Jason Wiley – Founder

Jason Wiley is a nationally respected horticulturist with over 20 years of experience working in world-class public gardens and landscape design across the country. A Colorado native, Jason’s deep roots in the state and his passion for resilient landscapes led him to establish the Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden—a visionary project blending horticulture, education, and wildfire preparedness for a changing climate.

Jason’s career includes leadership roles at some of the most prestigious botanical institutions in the U.S., including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Portland Japanese Garden, and serving as Director of Horticulture at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Arizona State University and pursued advanced studies in Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University.

Coming from a proud family of firefighters—including his grandfather, who served as Thornton’s Assistant Fire Chief for over 40 years—Jason brings a uniquely personal commitment to the intersection of fire safety and landscape design. He has worked on projects up and down Colorado’s Front Range and understands the urgent need for gardens and green spaces that are not only beautiful and biodiverse, but also fire-adapted and community-driven.

Through the FireWise Botanical Garden, Jason combines his love for plants with his family legacy of public service, offering a bold new model for gardening in Colorado and beyond