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IT WAS 8 YEARS AGO TODAY when Will Arvin and forme

IT WAS 8 YEARS AGO TODAY when Will Arvin and former business partner, Wes Murray, did a very cool, ambitious thing that not only changed their lives but the whole Bourbon Trail. Essentially deserted since the early 70’s, formerly known as @oldtaylordistillery began building up from the ashes. We all met down there before the signing when you truly had to have a machete to even walk the grounds. Thank the good lord they hired me. 🙏 instead of trying to make it into a Disney World, we were all on the same page of, “This is an AMAZING place, and we need to retain the MYSTERY, the CHARM, the UNIQUENESS and HISTORICAL significance”. Without knowing or seeing any original plans, we started building the gardens from the HEART…I mean, come on! Quit trying to force things and let it tell ya what it needs. Each garden plan was pulled back, simplified and (as in ALL my projects💪👑💥) simply CELEBRATE the structure/house sitting smack dab in the middle. When you “feel” the sense of place, that’s when it is successful. I get goosebumps everytime I ‘round that bend. The same way I get goosebumps (test me, or better yet, bet some money with me👊🇺🇸) each time I hear My Old Kentucky Home or Star Spangled Banner. I just can’t help it. And neither will you when you come visit this award winning distillery, have a @castleandkey GIN, VODKA, RYE or BOURBON while sitting by the creek, touring the Botanic Trail, lush Gardens and listening to their wonderfully interesting story. Please tell me you are going to experience this unbelievable place, soon! @castleandkey @longshadowplanters #carloftisstyle #castleandkey #bourbontrail #bourbon #rye #gin #vodka #garden #gardening #gardendesigner #ilovemyjob #proud #pleaseandthankyou #kentucky #tourism #transformationtuesday #beforeandafter

IN THE WORDS of the great late 20th century philos

IN THE WORDS of the great late 20th century philosophers SALT-N-PEPA…”How do you do, the VOODOO, that you do, so well, oh HELL, makes me wanna shoop, shoop-a, doop, shoop-a doop-shoop-a doop-a doop-a doop.” Voodoo Lily, strange, no? A cool thing to have in your garden unless you aren’t into their fragrance which smells like rotting flesh. But other than that, @saltnpepaofficial said it right. ‘Nuf said. 🕺💃👊 #monday #garden #gardendesigner #voodoolily #ilovemygarden #ilovemyjob

MY FIRST GARDEN in Lexington was for Madonna and C

MY FIRST GARDEN in Lexington was for Madonna and Craig Turner, and I stopped by today to check on the Sweetbay Magnolia that weren’t happy this tough winter, but they are coming out of it! I’ll never forget 25 years ago when they asked for a pool next to this majestic OAK tree, and it had to be hand dug in order to save the tree. I laid it all out, real PRO-fessional like, with a garden hose. Guess what? Not only did the tree live, but this garden……..WOWZA! I planted every little shrub, tree and perennial and they are all still here. What a successful garden this has been and these nice folks… just the salt of the Earth. I 💙 my job and my clients or I won’t do it. It’s not so much about the money but this is my HOBBY and hope I can do this until the day I die. 💪🇺🇸👑 #carloftisstyle #garden #gardendesigner #ilovemyjob #lexingtonky #pool #poolside

BIGLEAF MAGNOLIA which grows wild behind my family

BIGLEAF MAGNOLIA which grows wild behind my family’s home, RIVER HOUSE, on the Rockcastle River. If I had a small penis, I would only use the Latin name, Magnolia macrophylla, to try to make you feel excluded and not part of the “club”. Yes, that is the best way of classifying them, but if it makes folks feel not included, why in the HELL would you do that? Life is hard enough. Don’t make anyone feel bad. Bring them up. . On another note, It can’t be dug up from the forest, but must be seed grown. (Living at the foot of the cross 😇) It loves this perfect location because of the protection from the big Victorian house next door, that protects it from the wind. Brendan and “Beth, Smokin’ Hot neighbor next door” (in my phone contacts), has that pretty house. To me, they ain’t nothing better than this on a table. Don’t you agree that the BIG G (GOD in my phone contacts) has the best taste when it comes to NATURE? #nature #tree #trees #magnolia #nextdoorneighbors #love #garden #gardendesigner

TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY Another unbelievable day of

TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY Another unbelievable day of work, progress, making things better for this world. It’s never too late to post a great transformation, this one from 20 years ago, to hopefully inspire others to do good things for organizations and for your fellow wo-man. @ucumberlands is where my big sis was Valedictorian @carcillec.burchette 🥰 and Brother Buzz was Salutatorian, just like they were in high school. Koula, Betsy, Dusty and I all took classes there. (Dusty was a party boy and ended up at @easternkentuckyu and I was a sophomore by the time I graduated from Laurel County High School, being the idiot that some folks might think…😂😂😂👊) When my beautiful sister, Koula Floyd, died from breast cancer in the late 90’s, our family was in deep depression. Dr. Taylor and his wonderful wife, Dinah (in my phone contacts to this day as DIN-A-MO!) called me up to help restore the original garden built in the early 1900’s that had slowly turned into an eyesore surrounded by parking lots. Guess what? My family did this without one penny of the school’s money. Now I’ll be honest, we were all expected to go there but I didn’t like their damn drinking policy, so I ended up @universityofky (best 12 years of my life…just kidding, did it in 4💪🇺🇸) but this garden is in my sister Koula’s honor. When DIN-A-MO asked what little saying I would like to have in the garden for me? Well, it’s The way I feel the last four years of my life, “Looking for God? You’ll find it in the garden”. My GARDEN is my SANCTUARY. 🙏🙏🙏 #transformationtuesday #beforeandafter #carloftisstyle #beatcancer #love #respect #sister #beautifulsister ##tryingtodogood #loyal #family #garden #gardendesigner

MOMMA 💙💙💙 Now, if you ever wondered how a

MOMMA 💙💙💙 Now, if you ever wondered how a family that grew up on the wild banks of the Rockcastle River can be put in any situation, whether it be with royalty or paupers, and know EXACTLY how to make them feel comfortable, at ease, welcomed, the most important person on the earth…it’s because we were raised by extraordinary parents, Lucille Bowling (born Valentine’s Day 1928-2020 and Carlo Carloftis born 1915-1990) and were TRAINED for excellence. They let us be anything we wanted to be, as long as it was an honest occupation, made the world better in some way AND gave us JOY. She didn’t just walk, she FLOATED. She didn’t just talk, her voice was so soothing that a pure killer would turn into a pussycat (I’ve witnessed that firsthand) She didn’t cook, but could open a can of Salmon with crackers and a watermelon pickle and Daddy thought it was the best thing that ever was served. True. She LOVED me so much, just like she did the rest, but she always said, “There’s only one BABY in the family” (Again, couldn’t get in trouble saying such a broad statement, yet I knew that she meant it 🥰🥰🥰) The past few years have been tough without her, dealing with theft, disloyalty, downright meanness, and now cancer. But you know what? I’ve got Momma and Daddy’s blood running through my veins and only God him/herself can stop me from being the BEST I can possibly be on this EARTH. HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY, my sweet MOMMA. #mommasboy #love #momma #mothersday #carloftisstyle #powerful #loyal #good #great #nurture #happiness #mentor #special #baby #trained #amazing

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