Ruth Bancroft Garden In Walnut Creek Prepares To Reopen

The historic Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery in Walnut Creek is preparing to reopen this week, with members-only days on Tuesday through Friday before the general public reopening next Saturday.

The garden, located at 1552 Bancroft Road, has been closed since the shelter order began in March due to the novel coronavirus health emergency. They will resume normal operating hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

“In order to make things as safe as possible for our guests and staff you will see a number of changes to the parking lot, garden and nursery entrance, exit and check-in areas, to better control the flow of visitors and facilitate six feet social distancing guidelines,” the garden staff said in an announcement.

All visitors will be required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing of six feet, per county regulations.

Nursery shoppers will enter by the greenhouse at the rear of the parking lot and travel in a single direction toward the kiosk for purchases. Visitors can purchase admission tickets, check-in and enter the garden
through the Great Room of the Visitor Education Center, with new signage to guide them.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden is noted for garden design with drought-tolerant plants, and the display of its large collection of plants from desert and Mediterranean climates collected by Ruth Bancroft for more than 60 years.