By SUSAN JONAS

Garden Club of Danville 

Kentucky native Jon Carloftis, award-winning garden designer and author, will be the guest of the Garden Club of Danville for a free public appearance 1 p.m. March 7, at the Presbyterian Church of Danville, 500 W. Main Street. Carloftis was named an honorary member of the Garden Club of Danville in 2014, and has entertained the club at his homes in Lexington and Livingston.

Carloftis is one of America’s pioneers in rooftop and small space gardening. Since graduating from the University of Kentucky, he has enjoyed a successful career designing and installing rooftop gardens all over New York City. His gardens are often featured in books, magazines, and television. When he comes to Danville, the popular lecturer will talk about twelve new gardens he designed in New York City that have not yet been published.

On a trip home to Kentucky in 2012, he and partner Dale Fisher purchased Botherum, an 1861 house in downtown Lexington. They now live in the beautifully restored home and are bringing the charm and easy elegance of Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens home to Kentucky. In addition to his work in New York and Hollywood, he has designed gardens for Maker’s Mark Distillery, Castle and Key Distillery, the old Governor’s Mansion in Frankfort, several large horse farms and multiple roof top gardens in Louisville and Lexington.

Visitors to the Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington can admire his landscape design skills throughout the shopping center. In honor of the site’s agricultural legacy, vintage farm equipment pieces, such as tractors and hay rakes, have been painted silver and now stand as sculptures. As in his other gardens, you will find a delightful mix of ornamental and edible plants, many in containers. Influenced by his rural upbringing, Carloftis always incorporates herbs and vegetables in his landscapes, and often repurposes found items into unique displays.

This is a rare opportunity to hear Jon Carloftis talk about his gardens at no charge. Jon has donated his time and talents to many Kentucky institutions. The Garden Club of Danville is proud to be among them. Even if you are not a gardener, we guarantee you will be charmed, informed and entertained by this popular lecturer. The lecture will be free of charge. 

Online: www.thegardenclubofdanville.org