Jesse Durko: Horticulturist

For Jesse Durko, horticulture isn’t just a science. It’s an art. 

Even in his early childhood, he had his own garden plot where his mom let him plant vegetables. He’s always found gardening to be healing. 

“The garden is my sanctuary for sure, because you can't just walk away from it. You must attend it. It's never finished.”

When he received an art scholarship to Rutgers University, he ended up switching paths and entering horticulture.

“Plants for me are my palette.”

Jesse has centered his entire life around horticulture and that passion will never give out. He is so dedicated to his plants that he’s said that he wants his very last moments to be spent in the garden. 

“I wrote my epitaph. It says, “Look at me. All my life I've grown plants. Look at me now, I'm potash. I’ll be cremated, and you can sprinkle me in the garden. I'll turn over a new leaf.’”

A film by Jacopo Fantastichini.