Garden of Jay Jinge Hu

When Jay Jinge Hu started delving into the gardening world, he found himself struggling with all of the options that were laid out for him at nurseries. It was hard for him to visualize how the plants would translate to his own garden. 

Everything finally clicked when he started visiting other people’s gardens.

“I realized I can visit gardens, private gardens, which allow me the opportunity to see how plants will grow in a real setting…And I learned that gardeners they're probably the most generous and kind [people] on earth.”

The ways that gardens change over time means that they hold countless memories. Jay feels that because of this, he is able to form deep connections with people who share their gardens with him.

“To me, gardening is a form of performing art. They are like a piece of poem or a painting crafted by gardeners with plants. It's a vessel for their personal history.”

These connections are what fueled him to create Whispers in the Garden, a series where he tours private gardens. 

“I find joy. I find peace from my garden, and when I see other gardens…I find more joy and more peace. So if they are willing to share, I will go there and ask them, ‘Can I see your garden?’”

A film by Michael Chernoff.