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Bringing Duke Gardens To Bloom

Jason Holmes cares for many of the plants and flowers seen at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Jason Holmes, curator at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, pots plants as part of the Gardens' annual plant sale. Holmes provides care for a variety of locations throughout the 55-acre garden space. Photo by Bryan Roth
Jason Holmes, curator at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, pots plants as part of the Gardens' annual plant sale. Holmes provides care for a variety of locations throughout the 55-acre garden space. Photo by Bryan Roth
By Bryan Roth

 

Name: Jason Holmes

Position: Curator, Doris Duke Center Gardens

Years at Duke: 8 years

What I do at Duke is: As curator of the Doris Duke Center Gardens, I take care of a lot of the area immediately around our visitor center like the Page-Rollins White Garden, Woodland and Bog gardens, Virtue Peace Pond and the future Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. I do a lot of plant design, planting, propagation, pruning, mulching, watering and plant record keeping.If I had $5 million, I would: We're always looking for money to help fund things at the gardens, so I think it'd be neat to see some projects come online like getting new equipment or adding additional garden spaces in the gardens.My first ever job was: In 2003, I came to the Duke Gardens and helped with a large planting of about 10,000 annuals.My dream job is: I think I'm doing it right now. If I weren't gardening, I wouldn't be happy. I love being able to put the awesome plant combinations together and really make people say 'wow.'The best advice I ever received was: My father told me that you should always work hard and be the best you can at whatever you do.What I love about Duke is: Every day is different. There's never a dull moment at Duke, especially at the Gardens. One day you're having a meeting about upcoming projects and the next you could do anything from planting to setting rocks in a variety of areas.When I'm not at work, I like to: I collect foreign coins. I actually found coins in one of the fountains at Duke Gardens from Armenia. I enjoy a lot of coins from South American and African countries because their currency changes so much.  Many coins I have are from countries that no longer exist.If I could have one superpower, it would be: The brain of a super computer. I'd want to be able to retain a lot more information. Plants are about the one thing I know well. I wish I could process things a lot better like calculus.Something most people don't know about me is: I used to play the tuba back in high school, but then I went to college and plants got me. When I played I enjoyed everything from concert to jazz to marching band.The skills I bring to my work: I have a lot of knowledge about plants. Once I see a plant, I tend to learn a lot about it and retain that information.