When I thought upfront about the trip I was going to make to Guatemala in January this year, I kind of got a hunch of what to expect. Of course, you hear about the beauty of the countryside from people who have been there, also people I know who work in our floral industry; after all, it is the top spot for growing Leather Fern at this moment.
The purpose of my visit was to go and see four of the farms that are run by the TAK Global company; you've probably heard of them because they are considered one of the top brands in foliage worldwide. So, here's what I found in this country that was once a Mayan kingdom with people who were, and still are, known to be hard workers and deeply rooted to nature.
Arriving in Guatemala - First Impressions
My first impression when my road trip started and we left the outskirts of the immense capital Guatemala City and drove up north through tropical forests? In short: "This place is a green heaven!" What a privilege to be here, a guy from Holland, driving around in this green country with one of the best greenery companies in the world, if you ask me.
Everything about Andres Sepe from TAK Global shows the pride and pleasure he gets from letting me have a glimpse of his life's work. That goes beyond simply producing the best foliage for the world. It is also the awareness to be a pillar in the economy of the region. The people who work at TAK are ever so friendly and smiling when they harvest, collect, grade, pack, and ship their produce. And rest assured: they will not let you down when you open their box in your country on the other side of the world. With Andres at my side, they are now also my friends. He approaches everyone with respect and gets this back from his workers.
Visiting the Farms of TAK Global
So, on to the farms and their products. Again and again, at every farm we went to, I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth organization of the farms, the cleanliness, and the quality of the foliage.
The first farm was in the middle of a tropical forest. Under the lush trees that stood against the slopes of some hills, I discovered a field of Aralia plants, covered with saran—black nets that help regulate light exposure, reduce temperature, and protect plants from harsh weather conditions, ensuring better quality foliage. Coming from a flat country like the Netherlands with all greenhouses stretched out flat this was a whole new experience. I climbed up the ramp and could see the beautifully shaped Fatsia japonica, as we call these leaves botanically, shine at me, eager to be picked for one expressive bouquet somewhere on this planet.
This farm was also growing super strong Ruscus hypophyllum and the always cheerful Lily Grass (Liriope muscari). Both are excellent additions to a bouquet that yearns for a green touch.
Leather Leaf
Days are always too short when you love to be in a place, but we had to move on to the second farm. This one had my special interest upfront because it grows one of the most popular greeneries that we have been using for decades: Leather Fern. For years, Costa Rica was the most important producer of Leather Fern (also known as Rumohra Adiantiformis), but this position has entirely been taken over by Guatemala, and by TAK Global in particular. TAK has invested heavily in getting the product right in all sizes, from Large to Junior.
Spores are always an issue when it comes to the production of Leather Fern, so minimizing these and avoiding them from turning black, is paramount for letting this all-time favorite fern show off in a bouquet. You can see that the people of TAK put a lot of emphasis on its grading process to get the perfect bunch of equally bunched ferns.
My Reel of Guatemala
As always, I brought my camera on this trip as well, so stay tuned on my social channels to watch the reels I shot. If you don't (yet) follow my Instagram account @petervandelft.flowers, here's a small treat for you:
Greens, Greens, Greens
It's all greens, greens, greens at TAK Global in all sorts, shapes and sizes. When it comes to deciding where to grow what, TAK Global has made conscious decisions. That is why its farms are spread across the country. There are perfect climate conditions and altitude for everything. And therefore, this second farm also appeared to be the perfect location for Aspidistra elatior and Eucalyptus Cinerea. The field of Aspidistras seemed to be radiating its beautiful dark green colors. And the scent of the sweet spicy Cinerea came to me even before I saw the leaves.
The third farm was filled with some more niche greens, like long Pittosporum Ilan and Green and variegated Euonymus. These slim stems filled with small leaves are very cute to add as a green detail to floral artwork, showing off that you are able to work off the beaten path.
The same counts for the Eucalyptus Silver Dollar I found on the fourth and last farm of my trip. Silver Dollar with its round coin-like leaves that show hues from silvery-blue to grey-green is an exquisite foliage for bridal bouquets and table decorations. When the looks do their part, the lightly aromatic fresh clean scent does the final trick. I can understand why it fits so well in both neutral and pastel-tinted floral arrangements.
TAK's Take on My Visit
I was not the only one carrying a camera. Also, the people of TAK Global, proud as they are of their company, wanted to make a short video of my visit. Check this bonus content of my blog in a behind-the-scenes to see me at work:
Concluding My Visit
That's all, folks. This concludes my rapid visit to a country I will definitely see again soon because I have a feeling there's so much more to see and tell from these green lands with their friendly people, astounding nature, and wonderful foliage. If there is one thing I learned from this trip to Guatemala and from seeing the dedication that Andres Sepe and his people at TAK Global put into their work, it is that we really need to use more greenery in our bouquets and floral arrangements, because it makes a flower arrangement so much... greener!
See you soon again. Anyplace, anywhere, anytime.
