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joncarloftisfinegardens

MAKER’S MARK DISTILLERY is absolutely breathtaki

MAKER’S MARK DISTILLERY is absolutely breathtaking. It was already beautiful when we started working on different areas about 7 years ago and haven’t stopped since. Rob Samuels, grandson of the founders, has worked magic on his family’s 1,500 acre farm where the famous bourbon is made and brings over 130,000 visitors a each year! As always, I don’t just throw plants at something, but truly THINK how to make the experience better, more dramatic, smoother and memorable. Today, watering on a Sunday before they opened for business, got to see how amazing this place is, the drama of the columnar trees where a regular shape would have taken the light and views, how we took the bottle and only planted colors from it like deep browns, creamy yellows of the handmade label and, of course, the ICONIC RED WAX represented with flowers throughout the property. Just want to say, THANK YOU for asking us to be a part of this famous place. Today, as we were leaving, saw folks taking photos with a sea of Incredible-ball Hydrangeas behind them so they could get them in the pic... it made me very PROUD and HAPPY on this Sunday. Have y’all been in awhile? Make plans and now with the smaller social distancing groups, you will see so many unforgettable things...it’s just a knock out experience. 💯 @makersmark @provenwinners #bourbon #bourbontrail #garden #gardens #gardendesign #beauty #nature #tours #kentucky #gardentour #distillery #red

FLOWERS MAKE ME HAPPY, and when I woke up this mor

FLOWERS MAKE ME HAPPY, and when I woke up this morning, discovered a strong storm last night had broken many of the Stargazer Lilies, darn it! But, whether you see them in the garden or in a vase (thank you so much @margotrshaw @flowermagazine for one of my favorite things I’ve ever gotten as a gift) on your work desk, smell the sweet aroma, study the colors and God’s perfect design, it makes you happy to be alive! Are y’all as crazy over flowers as I am? What are you favorites to bring inside in the summer? If you don’t get FLOWER magazine already, subscribe and thank me later. It’s just DELICIOUS from cover to cover. #garden #gardens #gardening #gardendesign #lily #stargazerlily #vase #friend #happy #flower #flowersofinstagram #flowermagazine #kitchen #glass #botherum #workdesk

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS of OPEN DAYS with 25 GARDENS

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS of OPEN DAYS with 25 GARDENS from 4,000 Private Gardens all across the US... feeling LUCKY and BLESSED this Saturday morning to be one of the 25 chosen. ❤️ Both my Bucks County, PA 1850’s farmhouse/garden and Botherum have been crowd favorites on these tours that raise money for preserving historic gardens through @thegardenconservancy My approach to everything in life since a child has been to CELEBRATE the GOOD, INTERESTING, FUN, NATURE, FRIENDSHIP and make it accessible to everyone. One of the reasons my gardens are so appealing is that they are real, not perfect, always learning a better way and sharing it with others...never understood why life or gardening should be any other way... Once everything gets past this pandemic, please remember the pleasant parts of this staying at home in quarantine: Slowing down, smelling the roses (or whatever is blooming!), your family and pets, thinking and conversation with friends. Happy Saturday FOLKS! @christine_ashburn_photography #botherum #garden #gardens #gardening #gardendesigner #gardensofinstagram #historic #preservation #lexington #kentucky #buckscounty #opendays #joncarloftisfinegardens #hospitality

THURSDAY THOUGHTS... Today, we had two flat tires

THURSDAY THOUGHTS... Today, we had two flat tires on our way to a project (the second could have been avoided but instead of suggesting, since I’m the boss, will make sure my command is the law because everyone would have been happier with the results had they listened to me). Then, it was 95 but felt like 115 in the work area so we got lots of ice, ice, watermelon and cold sandwiches to eat with salty chips 🥰 to keep us hydrated because everyone sweat gallons today. And now, our Governor Andy Beshear, who has kept us as of the best Covid models in the nation, has seen such a surge in infections here (nothing like Arizona or Florida) that he is mandating that everyone above the age of 5 wear a mask starting tomorrow. Do you think I want to do this? Hell NO. Do you think I’m going to do this? Hell YES! So many people that I know have lost loved ones, including myself, that were not due to Covid but how would we know? There were no tests and, folks, there are too many people dying right and left it seems like. Better listen up, stay home, if possible and do what the medical world (Governor Beshear is listening to them) tells us to do or else the second half of 2020 is gonna be even more of a dumpster fire than the first. 😩 I’m MR. POSITIVE OUTLOOK but this scary stuff. Now going to bed before dark with fresh GARDENIAS and rest for tomorrow’s work day, wearing a mask unfortunately but it’s the RIGHT thing to do. #wearadamnmask #wearamask #covid #thinkofothers #smallpricetopay #america #listentoexperts #letsgetthroughthistogether #kentucky #gardenia #flower #flowers

TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY... So BOTHERUM was origina

TRANSFORMATION THURSDAY... So BOTHERUM was originally built as a one bedroom “ranch” 😂 according to all the books detailing how this room which is now the GUEST room was his LIBRARY in 1851, made into a bedroom when a family moved in 1886 and was again from 1980-2012 when we bought it. The Girl-Rillas and I sleep in the original bedroom of Madison Conyers Johnson but what the guest room has going for it is the glorious sun coming in every morning around 6:30 which is the way it should be in my opinion 💪. Everyone who stays here absolutely falls in love. Notice how I mix family and new antiques with modern pieces to make it comfortable... nothing worse than going into a house and feel like you need a powdered wig and a fan to blend in...😂😂😂. At my home, you can crawl up and get real comfy most anywhere you look. My gardens and personality are just the same way...nobody is trying to be anyone they aren’t, full of interest/intrigue/whimsy/authentic/real...have always been happy and secure with who I am and you won’t find a nicer, more giving person on earth. Just don’t ever rattle the cage because you could lose an arm. #leo #presidentofleos botherum #home #guestroom #hospitality #happy #historic #renovation #thursdaytransformation #lexington #kentucky #collections #antiques #interiordesign

I’VE ALWAYS HAD MORE STYLE THAN MONEY... but tru

I’VE ALWAYS HAD MORE STYLE THAN MONEY... but truly think that it has made me better as a designer. When money isn’t an option, it makes you think of clever ideas don’t you think? How do you like the high gloss WHITE floors that we painted in 1990? They made the whole house feel HAPPY. What I designed then, 30 years ago, still brings me joy and never look back at my interior or exterior designs and say, “What was I thinking?” They are still as fresh now as they were then, which shows real timeliness... ❤️ #carloftisstyle #firsthome #firsthouse #buckscounty #farmhouse #style #interiors

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