Floral Designers Tour Farm, Learn about Garden Roses During Visit in Late 2024

In November 2024, floral designer and educator Holly Heider Chapple and Alexandra Farms President Jose Azout welcomed a group of designers to experience the intrigue of garden rose education and processes on the farm in Bogotá, Colombia. This was the second year Alexandra Farms and Holly Chapple partnered to offer the experience. Some of the students were graduates of the Alexandra Farms Certified Designer program, a 12-part online course that combines education and design to teach garden rose history and anatomy, as well as the importance of sustainable floristry. The graduates took their garden rose education even further with the farm visit - learning about the intricacies of cultivation, meeting staff to learn about their roles on the farms, and getting a sneak peek at forthcoming varieties.

Guests were greeted at the San Ignacio farm on November 17 to begin their four-day excursion with a tour and introduction to new varieties. The Alexandra Farms team provided educational presentations on composting, the production of garden roses, and post-production processes at the farm. 

Missy Kane, designer and owner of Missy Gunnels Flowers, was thrilled to visit the farms and learn about cultivating the many Alexandra Farms varieties. “I was surprised by the tedious care from propagation to UV tent coverings and all of the hands that touch and care for the roses from the growth process to the packing,” she said.

On the second day of the trip, guests were treated to another farm tour, this time at El Jardin, the larger of the company’s two locations. Following an immersive tour of each area of the farm, guests were introduced to the dahlias and new garden rose varieties being grown, along with a preview of all four of the farm’s garden rose collections: David Austin Wedding Roses, Deluxe Garden Roses, Princess Garden Roses and Wabara Garden Roses.

The guests were given insight into not only the available varieties and the operations on the farm but also the hardworking individuals who maintain the daily processes and see the varieties through from planting to harvest.

Founder and Director of Madrid Flower School and Madrid Blooms Sylvia Bustamante Gubbins was pleased to see the smiling farm workers tending to the latest crop. “Most of them were women, which was no surprise because I know how hard it is for women in Latin America to work to guide a promising future for their families,” she said.

Alexandra Farms is proud to employ and provide a safe, fruitful environment for women on the farms and seeks to continuously support women and their families in the communities surrounding the farms.

For the latter half of day two, guests were invited to design and mingle with other attendees, sharing their design aesthetics and applying their AFCD training. The design experience is undoubtedly the visitor-favorite experience of the trip.

“Working with Holly Chapple, you always learn something new,” Sylvia said. “And the quality of the roses was surreal!”

On the third day of the trip, guests were transported to Capilla de Santa Bárbara, a chapel in the nearby town of Barichara. The group spent the day executing a creative voluminous design using garden roses, dahlias, and filler flowers from the farm, and afterward enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant with entertainment from a trio of local guitarists playing traditional Colombian music. The installation day is always a memorable experience for the guests, and the Alexandra Farms team enjoys sharing it with them each year.

While touching the garden roses and working with unfamiliar or coveted varieties is a prized portion of these visitor trips, it is the connections made with others that seem to make the visits most valuable.

“A highlight of the visit was cutting and working with all the roses, [and] enjoying the varieties in abundance,” Missy said. “The learning process was well-rounded, and I enjoyed connecting with people from around the world. I would love to see them again!”

On the final day of the visit, organized sightseeing across Bogotá is arranged, including a trip to a museum, Museo del Oro; a historically mesmerizing neighborhood, La Candelaria; and a fascinating botanical garden, Jardin Botanico. Plus, delectable cuisine from some of the most desired restaurants in the area.

For visitors, this is not the first time nor the last time they will be working with Alexandra Farms varieties, and the visit has given them a renewed sense of creativity. Sylvia continues to use the varieties for special occasion designs and installations while planning to work with the soon-to-be-released varieties. 

Missy continues to introduce the luxurious layers of Alexandra Farms blooms to her clients, elevating her designs and setting her business apart from competitors in her home base of Tennessee. She takes the trip to the farms with her as a cherished experience - from education to connection with others.

“My expectations on visiting Alexandra Farms in Bogotá were to see the fabulous David Austin roses, meet and work with Holly Chapple, and explore the country,” she said. “We were happy with the activities, locations and exposure to village culture. It was a trip to remember and cherish!”