of RBG and all the other gardens you saw on your blog.

      I hope the plants you bought survived the trip home.

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  5. Not a big fan of beautiful gardens bringing in loud artwork -- MBG does this every couple of years too. So distracting for the most part, although some of the pieces work quite well. (I didn't hate them all)

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    1. I actually enjoyed looking at these sculptures. Predictably, some I didn't like and wouldn't display at home even if they were free, a few I loved. For me, it's great fun seeing art I wouldn't otherwise get to see--good or bad.

      My favorite was the duo of copper pipes with their verdigris interiors showing (to the right below the photo of Aloe capitata var. quartziticola). They blended it so well, I thought at first they *were* plants.

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  6. What a great post! Those sculptures are really great! How did u find out about the fling? Would have been a blaast to go.

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    1. Candy, I found out through Danger Garden and other bloggers who ended up attending. See http://gardenbloggersfling.blogspot.com/ for more info. The 2014 gathering will be in Portland, OR, probably in early July.

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