Jesse Durko was a man who lived his truth, tended his dream, and in so doing left behind a legacy of care for others and for the living green world around us. A life partner to Robert Geary MacKilligan, Durko built not only a distinguished career as a horticulturist, but a home of deep love, purpose, and enduring values.
From early boyhood, Durko found solace in the earth. When others played games, he planted seeds and watched them sprout. The garden, he would say, was his sanctuary — a place where nothing but growth and hope could dwell. Though talented in many areas, he ultimately followed his heart into the world of plants and soil, declaring, “Plants for me are my palette.” His vision took root in South Florida, where he created a thriving, vibrant nursery that continues to flourish today — one shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a lifelong devotion to nature.
Durko’s gardens are not merely places where plants are sold — they are places where people are seen. He believed deeply in the connections that grow between humans and nature, and he used his gift to guide others toward beauty, healing, and inspiration. To him, a plant wasn’t an object; it was a story waiting to unfold. And he had an uncanny ability to match the right story with the right person.
He didn’t treat the nursery like a factory; he treated it like a garden of relationships — between person and plant, human and human, earth and sky. He once wrote his own epitaph: “Look at me. All my life I’ve grown plants. Look at me now, I’m pot-ash. I’ll be cremated, and you can sprinkle me in the garden. I’ll turn over a new leaf.”
That sense of transformation, of continuity, of life growing ever onward — this is Durko’s vision.
But Durko’s life cannot be told by horticulture alone. It is also a story of authenticity, courage, and love. As an openly gay man in a changing world, he embraced his identity with pride and purpose. With Robert Geary MacKilligan by his side, he built a life rooted in truth and generosity. Together, they created a home and a community space where love — real, honest, fearless love — was allowed to flourish.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Durko’s spirit is that his legacy does not end — it lives on in full bloom. Robert, his partner in life and in purpose, has committed himself to carrying D’s vision forward. The nursery is open, alive, and thriving, nurtured by Robert’s devotion and by the incredible, educated team Jesse built over decades. These dedicated individuals — his staff, his extended family — continue to embody Jesse’s philosophy, his standards, and his love for every leaf, stem, and seed.
Bobby Blair is an LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.
