James N. Borland

Jim, a plantsman extraordinaire, lost his short battle with cancer on Saturday July 27, 2024 at the age of 78 with his wife, Dorothy, at his side.

Jim was the middle child of John C and Evelyn Borland. From his childhood onward, he was always exploring – around his childhood home outside Pittsburgh to college in Pittsburgh PA, his Navy travels, time in Fort Collins CO, Grand Junction CO and settling in Denver CO. His favorite vacation spot was in Hilo HI, on the rainy side of the Big Island of Hawaii, where he marveled at the tropical plants that cannot be grown outside in Denver.

After earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, Jim enlisted in the Navy. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga and enjoyed seeing the world. Jim was proud of his service, although he seldom talked about it.

He spent time in Seattle at a garden center, which ignited his interest in plants. Later, he studied Greenhouse Management at Colorado State University and he was the supervisor for the CSU research greenhouses.

In 1980, he met fellow graduate student Dorothy Falkenberg when she was establishing her low water use turfgrass research plots. Thus began their 43 years together researching, exploring, discussing, and growing plants.

After working at Weddle Native Gardens in Palisade CO, Jim was hired as the Plant Propagator at Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG). He thoroughly enjoyed his tenure there, discovering how to propagate native and dryland plants as well as the usual propagator tasks. He explored the southern and southeastern plains of Colorado and surrounding states, generally with other dryland plant enthusiasts and sometimes with his wife. The seeds and cuttings he collected and propagated provided the first native plants for the Steppe Garden at DBG. 

After leaving DBG, Jim worked in several aspects of the landscape industry while still propagating plants in his backyard and planting these plants wherever he lived.

In 1993, Jim began his favorite project – converting the front yard of their home into a No Water Landscape using primarily native plants. He grew most of these plants at home since few were available for sale then. The front yard at his home has not received supplemental irrigation since 1993 and it is thriving. 

In 1994, Jim and co-host Keith Funk started a garden call-in radio show, now called the Garden Wise Show. Jim loved preparing for the show and taking calls about plant problems and bantering with Keith every Saturday.

Another passion was teaching classes, showing how almost anyone could propagate plants in their backyard. He loved hosting garden tours that highlighted the front yard, but also the more traditional backyard landscape, which often showcased his Canna and Coleus collection. He was blessed with a wide circle of friends with many interests, but mainly plant related. Without planning it, Jim served as a mentor to many other horticulturists and plant enthusiasts because he was a guy who just needed to grow plants .

In June 2024, Jim was honored with the Individual Partner Award from Plant Select© “in recognition of your Talent and your dedication to Plant Select and its Mission”. 

While Jim did not read fiction, he was a voracious reader of textbooks and technical plant and scientific publications and he had an extensive library. Another hobby was enjoying western art. Jim and Dorothy enjoyed visiting galleries and enjoying the art. 

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 42 years Dorothy, a brother, sister, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, 3 nieces, 8 nephews and 4 grand nephews and 3 grand nieces. Jim was a loving and engaged Uncle to all ‘his kids’ and enjoyed spending time with them. Also missing him is Kitty, the tabby who adopted them and brought such fun and affection.

An Open House Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday August 29, 2024 in Mitchell Hall at Denver Botanic Gardens from 4 PM until 7 PM. As Jim asked for nothing somber, please wear clothing with Hawaiian patterns, or plant themes or colorful patterns.

Donations in Jim’s memory can be made to Plant Select, Colorado Native Plant Society or Denver Botanic Gardens (specify to be used for low water use plant research). Or, buy some fresh flowers for yourself or a loved one.