Growing Cut Flowers in Holland {Wedding Flowers, Columbus, Ohio}

In 2003, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to spend nearly 3 months in the Netherlands, completing an internship with Grootscholten Matricaria, and traveling through the country by train and bicycle. They are the largest grower of Matricaria in the Netherlands and on top of their game when it comes to efficiency and technology. Here I am kneeling on the greenhouse floor while getting ready to toss a bundle on the rolling band which swiftly carries the flowers to a machine where they are wrapped and placed in buckets of water.

I will be forever grateful to the staff at The Ohio State University's International Exchange Program, and to Wilbert and Ingrid and their family at Grootscholten Matricaria for this unforgettable work experience. This was the perfect end to my studies at OSU.... and I can't imagine a better possible learning experience. The Dutch really know the meaning of hard work... I don't think I've ever worked so hard in all my life!

Here are a few shots taken while on my trip. I was so glad to have been able to see the Dutch Flower Auction while I was there! Around every corner was a greenhouse, a canal, a perfectly straight row of trees, bike paths, and absolutely beautiful landscaping.

It was quite the change of pace, getting up by 5:30AM and riding my bike in the dark through an unfamiliar country to get to work, so that I could be there in time for the pre-work social and coffee break at 6:15, then spending hours kneeling on the greenhouse floor as I creeped my way through the greenhouse... cutting, cutting, cutting...! Thank goodness for knee pads... but still quite painful.

Although I figured out pretty quickly that being a cut flower grower was probably not the career path for me, I am so glad that I was able to learn about the growing process, understand the business, and see the sheer speed and perfection that must go into this type of production.

MADISONHOUSE DESIGNS IS A FULL-SERVICE WEDDING & EVENT FLORAL STYLIST SERVING THE GREATER COLUMBUS, OH AREA AND SURROUNDING. PROVIDING CREATIVE IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR FLOWERS FABULOUS AND AFFORDABLE.