Dear Friends,
A quick note to invite you to join Dale and me at the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Opening ceremonies are on Sunday September 25, 2010. Before 2010, this event has never before been held outside of Europe. It's now in our own back yard, here in Lexington, Kentucky.
Several years ago, I was selected by Alltech (title sponsor of this event) and the Commissioner of Kentucky Tourism to design and install the Alltech Experience and Kentucky Experience feature gardens. After years of planning, my company started installation of these very different gardens three weeks ago, with little less than a week to finish both projects.
The Alltech Experience garden is immense, formal in design, and loaded with surprises (children's garden & potting shed, labyrinth, beautiful sculptures) around every corner. We've planted over 450 containers with a wide variety of plant material to turn what was once a parking lot into a dozen plus garden vignettes. During your visit, you'll learn a great deal about an amazing Kentucky-based company (Alltech) too.
The Kentucky Experience garden is much more rustic. Weathered bourbon barrels and horse feed troughs will showcase trees, plants and flowers native to Kentucky. An enormous center fountain, horse sculptures, and wooden arbors made from reclaimed Kentucky structures are several of the design features of this beautiful garden.
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In addition to these responsibilities, Dale and I have been asked to become members of the WEG Commonwealth Club. We gladly accepted. Given our many relationships, we've been challenged to sell more than $10,000 in tickets to this world-class event. We hope that you will come to at least one equestrian event. There are eight from which to select. Not into horses … then visit us in our gardens. A $25 day pass will gain you access to both in addition to the rest of the horse park.
You may visit the WEG website (www.alltechfeigames.com) in order to better understand the wide variety of equestrian event, hospitality, fine dining, and entertainment tickets available. Faith Hufford from Alltech is working with us to make this process even easier. Call her directly (available Monday – Saturday: call 859.887.8913 (direct line) during normal business hours) with any questions you have, as well to order any tickets to any of the WEG events (including day passes). When ordering tickets, please mention that you are calling on behalf of Commonwealth Club sponsor 'Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens'. While you may order tickets via Faith through the end of the WEG, I've been asked to encourage you to place your order before next Thursday, September 23, 2010.
During the games, I will be speaking at the Alltech Experience about the many beautiful gardens Kentucky has to offer. I would love to see you at one of the following events:
9/26 (Sun) Alltech Experience (Science Made Simple Pavilion) 11:00 & 2:00
10/6 (Wed) Alltech Experience (Science Made Simple Pavilion) 11:00 & 2:00
Note: Please join me on 9/29, 10/4 and 10/8 in welcoming friends and colleagues (from Country Living, Southern Living, and Garden & Gun respectively) to the same venue (lectures at 11:00 & 2:00).
Find attached several process shots of the making of the Alltech Experience and Kentucky Experience gardens. Come see the final results during the WEG (September 25, 2010 – October 10, 2010).
Sincerely Jon
visit www.joncarloftis.com or http://beautifulgardensofkentucky.com/