The Bay Area is full of gardens to explore, especially amid the blooming foliage of spring and summer. One small garden worth a visit is the Marin Art and Garden Center in the town of Ross.
“We’re a beautiful 11-acre garden in the middle of Marin County,” says Audrey Shapiro, director of events and programs.
The nonprofit garden center, which is free and open to the public, is located at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. on property that also includes quirky buildings, a playground and The Barn, where The Ross Valley Players have staged community theater productions since 1939.
The center features ponds and a creek surrounded by oak, redwood, sequoia, pine and magnolia trees. There are gardens for roses and succulents, and even a basketry garden, which features over 70 plants traditionally used for basketweaving by Native Americans. Monarch butterflies are at home in the habitat garden.
This summer, the center is the site of an outdoor exhibit of stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artist Dominic Benhura which previews on July 8 and officially opens in August.
The Thursday evening summer concerts on the Gazebo Lawn feature salsa musician Edgardo Cambon on July 9; Hawaiian music with Haopinaka on July 16; Blues-Americana act Dirty Cello on July 23; accordionist Blackcat Zydeco on July 30; and African dance with Makuru on Aug. 6. Redwood Amphitheater concerts feature classical from San Domenico school’s virtuoso opera program and guest artists on Aug. 13; acoustic pop and folk artist Michelle Lambert on Aug. 20; and a Teen Rock Showcase on Aug. 27. Shows start at 5:30 p.m.; tickets are about $20.
Small buildings on the grounds include the aptly named Octagon House, built in 1864 as a pump house. Also check out the Bottle House, a whimsical gingerbread cottage.
The Barn, which is red and on a hillside above the main garden, is quiet during the summer. The Ross Valley Players bill themselves as the “oldest continually operating community theater on the West Coast.” Their 97th season opens with Arthur Miller’s “Death of A Salesman” from Sept. 24 through Oct. 25.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, the center was founded in 1945 by five local women who wanted to save the land from development. An early version of what became the Marin County Fair was held at the center until the fair moved to the Marin Civic Center grounds in San Rafael in 1971.
As the center ages, supporters are planning to upgrade buildings and infrastructure. A fundraising campaign launched in 2025 has raised $6.2 million toward a $6.5 million goal, according to the center’s website.
The Marin Art and Garden Center also serves as a community center for nearby residents. Activities there include a pre-school, playground, summer camp and classes such as jam making, mahjong and tai chi. It’s also a popular venue for weddings and conferences.
Visitors may want to take advantage of the center’s central Marin location and see other nearby spots. It’s a short walk to downtown Ross. Picturesque Phoenix Lake, which attracts nature lovers all year round, is west of the center. Hikers may want to take a short drive through Ross along Lagunitas Road, and park at Natalie Coffin Greene Park before heading on foot to the lake.
The Marin Art and Garden Center at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross has grounds that are open to the public for free from sunrise to sunset daily. The parking lot is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit maringarden.org.