Making Plans For 40th Anniversary of Ruth Bancroft Garden

The Ruth Bancroft Garden has a new executive director who is busy making plans for more events as the garden points toward a 40th anniversary party in 2012.

"It's wonderful to be a part of this beautiful piece of Walnut Creek history," said Ry Southard, who started at the Bancroft garden on Bancroft Road in October. "We're looking forward to the 40th anniversary next year. We have doubled the number of events and programs that we are going to be offering."

Southard was the former executive director of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the world's highest botanic garden in the Vail Valley of Colorado. Southard has a bachelor of fine arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute.

While we're in the garden …

One of the events being planned is a 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, talk by Fred Dortort, author of The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World. It is $30 general admission, $25 for members. There are more details on the Bancroft garden's website.