37
Years since established
27
Thousand different taxa
Timeline
1986
Breaking ground
Tony and Michelle purchase a home on 2.2 acres, garden construction begins on the Founders Garden. Plant Delights Nursery is established.
1996
First expansion
The Avents purchase 5.25 acres of adjoining property. This new section becomes Michelle’s Garden.
2001
Second expansion
The Avents purchase another 11 acres of adjacent property for expanded production, research, plant trials, evaluations and woody plant collections.
2008
Third expansion
The Avents purchase 3.66 acres from the estate of the late Eddy Souto. Half of the property is devoted to field production, while the other half becomes the full sun Souto Garden.
2014
Yde Horse Farm purchase
Two acres of the property are dedicated to visitor accommodations, while the remaining four become Avents new home and Anita’s Garden. This brings the size of JLBG to 28 acres.
2017
Crevice garden construction
The 300 feet long habitat for ultra dryland, alkaline-loving plants, is made of nearly 200 tons of recycled concrete and takes 3 years to complete.

Individual
Great choice for a beginner gardener. Includes basic benefits to help you expand your knowledge.
$50
/ year

Family/Dual
Best value for a family (2 adults and children under age of 16) interested in gardening.
$75
/ year

Explorer
Expanded benefits for an intermediate gardener who is looking to deepen their knowledge.
$150
/ year

Sponsor
Top tier package for people who share our vision and want to ensure the future of JLBG.
$300
/ year
Ding Dong…Who’s There? Beschor-who?
Spiking over the last few weeks before finally opening is the crazy agave relative, Beschorneria ‘Ding Dong’. All of us who have crazy relatives, can relate to family members that…
Dudleya Done Right
Looking great in the crevice garden this month is our specimen of the Arizona native Dudleya saxosa ssp. collomiae. Through the years, we tried this succulent in several of our…
Rattlesnake Ferns in flower
Putting on its version of a flowering show now, is our native rattlesnake fern, Botrypus virginianus. This widespread fern is native to all continental states except New Mexico. Not to…
What’s Up Doc? 85 Carats, that’s what
Looking absolutely fab in the garden now is the native dogwood selection, Cornus florida ’85 Carat’. You’ve probably never heard of this, because it hasn’t yet been commercially introduced. We…
The Born Supremacy
Looking great in the garden now is our specimen of Turkish Fir, Abies bornmuelleriana. Our 27 year old specimen was planted as a young seedling, and has shown none of…
Baptisia Time
Below are a few of the amazing baptisias flowering at JLBG that we snapped new photos of, over the last few weeks. It’s truly hard to imagine the vast garden…