From Embers to Inspiration:
A Garden with Purpose
Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden will be the first public garden in Boulder dedicated entirely to showcasing firewise landscaping practices while serving as a bold inspiration for the community. In the face of increasingly destructive wildfires and worsening drought, our mission is to demonstrate that safety, sustainability, and beauty can coexist—and that resilient landscapes can help protect what matters most.
This visionary project will include immersive demonstration gardens, a firewise plant nursery featuring regionally adapted, drought-tolerant plants, and a community venue for events, workshops, and public engagement. More than just a garden, FireWise will be a hub for learning, collaboration, and inspiration—welcoming everyone from curious homeowners to landscape professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
A Garden That Grows in Phases—and in Purpose
Before we even break ground, we’re laying the foundation for impact through five strategic phases. We’re already offering firescape design, consultation services, and horticulture maintenance to help homeowners and communities implement firewise principles today—not years from now. These services not only build awareness and create visible change across the region, but they also generate early revenue, strengthen community partnerships, and help secure funding for the garden itself.
Born from Experience, Shaped by Urgency
Since joining CU Boulder, I’ve met many colleagues who were displaced by the Marshall Fire. Their stories are a constant reminder of how urgently we need change. While most people imagine a wall of flames engulfing homes, the reality is more insidious: up to 90% of homes lost in wildfires are ignited by wind-blown embers landing in highly flammable landscapes. Plants like junipers, often placed right against structures, become dangerous fuel sources. Firewise design, backed by science, can reduce the risk of home ignition by 40–80%.
This project is also deeply personal. I come from a family of firefighters—my grandfather helped found the Thornton Fire Department and served as Assistant Fire Chief for 40 years. He passed away recently, but he remains a powerful inspiration behind this project. His lifelong dedication to protecting others lives on through the mission of FireWise.
A Perfect Site—and a Community-Driven Vision
Our future home is CU Boulder South—just steps from the Marshall Fire burn scar and framed by panoramic views of the Flatirons. This portion of campus is currently being developed for CU Boulder student and staff housing, and it also includes several 15–20 acre parcels reserved for parks, gardens, and recreation. CU Boulder has expressed interest in having the City of Boulder manage the land, creating an ideal opportunity for a self-sustaining university-affiliated entity—similar to Fiske Planetarium. The garden will also serve as a living lab for CU students and researchers in Environmental Studies, Design, and
related fields.
We’ve already interviewed over 120 residents, experts, and City of Boulder stakeholders, all of whom recognize the importance of this project. And with new legislation requiring the removal of non-functional turfgrass by 2028, Boulder County faces a critical need for drought-tolerant plant material—yet currently lacks the nursery infrastructure to support this shift. FireWise will help fill that void.
A Destination for Boulder—and Beyond
While Fort Collins is home to seven local nurseries and two botanical gardens, Boulder has just two nurseries and no botanical gardens. FireWise will change that. With projections based on comparable institutions, we expect to welcome over 65,000 visitors annually by year five. Alongside the Flatirons and Chautauqua Park, Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden will become one of Boulder’s premier destinations—rooted in science, powered by beauty, and built for community resilience.
With two decades of experience leading world-class gardens—including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Portland Japanese Garden, and as Director of Horticulture at Boyce Thompson Arboretum—and with a talented team and dedicated mentors behind me, I know we can make this vision a reality. This is not just a project; it’s a life’s work shaped by passion, urgency, and a deep commitment to protecting people, landscapes, and the planet we all share.
Jason Wiley
Founder
Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden