WRITING / featured work
peripheral vision: three parks in naples

A long-form essay exploring three parks built in the 1980’s in Naples, Italy.

After the 1980 Irpinia earthquake devastated the Campania region, the PSER program released massive funding for new building and park construction in Naples, leading to a series of grand and inventive park projects on the outskirts of the city.

For additional essays, click below

field notes

GARDENS / featured project
dry garden #1

This experimental garden in Santa Monica is a mini laboratory to see what plants can grow solely on Los Angeles rainfall while also providing dynamic seasonal change and color.

The ever-changing composition of herbaceous perennials, bulbs, and a few shrubs are left completely dry and dormant in summer. In fall, the dry plants are cut to the ground, returning with the winter rains.

For additional garden projects, click below

garden design

HORTICULTURE / featured project
topanga canyon nursery

From 2017-2021 Jonathan experimented growing rare California-native and Mediterranean-climate species in beds of pure sand and gravel, matching the natural growing conditions of the dryland plant species, and greatly reducing the irrigation needs of the nursery.

In 2026 we will be starting a new experimental growing ground on the outskirts of Naples.

Look for updates at the link below soon

horticulture