Fascination with gardens can be traced to the earliest stirrings of civilization. Consider the celebrated Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ancient Persia's Pasargadae, Lahore's Shalimar Gardens and China's Suzhou Gardens, all of which symbolize humans' affinity with nature and the desire to perfect one's environment through artistically arranged plantings.
These gardens may have initially been an expression of power and prestige, but they also offered visual, olfactory and culinary rewards and a retreat from the complexities of everyday life.
Today, formal gardens are popular in nearly every country in the world. Some, like London's famed Kew Gardens, Singapore's audacious Gardens by the Bay and the dazzling Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia, offer horticultural displays that amaze visitors by showcasing flowers, trees and plants that couldn't possibly thrive in those locations without sophisticated climate controls and specialized irrigation. These gardens allow visitors to view unusual and exotic plants without having to travel across continents.
Closer to Napa Valley are several outstanding gardens that focus on beautiful and hardy plants that thrive in our region without elaborate cultivation techniques. The following exceptional properties—in Walnut Creek, Davis and Napa—feature disease-resistant plants adapted to our local soils and climates, plants that also happen to be effective pollinators.
Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery
This Walnut Creek property was once part of a pear and walnut farm founded in the 1880s by noted historian Hubert Bancroft. The property eventually passed to Bancroft's grandson, whose wife, Ruth Petersson Bancroft, was an avid gardener who lived to the astonishing age of 109.
Ruth Bancroft first tried her hand at an English-style garden on the original site. This effort evolved into a lifelong fascination with succulents, a better choice for our Mediterranean climate. Over time, the Bancroft Garden became laser-focused on its collection of striking cacti and other succulents, as well as other drought-tolerant plants that flourish in the Bay Area.
The mature specimens now located throughout the 3 ½-acre garden reveal just how stunning a dry garden can be. The adjacent retail nursery conveniently offers a selection of plants represented in the garden. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
Located at 448 La Rue Road in Davis, the university's arboretum and public garden incorporates more than 20 different gardens featuring plants from California and countries with similar summer-dry climates. Here visitors can learn best practices in sustainable horticulture. Several times each year, the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden invite the public to the Arboretum Teaching Nursery to purchase the same attractive, low-water, easy-care, regionally appropriate plants found in the garden and arboretum.
The grounds are extensive so allow plenty of time for exploring, and plan return visits to experience the seasonal changes. The property is open 24 hours a day, every day, and there is no charge to visit. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Check the website for maps, parking, an events calendar and additional visitor information. Also visit the arboretum's Plant Database for information on specific plants from the collection.
Las Flores Learning Garden
Closer to home is the Los Flores Community Garden at 4300 Linda Vista Avenue in Napa. This urban garden is a work in progress undertaken by the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County. The themed plantings featuring a low-water and low-maintenance garden, a California native garden, a pollinator garden and a succulent/dry garden. More themed installations, including a fire-wise garden, citrus garden and a tuber and bulb demonstration garden, are in development.
Master Gardeners, who plan, plant and maintain this property, offer educational seminars on topics such as lawn alternatives, growing seasonal vegetables and composting at home. For information on visiting, resources from past workshops and a listing of upcoming workshops, visit the Master Gardener's Las Flores Learning Garden website.
Workshop: Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for “Growing Cool-Season Vegetables” on Saturday, August 10, from 10 am to noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension Office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. From lettuce and carrots to more exotic greens and vegetables, many delicious choices await the fall and winter gardener. This hands-on workshop provides growing tips from planning and planting to harvest and into the kitchen. Register here.
Workshop: Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for “Growing Cool-Season Vegetables” on Sunday, August 18, from 2 pm to 4 pm, at Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. From lettuce and carrots to more exotic greens and vegetables, many delicious choices await the fall and winter gardener. This hands-on workshop provides growing tips from planning and planting to harvest and into the kitchen. Register through Yountville Parks and Recreation.After clicking the link, find the registration page at
Adult Activity > UC Master Gardeners > Fall & Winter Gardening.
Fall Faire: Join the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for an entertaining and educational event on Saturday, September 28, from 1 pm to 4 pm, outdoors at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Enjoy exhibits on composting, monarch butterflies, succulents, water conservation, bees and more. The program includes activities for kids, a scarecrow contest, giveaways and music. Admission is free.
Help Desk: The Master Gardener Help Desk is available to answer your garden questions on Mondays and Fridays from 10 am until 1 pm at the University of California Cooperative Extension Office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa. Or send your questions to mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. Include your name, address, phone number and a brief description.
Become a Master Gardener Volunteer: UC Master Gardeners of Napa County is now accepting applications for the Class of 2025. Visit napamg.ucanr.edu to read the informational brochure, then register to attend a mandatory information session for applicants. Application deadline is 5 pm on September 25.
