About Chris

Landscape Designer, Chris H. Olsen, attended Oxford University in England, studying landscape architecture, landscape principals, and philosophy and also graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in business. Chris has over 30 years of landscape architecture and interior design experience.

Chris is the owner of Botanica Gardens in Little Rock and Plantopia Home & Garden Center, which is North Little Rock’s newest nursery and garden destination location.  Chris is active in the growing operations for his “Jhemajang” plant line. “Jhemajang is the art of mixing in up and Chris’ plant line is custom grown mix varieties of tough plants selected by Chris himself.
Chris has been active in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation—designing and installing the landscape for the "Build for a Cure" Projects in Little Rock and the first "Build for a Cure" house in the United States. In addition, he is active in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Heart Association, Wildwood of Performing Arts, the Hope Foundation, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, and the Arkansas Lung Association - just to name a few. Chris' design works have been featured in several of the Arkansas Symphony Designer Houses, At Home in Arkansas, The Arkansas Times, AY Magazine, Health and Living, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Real Living Magazine, Soirée, Inviting Arkansas, the Abode Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, and several times in Better Homes and Gardens. Chris is a regular contributing writer for the Arkansas Gardener Magazine and At Home Arkansas. He writes with flair, wit and a bit of humor. He has also written for the Fine Gardening Magazine. Chris was also featured in Arkansas Business 40 fewer than 40, representing businesspeople that are on the move in their respective fields.

Chris is a nationally known home and garden guru, lifestyle expert, designer, author, TV personality and public speaker.  

He is also a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

Chris's exceptional designs were the recipient of the People's Choice Award and numerous other honors at the Arkansas Garden Show for over 15 years running. Outstanding use of color and uniquely different designs are a trademark of Chris' talents. He has been associated with KTHV Channel 11, where he is featured on the morning, noon, and evening home and garden segments in the Weather Garden. 

He has been a part of this team for over 17 years.
Never sitting still, you can keep up with Chris on his website, chrisholsen.com, his monthly blog in At Home Magazine as well as his weekly appearances on the THV-11 Morning Show.   Chris currently speaks nationally - and has hosted over 400 weekly segments called "Today's Home" with Chris H. Olsen, that have been featured in over 158 nationally syndicated markets. His book called "Five Seasons with Chris H Olsen" was released in December of 2011 and he recently released a new book called "Once and Again....The Revival of The Edgemont House".

Chris has taken The Edgemont House from “Drab to FAB” and has installed the formal gardens at his home, complete with a period-correct fountain and plants. It will surely become one of the "best dressed houses" in the neighborhood.