Long before Jonathan Caples held the title of director of horticulture and facilities at Memphis Botanic Garden, he was just a little boy in Texas, pulling carrots from his great-grandmother's garden and chasing pecans across his grandparents' sprawling 60-acre property south of Austin. Those early memories - dirt under his fingernails, the smell of fresh earth and his grandmother's vibrant beds of zinnias and amaryllis - quietly planted a seed that would eventually bloom into a distinguished career in horticulture.
"My great-grandparents were farmers," Caples says. "My grandma always had her flower beds. Going out there on the weekends, it was just a part of life." When his older sister got involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America) in high school, Caples followed her lead. From there, he never looked back. That path took him through Texas A&M University, where he earned his doctorate in horticulture with interdepartmental research spanning both horticulture and entomology, and eventually to the rolling landscapes of North Carolina, where he served as head horticulturist at Juneberry Ridge, a 750-acre regenerative farm. In November 2025, it led him to Memphis.
"I came in the week before Thanksgiving, and everything was already brown," he recalls with a laugh. It was hardly the most glamorous introduction to a new city, but Caples dove in headfirst. Within days of his arrival, thousands of tulip bulbs were coming through the door. For the next two months, he and his team planted them. They bloomed. Memphis fell in love with them. And now, just five months into the job, those tulips are being pulled to make way for the next chapter, a transformation of what was once Daffodil Hill into a sweeping azalea garden made possible through community donations of more than 700 plants.
"They look great now," Caples says, "but in two, three or five years, it is just going to be incredible. You will have these walls and waves of pinks, whites and purples. It will almost mimic what we try to do with the tulips, but on a much larger scale."
That kind of long-view thinking comes naturally to a man who learned patience from the land itself. Ask Caples how he knows spring has truly arrived, and he will tell you to look for the pecan trees. "The pecan tree is usually one of the last trees to bud out in spring," he explains. "If the pecan tree has budded, you know spring is here. It is like the groundhog of spring. You are good to go."
Adjusting to Memphis as a newcomer has not always been easy. Born and raised in Houston, Caples did not move more than two hours from home until his 40th birthday, when he packed up and headed to North Carolina. Memphis represents his second major move, this time into a larger city where friendly neighbors do not automatically show up at the door. "It has been a little slower on that side of things," he admits. But what has made the transition smoother than expected is his team.
"I look forward to Mondays," he says without hesitation. His co-workers have invited him to dinners, Memphis Grizzlies games and the Orpheum Theatre, and have introduced him to spots such as Mind Body Haus in Cooper Young, where he has taken up yoga. "Inviting me to their houses, to go grab a drink, they have just been really great about getting me out." The culture at the garden itself has also been a revelation. During a recent plant sale, with thousands of visitors on the grounds, education staff members came over unprompted to ask how they could help. "Everyone wants everything to be successful," he says. "I have worked at some really great places, but I have never worked somewhere that seems this dedicated."
As he settles into Memphis, Caples has been quietly discovering the city's layers, from the food scene downtown to the trails along the Wolf River he has not yet explored, to the bicycle he recently purchased with dreams of eventually commuting the eight miles from downtown to the garden. "There is a lot on my short list," he says with a grin.
At the garden, that list is even longer. A multi-year vision plan is underway, with initiatives Caples can only hint at for now. But the foundation being laid, in azalea beds, community partnerships and a team that pitches in without being asked, already speaks volumes.
Like the pecan tree, the best may still be ahead. But the roots are strong.
D’Angelo Connell
D'Angelo Connell is a Memphis-based photographer and writer who approaches his work with a focus on intention, storytelling and impact. After leaving a five-year career with the United States Postal Service to pursue his creative path full-time, he has built a diverse portfolio spanning corporate events, fashion, sports and brand storytelling, including work connected to New York Fashion Week and SXSW. His photography centers on capturing authentic, unscripted moments, while his writing adds context and depth that extends the life of those visuals. Known for his professionalism and strategic mindset, D’Angelo creates digital assets that not only document experiences but help brands communicate clearly, connect with their audience and maintain a strong, consistent presence over time.
"My great-grandparents were farmers. My grandma always had her flower beds. Going out there on the weekends, it was just a part of life."