Two visits to the Ruth Bancroft Garden (2 of 2)

This is part 2 of my post about two recent visits to the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Click here to read part 1 if you haven’t already.

As I mentioned in part 1, the Ruth Bancroft Garden is only 3½ acres, but there are so many things to see that it takes a while to walk through. Last weekend, I was with a group from the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society, and it took even longer because I spent a lot of time yakking.

Honestly, sharing an experience like this with fellow enthusiasts raises it to another level. I do appreciate alone time and don’t need to constantly be around people, but I highly recommend you join a group like a local cactus and succulent society or a perennial club. Getting together with like-minded peeps, even if it’s only once a month for a couple of hours, can do wonders for your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. Plus, chances are you’ll learn from others in the process.

Silk-floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)

One of the most spectacular sights at the RBG at this time of year is the silk-floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) blooming in the northeast corner of the garden. Watch this new video by RBG garden curator Brian Kemble; it includes drone footage showing the tree from above. If you’re not familiar with Ceiba speciosa, it’s native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America and grows to 40-60 ft. The trunk is studded with sharp conical prickles that deter wild animals from climbing it. The common name, silk-floss tree, refers to the fluffy content of the fruit capsules, which used to be used as pillow stuffing and the like.

The flowers from the silk-floss tree blanket everything underneath — as Brian says in his video, it’s a nice problem to have

Close-up of Ceiba speciosa flower

This Agave nickelsiae might be the most beautiful specimen of its kind I’ve ever seen. Kyle wasn’t the only one photographing it...

...I was, too (obviously)

Agave victoriae-reginae is a close relative of Agave nickelsiae. And just like the Agave nickelsiae in the photos above, this specimen of Agave victoriae-reginae is about as perfect as they come.

Agave victoriae-reginae

The third member of the Agave victoriae-reginae complex is Agave pintilla. This specimen is literally just a few feet away from the Agave nickelsiae and Agave victoriae-reginae above.

This Agave pablocarrilloi × potatorum is from the same seedling batch as the specimen in the sidewalk bed (see part 1)

Agave pablocarrilloi × potatorum, a spectacular Brian Kemble hybrid

The massive flower stalk on the left is from an Agave salmiana

The weather was perfect

One of my favorite corners

I’d love to have a colony of Mammillaria geminispina, the ghostly white cactus in front of the agave

Agave neomexicana ‘Rabid Dog’, a particularly toothy form

More Mammillaria geminispina backlit in the early afternoon light

One of the newer beds

Trichocereus pasacana

Lobivia ferox

×Mangave ‘Tooth Fairy’

×Mangave ‘Tooth Fairy’

Yucca and eucalyptus

Several Boophone disticha, a favorite South African bulb with its signature fan of leaves

‘tis the season: South African bulbs coming up. Always a welcome sight.

Agave franzosinii

Agave franzosinii

Agave franzosinii as you walk into the nursery

I’ll have a separate post about the most exciting thing happening at the RBG right now: the creation of a large-scale crevice garden! Crevice gardens are a mainstay in the rock gardening/alpine plant community, but their use for succulents is still relatively novel. The RBG, under the guidance of garden director Walker Young, is doing pioneering work. Look for a post soon. Here’s a teaser:

RBG crevice garden in the making

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