About the Designer - Jason Chen
A proud graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Drawing and Painting, Jason grew up back east always with a foot in the dirt and a head in a gardening book. Fast forward to today, after spending time in Las Vegas, he is still constantly learning the art of gardening here in San Diego and has been for more than a decade. Many know him from his time at Cedros Gardens (Solana Beach) under the encyclopedic wing of Mia McCarville, to whom he owes much of his experience and knowledge. Gardening is definitely a skill passed on from generation to generation.
Design-wise, Jason draws much of his inspirations from the natural world. The colours, shades and textures of the verdant spring countryside always amaze him. Being a somewhat old fashioned gardener, he is most in his element in plant heavy perennial borders with lots of seasonal colour. The seasonal challenges that many folks cringe about, are merely surprises. With that said, a good solid succulent bed with seasonal flowering aloes will always be an eye catcher.
While the beauty of a garden is of utmost importance, it is also important to emphasize sustainability and drought tolerance whenever possible. With constant issues like water restrictions, it is important to conserve where we can. Along those lines, sustainability by composting and reserving some of your garden space for food crops is a great way to get back in touch with the earth and teach your children. Watching a toddler pick his first bunch of lettuce or have her take a first bite into a tree-ripened peach is golden!
While some of the plant material here in Southern California is similar to that of his home state of North Carolina, much of it is not, presenting challenges and surprises. Coastal Southern California is blessed to have a moderate Mediterranean climate that, horticulturally speaking, can accommodate plants from all corners of the world. In a design, it means that there are a multitude of choices that can make species/cultivar selection all the more difficult. Luckily the horticultural challenge will be accepted wholeheartedly and with open arms. Jason's free time is often spent gardening and testing plants out in his own garden or on his family's avocado farm. The best way to learn is to try multiple times and with each misstep, learn the cultural nuances of individual plant varieties.
Design-wise, Jason draws much of his inspirations from the natural world. The colours, shades and textures of the verdant spring countryside always amaze him. Being a somewhat old fashioned gardener, he is most in his element in plant heavy perennial borders with lots of seasonal colour. The seasonal challenges that many folks cringe about, are merely surprises. With that said, a good solid succulent bed with seasonal flowering aloes will always be an eye catcher.
While the beauty of a garden is of utmost importance, it is also important to emphasize sustainability and drought tolerance whenever possible. With constant issues like water restrictions, it is important to conserve where we can. Along those lines, sustainability by composting and reserving some of your garden space for food crops is a great way to get back in touch with the earth and teach your children. Watching a toddler pick his first bunch of lettuce or have her take a first bite into a tree-ripened peach is golden!
While some of the plant material here in Southern California is similar to that of his home state of North Carolina, much of it is not, presenting challenges and surprises. Coastal Southern California is blessed to have a moderate Mediterranean climate that, horticulturally speaking, can accommodate plants from all corners of the world. In a design, it means that there are a multitude of choices that can make species/cultivar selection all the more difficult. Luckily the horticultural challenge will be accepted wholeheartedly and with open arms. Jason's free time is often spent gardening and testing plants out in his own garden or on his family's avocado farm. The best way to learn is to try multiple times and with each misstep, learn the cultural nuances of individual plant varieties.