NURSERY STAFF at JUNGLE MUSIC
2019 – 2020

Phil Bergman started the Nursery in 1977 and has been studying plants and operating the nursery for over 40 years.  He has authored countless articles on palms and cycads and is the Past President of the International Palm Society and Palm Society of Southern California and was instrumental in the formation of the IPS PalmTalk.  Incidentally, he was an emergency physician in San Diego for 41 years at Scripps Hospital in Chula Vista, retiring in 2017.

Jesse Bergman, Phil’s son, has been working at the nursery and studying palms and cycads for over 20 years.  He graduated from UCSD with a degree in biology and anthropology.  His particular area of expertise is with cycads. He has assisted many people with on-site design and culture issues.  He is married to Blanca (below) with two daughters.  He’ll someday be taking over the nursery.  You can really trust his plant choices and advice.

Rusty Phillipy, well known in the San Diego area as a champion surfer, also loves palm trees and tropical plants.  He’s been with Jungle Music for over ten years.  He has designed and grown his own garden in the Cardiff area and enjoys helping people pick out the best palms for their needs.  He’s also a well known local surfer champion.

Joaquin Hernandez has been in the nursery trade for over 30 years and with Jungle Music for over 20 years.  His job mostly deals with plant propagation and culture.  After a medical issue, he’s once again jointed us with nursery support.  He speaks Spanish and knows a lot about the plants.  

Ricardo Juarez has been with us for seven years years and is now an expert on palms, cycads and tropical plants,  He really enjoys helping customers pick the right species for their area and helping with garden design.  He’s very intelligent and can quickly educate you about the plants.  He also does most of our plant deliveries and speaks Spanish fluently. 

Alma Garcia-Juarez loves companion and tropical plants.  She’s the one to see if you want something beautiful, colorful or different for the garden.  If you visit us, you’ll spot her because she’s the one with the biggest smile and is in a lot of our plant photos.  If you have her help you, you’ll have fun!  And, she speaks Spanish!

Mitzi Bergman, married to Phil for thirty-eight years, has been continually involved with the office duties of the nursery.  She is quite experienced in the field study of palm trees and loves to travel to see new species.

Tori Burnett, a graduate of UCSD about two years ago, majored in Neuro-Sciences.  Since that time she’s been working at our nursery intermittently.  She likes plants, is very hard working and is fun to be around.  She has a serious side but is always to be found when a group is laughing and enjoying life.

Blanca Bergman, Jesse’s wife, is a nursery support employee.  She helps us when she’s not busy with her two lovely daughters and her passion for music and the arts.  BTW, she’s an active musician/singer and has her own company Art Unites.

Brendan McLaughlin joined our staff in 2019.  He is particularly interested in palms and has a good collection in his garden.  He is expanding his knowledge into tropical plants and cycads.  He also has an avid love of exotic cars.