John J. Albers

John J. Albers, Ph.D., research professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Washington, is author of three acclaimed books on horticulture and sustainable gardening. Over a distinguished academic career, he has published more than 380 peer-reviewed scientific articles, edited two scientific volumes, and served as associate editor for several journals—an experience that has refined his skill for translating complex ideas into clear, engaging language for both professional and general audiences. Parallel to his scientific career, he has spent the past three decades exploring and teaching the science and art of sustainable gardening in the Pacific Northwest.

As an ecoPRO Sustainable Landscape Professional and former Washington State University/ Kitsap County Master Gardener, he founded and continues to curate Vista Gardens—a four-acre botanical garden in Bremerton, Washington, that serves as a living classroom for climate-adapted horticulture. Through public tours, educational workshops, and regional lectures, he shares practical, science-based strategies for cultivating resilience, biodiversity, and deeper ecological connection in everyday landscapes.

His books—Gardening for Sustainability (2013), Northwest Garden Manifesto (2018), and Growing Conifers (2021)—reflect his enduring commitment to sustainable living and environmental literacy across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.