Ruth Bancroft Garden is a Desert Wonderland

February 21, 2022
by Maureen Burke
One Comment

Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek will transport you to the desert. This botanical garden is small but mighty, with an amazing collection of succulents, cacti, and other low-water plants on its grounds. It’s a fun place to visit year-round to explore the beautiful and unusual plants that can live in a drought-tolerant setting. If your children need to sweeten the deal, Ruth Bancroft is near one of our favorite playgrounds.

Visit nearby Heather Farm Park and Playground > >

Kid-Friendly Scavenger Hunt

When purchasing your tickets, ask for a children’s Bingo card. The card is a mix of Bingo and scavenger hunt—find three of the pictured plants in a row and your kids will win a small prize. The garden has a series of paths to wander down which keeps the scavenger hunt exciting for little ones. You’ll pass by spiky cacti, flowering aloe plants, and towering palm trees.

My kids were super pumped to participate in the scavenger hunt and ended up finding all the pictured items. There are multiple versions of the game to keep things fresh for each visit.

Pro tip: Remind your kids to look and not touch because many plants have spikes.

Scavenger Hunt at Ruth Bancroft Garden — Search for cacti, flowers, and more surprises with the garden’s scavenger hunt cards | Photo: Maureen Burke

Seasonal Blooms & Koi Pond

The garden provides visitors with helpful “What’s in Bloom” guides. The plants come from all across the globe, so something is always in bloom. We like to play an I Spy color game when visiting because the flowers and plants span the color spectrum. There are also plenty of opportunities to spot pollinators.

In addition to flowers, there are many trees with low branches that are perfect for playing house or hide-and-seek. Be sure to spend some time searching for fish at the Koi Pond. The setting is very tranquil.

Koi Pond at Ruth Bancroft Garden — Enjoy the garden’s calm energy | Photo: Maureen Burke

Events for Families

During the winter, families can enjoy a dazzling light show called Garden d’Lights. The weeks-long display features colorful lights that spark and shine throughout the garden. It’s a good introduction to holiday light displays if you’re looking to bring your child to a smaller event.

In the past, the garden hosted nature-themed storytimes and crafting workshops for young children. These events appear to be on hold, and we hope they return soon.

How to Get in FREE to Dozens of Bay Area Museums, Science Centers, + Gardens >>

lit up garden — Garden d’Lights runs during the winter | Photo: Earl Ruby for Ruth Bancroft Garden

The Bottom Line on Ruth Bancroft Garden

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is worth a visit if your family enjoys botanical gardens, gardening, or exploring new outdoor spaces. It’s about a thirty-minute drive from Berkeley and offers a fun escape. The garden itself is small, especially compared to other local botanical gardens. However, the dense collection of plants and beautiful grounds keep visitors engaged. There are thousands of different plant species, ranging from familiar to other-worldly. Don’t miss the on-site nursery to bring one of the unique plants home.

The garden makes an effort to welcome families and delivers. My family typically spends just over an hour touring the grounds each visit, longer if we plan to picnic in the garden. My kids (2 and 5) like to make at least two rounds through the garden, admire the mosaic art displays, and spend lots of time at the pond. It’s an easy add-on destination when visiting Heather Farm Park and Playground, or worthy of a special trip if grandma is in town.

About Membership to Ruth Bancroft Garden

If your family enjoys outings to gardens, a dual membership with Ruth Bancroft is a good value compared to memberships offered by other Bay Area botanic gardens. Members enjoy special pricing perks, members-only events, and free access to hundreds of AHS botanical gardens throughout North America, including UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco.

Pro tip: If you’re on the fence about a membership, consider taking advantage of a free pass through the Discover & Go program.