I’m a plantaholic who gardens on a steep, one-acre, north-facing, terraced hillside in urban San Diego. The garden is known for its collection of climate-appropriate plants, 100s of steps, over 10 thousand recycled bottles, and mosaic pathways made with local rocks and recycled materials.
Oh, and I also like to visit gardens anywhere.
Meet Jim
I’m Jim Bishop and, like many of you, I am a plantaholic. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for plants. I began with wonderment at the simple dandelions I saw growing in a front yard, extended to actually growing thousands of plants, and evolved into a goal to visit as many gardens as possible, and then to searching out unusual plants growing in their natural habitats.
San Diego Horticultural Society
My love for plants has guided me on a wonderful journey through life, largely thanks to the San Diego Horticultural Society. Without a professional background in horticulture or the landscaping industry, I often felt I hadn’t found “my people.” However, when I sat in the back row of the first SDHS meeting in September 1994 and watched Steve Brigham (2009 Horticulturalist of the Year) and Don Walker (1st SDHS president and 2005 Horticulturalist of the Year) joke around and discuss plants, I realized I had finally found them. I could never have predicted the path that would unfold after attending that meeting. I joined the SDHS Board in 2010 and served as president from 2011 to 2017. I feel privileged to have been honored as the 2019 San Diego Horticulturalist of the Year.
Meet the Enabler
Although not precisely a horticulturist, the most important person in my life, whether plant-related or not, is Scott Borden, whom I met at a garden party in 1994. At that time, he owned several travel agencies and had a much greater passion for traveling than I did. However, Scott has allowed me to fully pursue my love for plants and has taken me on journeys across the globe. Together with my partner Scott Borden, I reside in a 1938 hacienda-style home in Mission Hills, a historic hilltop neighborhood overlooking Old Town and San Diego Bay. While Scott manages many of the daily household tasks, I am free to focus on the garden and this blog. Our house is situated on a quiet, narrow street, and from the front, you’d never guess what’s hidden in the back: a garden described as unlike any other.
Work History
Previously I had professional background for 28 years in the software industry. Wanting a change, I started my own landscape design business, Bishop Garden Design – dedicated to climate-appropriate horticulture. I quickly learned that working with homeowners wasn’t for me. I helped Scott flip a few houses by updating the landscaping. I worked for 2 years organizing the outdoor display gardens at the San Diego County Fair turning 3 acres of parking lot into fantasy gardens. In 2017, I made the bold decision to fully immerse myself in the world of gardening, dedicating my time and energy to nurturing and expanding the garden. It’s a journey filled with dirt, discovery, and a whole lot of green thumbs!
Our Garden
Our property spans nearly an acre, with most of it on a steep incline dropping 100 feet from Mission Hills down to Mission Valley. When we purchased the property in 1998, it lacked landscaping and irrigation. The slope was covered with over a hundred eucalyptus trees, chaparral, and scrub, along with rocks and decades of discarded roofing debris, making it impossible to reach the bottom of the hill. Despite the site’s tremendous potential, most people would have been deterred by the extensive work required.
Over the following years, with persistent determination and unlimited enthusiasm, we gradually cleared the slope, removing debris and eventually the eucalyptus trees and dead scrub. Now, 300 steps lead down the hill.
Today, the slope is terraced and hosts a diverse array of drought-tolerant plants, including California natives, Australian and South African shrubs and trees, succulents, cycads, palm trees, and bromeliads.
Our Travels
Much of the inspiration for the the garden came from our visiting countless gardens. When Scott and I first met, he was immersed in the travel industry, hinting that our future would be sprinkled with globetrotting escapades. My own travels were primarily confined to North America until I hit the big 4-0. Our early journeys revolved around bike tours and cruise ship excursions. Meanwhile, Scott was already busy orchestrating enchanting garden tours through Sterling Tours, which also catered to the Pacific Horticulture Society. I had the pleasure of serving on the board of PacHort for a time, and later, Scott served too. Naturally, we couldn’t resist joining some of those splendid tours! We continued to relish cycling tours, embark on our own adventures. Our wanderlust has taken us to a dazzling array of destinations: England, France, Holland, Italy, Greece, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Belize, Guatemala, Iceland, Canada, Mexico, Bali, Singapore, New Zealand, South Africa, Peru, Argentina, and Chile—along with much of California and other enchanting states. I’m sure I’ve left out a few places we’ve visited. These days, our bike tours have taken a backseat, especially after a fall in Guatemala in 2023 that left me with eight fractured ribs.