Garden Rose Grower Welcomes ‘Friends of the Farm’ to Bogotá

Garden Rose Design Contest winners, other guests experience farm tour and extraordinary education

The winners of the 2024 Garden Rose Design Contest visited Alexandra Farms in March, where they immersed themselves in Colombian culture through farm tours, discussions, presentations, and design opportunities. Other guests from around the world joined in the visit, and the guests went home with a great appreciation for their industry and one another.

Day 1: San Ignacio Tour and Presentations

The group met early for breakfast and greetings on the first day, preparing for a full day of tours and presentations at the San Ignacio farm location. Visitors were guided through the dahlia greenhouse, a presentation about composting, another about diversification, and a tour of the garden rose greenhouses. 

Marcy Almoney, who took first place in the Everyday Design category of the 2024 Garden Rose Design Contest, was looking forward to touring and learning about farm processes ahead of her first trip to the farm. “Prior to visiting, I was really daydreaming about walking through the greenhouses and seeing all the gorgeous garden roses,” she said. “I absolutely love the product and couldn’t wait to see the processes in action.”

Sustainability is a top priority at Alexandra Farms, encompassing all aspects of breeding, growing, and production processes. Because of this, presentations often highlight these aspects to showcase the true importance and dedication of these processes on the farms. From greenhouses to pesticides, the carbon footprint is minimal at all touchpoints in production.

“I was genuinely surprised at how many layers of sustainability are woven into the growing practices,” Marcy said of her experience on the farm. “The composting systems that include greenhouse and post-harvest level, the actual flower selection process, the breeding, understanding growing rights and practices – there is so much involved in growing and production.”

Urban Petals CEO Anna Stouffer was intrigued by the sustainability processes on the farm. “I found the recycling process intriguing, not necessarily because it was ‘recycling’ but because it spoke to the high quality that Alexandra Farms holds its product to,” she said. “Seeing the compost area was interesting, but also helpful, knowing how fresh the roses actually are.”

To conclude the morning of touring and sustainability education, visitors viewed garden rose varieties that are being trialed and discussed the testing process that leads to production. Viewing the trial greenhouse and unreleased varieties is consistently one of the highlights for farm visitors.

“The most exciting part of the trip was walking the test fields and greenhouses,” Marcy said. “It felt like we were being let into a secret garden, and the blooms were absolutely captivating.”

Dafni Gonzalez of Sunburst Farms discovered a few new favorite varieties, including some lavender spray roses featured in the new varieties presentation. “I learned a lot, and now I know all the time and effort it requires to get those beauties,” she said. 

After lunch and a presentation by Dean Rule, General Manager of Conectiflor, S.A., about the benefits of growing flowers in the Andes Mountains, it was time to continue the discussion surrounding new varieties and the testing and breeding process.

The tours and process presentations highlight the precision and dedication poured into each level of production, from breeding to harvest and beyond. “It also helps to talk to the customer and kind of educate them, because sometimes they don’t have an idea of all that it takes to get the product,” Dafne said. “At the same time, it shows we know what we’re doing, that we know what we sell, and that differentiates us from the rest.”

For Marcy, the new varieties tour was like a dream come true. “I felt like I was walking through fields from a movie,” she said. “Rows upon rows of unreleased roses, each one whispering its potential. The roses had presence, performance, and personality.”

Anna was in awe of the post-harvest process. “It was so fascinating to see the roses go from the field, and within 30 minutes they were graded, packaged, and shipped,” she said. “The whole operation was careful, done by people, not machines, and the systems in place were down pat. The building was buzzing with activity but not chaos. It was just beautiful and fascinating to witness.”

The day ended with a group dinner, where everyone shared their thoughts on the day, and new friendships were forged.

Day 2: El Jardin Tour and Awards

The second day of the visit began with a tour of the El Jardin farm, followed by a presentation on dahlias, a rose grafting exercise, a tour of the post-harvest area, and a fragrance workshop. After lunch, visitors were treated to a traditional dance performance by the Alexandra Farms team, as is customary to present to guests on these trips.

The remainder of the day was spent creating floral designs with a full selection of fresh-cut garden roses from the farm, as well as interacting with one another to share design ideas and discuss the education received over the past two days. 

“Visiting Alexandra Farms gave me an entirely new appreciation for what it takes to bring a single rose to the market,” Marcy said. “Even more impressive was how collaborative the process is. Breeders, growers, farm staff, and floral designers all have a role in deciding which roses move forward. Joey really took the time to listen to our input and opinions. It was empowering to know that our creative voices may have helped shape the future of some of the varieties.”

Day 3: Sightseeing and Wrap Up

On the final day of the visit, guests embarked on a full-day sightseeing tour of Bogotá, with stops in La Candelaria and the Jardín Botánico de Bogotá.

The day was spent building friendships as visitors shared their passion for the industry and discussed their shared experiences on the trip. “I was surrounded by incredible, professional, passionate, creative, and kind people,” Dafne said. “I learned a lot from all of them, and I'm very thankful for that.”

Pieter Filius, sales manager at Parfum Flower Company, was a guest on the trip and was particularly impressed with the diverse group of industry professionals who attended the tour. “One of the most remarkable aspects of this trip was the wonderfully eclectic group of people who came together — breeders, growers, farmers, marketers, floral designers, wholesalers, and, of course, us at Parfum Flower Company,” he said.

“Interacting with rose breeders, educators, rose growers, exporters, importers and designers, and having conversations with each one during our group discussion time was probably one of the most transformative parts of the trip,” Anna said. “I have an entirely new appreciation and perspective on the industry and how each segment supports the others.”

Alexandra Farms aims to offer an educational and enjoyable experience for all visitors, inspiring the passion that our industry shares for floriculture and the intricate roles we all play.

“My trip to Bogotá and Alexandra Farms was nothing short of transformational. It wasn’t just a farm visit, it was a dive into the heart of floriculture and the celebrations of craftsmanship on every level,” Marcy said. “I love flowers. Alexandra Farms and everyone there share my passion and love of flowers. It was an absolute honor to be a part of this tour.”