The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

The Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery in Walnut Creek, CA is one of the coolest places to visit in not only the Bay Area but all of Norcal.  Not only can you explore the almost 3.5 acre garden, they have a small nursery with a great selection as well.  The plants being sold in the nursery are actually propagated from the garden.  Needless to say we became members so we can get free entry into over 320 gardens around the country!  We highly suggest you become members as well;  Only $40 per person or $70 for a couple.  

We couldn't get over the Euphorbia section with all the beautiful 'Horridas.'  

This is an Australian Bottle Tree or Brachychiton rupestris.  A docent on the grounds gave us a cool lesson about this tree.  It stores massive amounts of water inside its trunk (look how fat that thing is!).  Any other plants surrounding the tree thrive due to its "sharing" of the abundance amount of water stored.  Years ago the tree actually broke their water pipe system and they had to take on an extreme undertaking to get it fixed.  We were fascinated by this thing!  

Below is a younger version of the tree that was propagated from the above mother. Still absolutely massive in that trunk!

This tree had cacti growing out of it!  We thought for sure these were planted inside for a cool look but we were wrong.  After speaking with the same docent we were informed that the birds eat the flowers from this cactus, go sit at the top of the tree, and take shits all day.  That shit turns into new cacti, growing out of the tree.  Can you believe that?  Nature is insane!

The nursery at Ruth Bancroft was super quality.  They had a great selection for affordable prices.  Outside of plants they sold cool books, shirts, accessories, and more.