April 10, 2008. (JACKSONVILLE, FL) – The Jacksonville Symphony Guild’s opening of the 2008 Designer Showhouse and Gardens is just days away.

“The public is going to love this one-of-a-kind outing and stunning example of high-end architecture and design. The Showhouse is truly a can’t-miss event,” said Laura Mathewson, President of the Symphony Guild.

This year’s Symphony Showhouse is presented by Bank of America and is a breathtaking, two-story English Country style manor. The home is located in the exclusive community of Pablo Creek Reserve. The Showhouse is built by Collier Classic Homes and overlooks one of the neighborhood’s picturesque lakes. Keeping true to traditional English Country style, the Showhouse contains multiple kitchens and fireplaces and is carefully designed to feel as if it was built in stages over the years. The home seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology such as home automation, an impressive home theater system and top-of-the line appliances. This year’s Showhouse also includes an exciting element to further expand the appeal of the public showing: gardens.

The Showhouse, which runs from April 19 through Mother’s Day, May 11, pairs classic architectural design with world-class interior design. Over twenty interior designers donated their time and resources to bring the Showhouse to life. For the event, the home will also offer two boutiques to highlight the many beautiful products featured in the home. The Interior Boutique by Wardroom Ltd. will offer home accessories, jewelry and gourmet items. The Garden Boutique by Palm Valley Gardens will display exquisite live flowering plants such as orchids, hydrangeas and lilies that form living works of art.

Event organizers have also lined up an impressive schedule of special guest presenters who will offer classes, seminars and demonstrations on topics ranging from landscape design and horticulture to interior design and gourmet cooking. These events are complimentary with the purchase of a Showhouse ticket. The schedule for the opening week will be as follows:

• Monday, April 21 at 10:15 a.m., Container Gardening – Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers by Louise Johnson of Skinner Nurseries. Bring spring and early summer plantings to special areas of your home. Louise Johnson will show how to create the perfect container plantings that will be the envy of your neighborhood.
• Thursday, April 24 at 10:15 a.m., Imaginative Architectural Accents with Stone by Elisa Waysenson of Francois & Co. - Accenting estate homes with architectural stone pieces has been a tradition for hundreds of years. Elisa Waysenson will discuss ways to incorporate stonework and hand-carved limestone into today’s homes for a truly distinctive, upscale flair.
• Thursday, April 24 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., Thirsty Thursdays at Central Park by Neil Roberts of PRP Wines. - Enjoy selections from a vast inventory of fine wines in Pablo Creek Reserve’s Central Park, just steps from the Showhouse and Gardens. Hors d’oeuvres, prepared from the Guild’s cookbook, Sounds Delicious, Volume II, will be served.

The much-anticipated Showhouse is the key fundraiser each year for the Symphony Guild. Proceeds from the showing of the home go back to the Symphony Guild to help fund the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for future years. For more than 50 years, the Guild of the Jacksonville Symphony Association (JSA) has worked to further an awareness of music and to create strong community support of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra through fundraising projects.

Tickets for the 2008 Showhouse are available on site for $20 at the Pablo Creek Reserve sales office, or for $15 in advance of the event. The home is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. On Thursday the home is open from 10 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information on advance ticket purchases or to see the schedule of guest presenters, visit www.waters-edge.com/showhouse. The Pablo Creek Reserve sales office is located at 5050 San Pablo Road, just south of J. Turner Butler Boulevard.