Today we’d like to introduce you to John Bonny.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Chicago native and a graduate of Illinois State University where I studied theater and acting and then studied improvisation and comedy at The Second City. I began performing in Equity stage productions along with improv and sketch comedy and then became a founding member of GayCo Productions (Second City’s Gay and Lesbian Outreach Touring Company). We toured the country for ten years educating, entertaining and enlightening queer audiences through comedy and bringing communities together around the country for roughly ten years. Simultaneously, I was designing residential gardens during the summer months. I found gardening and my connection to nature to be the perfect way to balance my energy and to stay grounded.
I moved to Los Angeles 18 years ago and continued to pursue acting professionally in TV commercials, independent films, and television. Upon moving to Los Angeles, my first major design project was redesigning the courtyard garden for Vibiana Cathedral downtown LA which is now a premiere space for events and weddings. I created Cultivate Garden Design and have been designing and cultivating residential and celebrity outdoor garden spaces. My design focus is helping people to cultivate outdoor living spaces that feel good and are a direct reflection of their lifestyle. I’ve recently been working on developing a line of functional garden art pieces for the past year and am looking forward to launching them in Fall of 2021.
In April of 2021, I graduated as a Ritual Elder from the Phoenix Project, where I trained to assist in creating sacred ceremonies and holding safe spaces for people to heal their losses and grief. I revisited my own traumas and losses during this time and through meaningful connections, meditation, exercise, shadow work, creative play, and self-expression… La Farmiglia was born. I’m currently in process of creating a conscious farm. La Farmiglia is my passion project and I’m excited to merge my two major passions. It is my dream and intention that La Farmiglia will be a creative and safe space for people to experience theatrical, transformational, healing experiences using ceremonies, music, dance and connectedness while having FUN! We gotta have fun in the process while we make those necessary changes and shifts in our lives… right?
La Farmiglia is a safe space for people to play, to connect with themselves, each other and with nature. I’m ecstatic to be on this journey and to share this with you as we celebrate ourselves, love each other, and realize our true nature and value. I’ll be offering experiences around Los Angeles while I continue searching for the proper land for our home or until the land finds me. www.lafarmiglia.com
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My Chicago years were wonderful and I felt super creative and in the flow. However, I had a bumpy episode with depression. My journey has been fairly smooth since moving to Los Angeles. This city is so inspiring and there are so many opportunities for growth… and it really forces you to grow and expand. At first, I struggled a bit with self-doubt. However, any of my limitations were really related to my own limited thinking as I struggled to choose one path. Acting vs Landscape Design. Running around town auditioning in Los Angeles was really time-consuming and I was trying to balance my actual scheduled garden projects with last-minute auditions. I thought that I had to choose which career I wanted. Recently the Universe has reminded me that I can do BOTH and I’ve had some really great synchronicities that supported both careers.
During Covid, I felt and experienced a new sense of personal growth and expansion. Mostly self-acceptance and the ability to create my own reality. I’m feeling more aligned with what I want to manifest in my life. I’m optimistic about my future projects and creations and I feel grateful and supported by my friends. I have the best friends and family…both biological and chosen. I have really great relationships with my clients too and I’m thankful they have been referring me to their family and friends. I’m really grateful to Andrew Danielsen ( my assistant and bestie ) for his support, friendship, knowledge and creative talents.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
– Landscape design and acting in comedies have been my specialties and main focus creatively.
– I’m a very sensitive being and that helps me gauge my client’s energy.
– I specialize in helping people to cultivate their outdoor living spaces that feel good and are a direct reflection of their lifestyle.
– My improv and comedy skills help keep my projects fun with my clients and crew and that sets me apart from others.
– I’m proud of being self-employed and creatively alive!
– I’m proud of the garden I designed at Vibiana DTLA.
– I’m super proud of my recent garden in Malibu for Ricki Lake.
– Really excited to launch my line of garden art later this year.
– I’m really proud of my relationships with my friends and clients.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think there will be even a bigger shift towards gardens that are environmentally responsible and more drought tolerant. Clients moving towards sanctuary and restorative gardens that include plant medicines, healing herbs and plants that attract bees and butterflies. People need a space to relax and recharge. My hope is that we will all be more conscious of how we can support Mother Nature and protect her by replenishing what we use.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.cultivategardendesign.com
- Instagram: cultivategardendesign
- Facebook: Cultivate Garden Design
Image Credits:
Photos by John Bonny Hollywood Hills Photo: Blake Little
