Alexandra Farms hosted its international educational better half European Master Certification ( EMC ) for a calendar week - foresightful session in Bogotá , Colombia from March 25 - 30 . Eleven member of EMC ’s Core Educational Team , coming from unlike countries and backcloth , all speaking the terminology of EMC language , Elements and Principles , eagerly took in the beauty of the farm , the plangency of Bogotá , and the history of pink wine growing in Colombia . The EMC Core Team consists of designers from Romania , Belgium , Switzerland and the United States who are event and wedding designers , freelancers and retail bloom store owners .
All photos by Andrés Caycedo Franco
“ The idea to organize our EMC team building with our cooperator is a testimony to the power of collaborationism , ” explain Tomas De Bruyne , the founder , chief executive officer and a shareholder of EMC International bvba . “ We , as well as Alexandra Farms , believe in the importance of bringing industry players nigher together as we both partake the same mission and economic value . ”
“ We are gallant to ferment with the EMC radical and corroborate their military mission to provide the highest level of Education Department , ” said Alexandra Farms ’ founder and president Jose ( Joey ) R. Azout . “ It was truly our honor to apportion our farm and our garden roses with them , and to work together this week . ”
On the first sidereal day of the stumble , Azout and his team at Alexandra Farms treated the EMC group to a spell of the grower ’s greenhouses . The first stopover was the new multifariousness blockage where unreleased varieties are grown and test for potential future discharge to the commercial-grade marketplace . Azout encouraged each squad member to pick their favorite test diverseness , and then the radical talk over the timber they liked about each rise .
The guests pass the next couple of hours touring other greenhouse , including the block where the David Austin English Garden Rose varieties are grown , and the production sphere , where the garden roses are packed for shipment throughout the humans . “ We started with just seven mixture , ” explained Azout . “ We were the first to see the David Austin varieties in the Southern Hemisphere . ” More than 60 different assortment are now grown at Alexandra Farms , and the EMC squad was capable to see them all .
The grouping quietly and enthusiastically pawn in the experience . “ It was like there was a reverence for the rose as we walked within the greenhouse , ” say Christi Lopez AIFD EMC , shareholder and business handler of EMC International bvba .
At the end of the tour , the EMC mathematical group pose down to view dozen of varieties that the farm is testing for potential future release . “ These roses are not usable yet for the commercial securities industry , ” said Azout . “ We want feedback . This is how we learn . We need to see what the designers finger is sellable for both events and retail . ” The radical and a humble team from Alexandra Farms hash out petal count , coloration , texture and uniqueness of the petals within the context of plan and ability to fulfill a indigence in the market .
The next two days were spend on team establish in an unfastened - air classroom at Alexandra Farms . fence by vases full of 1,200 garden roses cultivated at the farm , the outside designers drew inspiration from their surroundings while implementing the cognition make during theory and virtual exercise . The garden rose were incorporated into individual designs created by the EMC team member during the two days .
The highlighting of the trip took spot on solar day three of the Alexandra Farms experience . De Bruyne design an exquisite flowered structure using a fountain in the farm ’s outdoor garden as the groundwork , and the EMC squad forge together to bring his figure to life history , using more than 500 pastel - colored garden rose grow at Alexandra Farms . The intention was transformed into an worked up expression when 150 locally crop , glorious orange and cobalt blue - colourize live monarch butterflies were free onto the design . worker from the farm gathered alongside the designer to find the moment , which captivated the entire grouping .
“ When I designed the fountain , I wanted the designers , growers and even those in the production process who came to take in us ramp up this design to see the garden roses and to really discover their potential , ” tell De Bruyne . “ Thanks to Joey for adding the butterfly stroke , which give the design a special dimension and create an unforgettable memory for all of us . ”
“ For one brief moment , we were one with nature , ” shared EMC Project Manager Julia Marie Schmitt AIFD EMC . “ The butterflies that landed on us and on the garden rose offered us and the intact Alexandra Farms family , for one brief moment , a priceless experience on the face of it out of a fairy story . Our dream come lawful thanks to the hospitality and the amazing wonderland of Alexandra Farms . ”
Seeing the EMC team work together and freely apportion their knowledge with each other throughout the trip-up was inspiring for the Alexandra Farms squad . “ Every one of us has more to discover , no matter who we are , ” suppose Azout . “ This was an priceless experience for everyone at Alexandra Farms and I believe for the EMC squad . We ’re grateful to have shared this time with them , and we look forward to continuing to learn , work and grow together . ”
For more information : www.alexandrafarms.comwww.europeanmastercertification.com
