Jon Carloftis, Lexington, KY

@joncarloftisfinegardens

“Everyone learns something on an Open Day, from the owners to the visitors. Visitors see what someone can do with absolutely nothing to start with and I appreciate that my down-to-earth approach to gardening resonates with them.”

JON CARLOFTIS Lexington, KY

A tenth-generation Kentuckian, Jon Carloftis moved to New York City in 1988, planning to stay for a single summer. Jon went on to spend 25 years designing and installing rooftop gardens all over Manhattan, including gardens for many celebrities.

After living in Manhattan for a few years, he bought an 1850s farmhouse in Bucks County, PA, which he shared through Open Days. In 2012, Jon relocated to Lexington, KY, and purchased Botherum House, an 1851 Greek Revival house in deep disrepair. Within a year, Jon and his former partner, Dale Fisher, received the highest honor in Kentucky for the historic restoration of a house and garden. Starting with an overgrown mess of honeysuckle, the property is now a series of defined outdoor rooms, including a vegetable and herb garden, woodland garden, courtyard, walled garden, and restored formal garden. In 2014, Jon shared the garden at Botherum through Open Days.