Blog Writers

Caron Golden is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who is a regular contributor to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden and Food sections. She has also written for Sunset magazine, Edible San Diego, and the Los Angeles Times. She learned how to garden from her mom and has had a garden of her own that includes herbs, succulents, seasonal veggies, dwarf citrus trees, and a finicky pomegranate tree.

Melissa has worked with Roger’s Gardens since 2018, fulfilling roles ranging from horticulturist to assistant buyer. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at University of California, Irvine, and has always had a fascination for the natural world. Working at Roger’s Gardens, she discovered her passion for plants, and is now pursuing her master’s degree in Integrative Plant Sciences at Cornell University. When she’s not learning about plants, she enjoys surfing, long walks with her dogs, and playing pickleball with friends.

Since graduating from California State University, Northridge in 2006, Rick Perillo has been exploring and teaching sustainable gardening practices. He has worked on organic farms in New Zealand and Colorado, as well as earned two Permaculture Certificates, his Master Gardener Certificate, and Certificate in Global Sustainability from UCLA. Rick currently is designing and teaching a garden-based curriculum at MUSE Global School. He spends his free time exploring the mountains around Southern California with his sons and attempting to grow the tallest sunflowers in his neighborhood.