Ruth Bancroft's garden oasis includes both a magnificent desert garden and a traditional garden featuring a grassy lawn and perennials. She began her cactus collection 25 years ago with a few plants in gallon pots. Her property is now recognized as one of the finest private gardens in Northern California. Each day Ruth makes meticulous notes on her work in the garden, keeping lists of plants that are ready to go in. She's helped by her gardening companion, Amber. Ruth is intrigued by cacti and fell in love with their unusual flowers. Proper soil is essential to growing cacti, and a slope is preferable to flat ground. Although cacti may be grown on flat land, the drainage must be excellent. Ruth recommends a sandy, fast-draining soil amended with compost. Even in California, winter poses a threat to heat-loving cacti. Ruth protects her plants from excess water and cold air by setting a box frame covered with plastic over them (figure A). The plastic doesn't come all the way to the ground in order to permit air circulation inside the box. Ruth's garden is now sponsored by the Garden Conservancy so that it can be preserved for future generations. It is open to the public.
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