Every fall I notice townhouse fronts come alive with the seasons colors. I rarely see it happen, and always wonder how they go about doing this.
Are the townhouse owners dedicated gardeners? Do they hire a service? Are they related to those
wacky people in Brooklyn who love entertaining their neighbors? Whatever it is, these homeowners efforts are noticed and appreciated by many.
Enter Slideshow
(Check out AT's new slideshow - courtesy of Mark!)
Without fail, these houses always deliver on Halloween. In the case of a certain townhouse on east 83rd street (which we posted pics of last year), I recently met the person responsible for its seasonal transformations as he was stringing up the lights early one morning. Jon Carloftis is originally from Kentucky. He grew up surrounded by nature as his classroom, and grew this love into a successful landscaping business.
But hearing about how he came to work on landscaping projects in NYC was the most inspiring. After arriving in New York, he rang doorbells, met the homeowners face-to-face and grew a client base through word of mouth. He now commutes daily to NYC to work on his landscaping projects.
Even the flowerbeds in NYC have interesting stories. -MN
Yeah, if he rang my doorbell, I'd find some way to put him to work, too. And I don't even HAVE a yard.
He can whack my weeds ANY time. :)
Please let the planets be aligned just this once. Please say he's straight..... signed, the Fertilizer Princess....
P2 never disappoints.
But is he Jon or John? Seeing both spellings.
A quick Googling for Mr. Carloftis with the terms "his partner," "his roommate," "his housemate," and "his wife" turns up nada. Apparently it's a secret whose roses he prefers to prune.
Or he finds green grass on both sides of the fence.
Well, now I have to save my money so I can have him do my balcony for next summer. Yowsa!
Well...if you read his bio on his website there is a Mrs. Carloftis. But I think it is his mother. So you both are in the running.
Good looks aside, I really admire his ability to believe in his vision. This one particular townhouse always looks 'hearty' - a good variety of well-chosen elements and healthy plants. You really can feel the countryside in this work.
Curtis-
It's Jon.
Merde..... ain't no way he's straight.
I feel the need to work Lockhart Steele into the conversation.
i saw his new book at barnes and noble, and after reading the above comments from those interested in gardening i cheecked jon's website he will be at a booksigning for seniors in brooklyn on december 5th.
awwwww....
he just got even cuter!
I think two things from the website will answer the question:
1) his prom picture
2) the line, "Jon and his mother decided to open a home and garden store."
Go for it, ptoo.
I don't mean to be a party pooper, but come on, people. Is there nothing else about this man that interests anyone, other than his looks?
Sheesh.
I have no garden.
And no shame.
So, no.
;)
Seriously, the guy is obviously very talented. Just having a little fun.
Sorry girls. I know him...he's camp as christmas.
Please. When you look like that AND you're good at what you do, you exploit all of it, because you must. Because it's inevitable, and because it would be sick and wrong not to.
I love you guys. Your funny!
honey, oh you are soooo HIRED!
Hey, I saw Jon at the Nashville Antique and Garden Show............he was amazing! He does an incredible job on his presentation. The room was packed. I think he sold more books than anyone in the history of the event.........other than Martha Stewart.
I understand that he's going to be at Brooklyn College on December 5 doing an event for seniors. There's a number on Jon's website for more information (800-501-1799).
Well, I saw him do a slide show just last month at the Union Club in NYC where he was featuring photograghs from some of the celebrity gardens he'd created. I even got an autographed copy of his book. AMAZING TALENT!
I'm going to see him again at that event at Brooklyn College.
I know Jon, and he has two beautiful blonde girls in his life, which always refers to with love! Plus he is as nice as he is gifted.
he's kewl!
yard elf--
Labs or cocker spaniels?
:)
Or trophy nieces? Those are fun.
Jon and I go way back.... all the way back to childhood. I can safely say he and his family/friends are the best! Very genuine and VERY warm hearted.... AND HOTTTTT...
he's not straight. know for a fact. :-)
Girls, I went to college with Jon. A lovely person but gay as a goose.
He was partnered with UK cheerleader Willis Watts, now an interior designer in Atlanta. Willis got a modeling contract when he graduated from UK and that's what took Jon and his beautiful eyes to NYC.
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