Join the Team
Creating beautiful gardens, floral designs, and meals begins with exceptional people. We seek people who think creatively, work hard, and are fun to be around. Interested in getting started? Take a look at some of the details.
Michler's
This year we celebrate 125 years of actively growing flowers and plants for the people of Lexington, Kentucky. Now run by the fourth and fifth generations, Michler’s is a family business that remains deeply connected to the agricultural roots of floristry and to the people and community of Lexington. The essence of our job is to bring people out of their daily routines to enjoy the beauty of the botanical world.
We are looking for artistic people who love plants and flowers and would like to pursue or further their career in floristry and horticulture with us. We know our application might take some time, so below are some frequent questions you might have before diving in.
What is the job like?
At Michler's we have roles in delivery, floristry, greenhouse horticulture and gardening. There are not separate job applications for different sections of the business, because all job roles at Michler’s are multifaceted and your exact combination of job tasks will vary based on your prior experience, the season, and our business needs. Your role would also evolve over time as you developed skills and knowledge.
Some daily tasks can be physically demanding, such as carrying 50lb soil bags to the potting bench, carrying flower buckets, and working in a hot summer greenhouse. We stay busy around here, and much of the day is spent on our feet working hard. At the end of the day we have the satisfaction to step back and see all the healthy plants, beautiful gardens, and unique flower designs.
What are the hours?
All of our jobs are full-time and weekend availability is required. If you are only available part-time because you are a student, but will be graduating soon, feel free to make a case that you are worth the wait.
If you only want part-time work, then consider applying for Kentucky Native Café instead of Michler's.
What is the pay?
Our pay depends on our job openings and your experience, but based on 2025 full-time employee earnings, here are some ranges:
New Team Member: $30,000-$37,000
Experienced Team Members: $38,000-$47,000
Lead Team Member: $48,000-$57,000
Most employees start at $15 per hour. With tips and overtime, this falls in the middle of the New Team Member range listed above.
What is relevant experience?
Our team comes from a variety of career and educational backgrounds, and we enjoy opportunities to attend classes and trainings to further our knowledge and skills. Relevant experience is not required to apply, but here are a few to mention in your application if you have them:
- Art- and design-related experiences
- Flower design and horticultural knowledge
- Experience in traditional crafts such as woodworking, pottery, and sewing
- Carpentry and equipment maintenance
Benefits
- Paid Time Off: Full-time employees receive two weeks per year.
- Shift Meal: Skip packing lunch and enjoy food from our seasonal rotating menu at Kentucky Native Café. No charge for your meal during your work shift.
- Discounts: Employees receive a 40% discount on plants and flowers, 50% off of food and drinks from Kentucky Native Café, and 30%-50% off of bread and grocery items at Bread and Roses Bakery.
- Tips: Customer tips are pooled and distributed monthly with payroll.
- Education: We offer both in-house staff training and educational trips. Read about a few staff trips on the blog.
- Employee Member: Employees who work full-time for five consecutive years are eligible for the Employee Member Bonus. These payments are in addition to regular earnings and are based on the financial investment returns of the business and the number of Employee Members. Bonus payments for Members are paid out twice per year.
Are there raises?
Yes. Raises are based on business performance and individual contributions. They are determined each year around March 1st.
Kentucky Native Café | Bread and Roses Bakery
In 2014, the Michler Family took its skills as gardeners and florists, and set out to create a space for organizers, book clubs, foreign language speakers, poets, and artists to meet and discuss the happenings around town. This space is now known as Kentucky Native Café.
In the process of cultivating the community space, we have also learned to cook and bake food to feed the hundreds of people who come to enjoy the garden.
In 2025 we expanded to open Bread and Roses bakery behind us at 446 E High Street.
Before you sharpen your pencil and draft your cover letter, we do want you to know that we take our work seriously. We understand many of you are looking for something casual to fit in after classes or to fill in between your other priorities. If this is you, then we would love to continue to welcome you as a guest, but this job is not for you. If you are ready to make a serious commitment to serving the community and making great food, including the weekends, then we would love to hear from you.
What are the hours?
Shifts are approximately 8 hours each. Most of our staff work full-time/40 hours per week. We do also offer a couple of part-time positions, and part-time applicants should have a minimum of three shifts (24 hours per week available). We are busiest weekends, so consistent weekend availability is required.
What are the physical requirements?
We do a lot of lifting—think 50lb flour bags and walking racks of hot beer mugs from the dishwasher to the drying rack.
What are the available jobs?
At Kentucky Native Café/Bread and Roses Bakery we are a small team so everyone cleans, prepares food, pours drinks, plates food, and washes dishes.
We also work hard to keep trash from the landfill, plan our menu to sell produce that is in season, and ask that anyone who joins us look for ways we can serve our community.
Will I end up working at both the Cafe and Bakery?
Yes. Although some people work more at one side of the business than the other, no one works exclusively at the cafe or bakery.
What is the pay, and what are the benefits?
All starting café positions have a base hourly pay plus tips. Most people working the cafe make between $18 and $23 per hour including tips. We are happy to discuss your pay expectations during an interview.
Additional benefits include the following:
- Paid Time Off: Full-time employees receive two weeks per year.
- Shift Meal: Enjoy a free shift meal from our seasonal rotating menu.
- Discounts: Employees receive a 40% discount on plants and flowers, 50% off of food and drinks from Kentucky Native Café, and 30%-50% off of bread and grocery items at Bread and Roses Bakery.
- Education: We offer both in-house staff training and educational trips. Read about a few staff trips on the blog.
Are there raises?
Yes. Raise amounts depend on a combination of personal and business performance and are determined each year around April 1st.
Is this job year round?
Yes.
Internship
An internship at Michler's is a great option for someone looking to learn aspects of the florist and horticulture industries, but is either currently in school or is not ready to commit to a long-term job. A typical length of time is three to six months. Your schedule should allow for at least three full work days a week.
Our internships are paid $11 per hour.
To apply for our internship position, email your cover letter and CV to robin@michlers.com.