After leaving her job as a radiographer at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Brigitte Ramsaroop found a new calling, flower arrangement using local species planted by her husband, Boyo Ramsaroop at his Timehri farm.
Now together they operate Double 'B' Exotic Gardens, at 58 Lamaha Gardens. She recalls that at first people didn't like arrangements made with local flowers but the appearance of local varieties of heliconias on international programmes including The Young and the Restless and The Oprah Winfrey show, has created more interest in the flower.
Ramsaroop also uses ginger lilies, tulip ginger or porcelain ginger and bromeliads.
The Ramsaroop farm is noted for its wide variety of heliconias and the Smithsonian Institute has conducted a study of the varieties. Mr. Ramsaroop is also a member of the Heliconia Society International.
Brigitte Ramsaroop recalls, "I educated myself by reading up on floral designs," adding that during her travels to the US and to Germany [her homeland] she learnt more about her craft. Her participation in floral exhibitions in Holland, Germany, Canada and in the US also gave her ideas.
Ramsaroop also gained experience by working at her step-son's flower shop in Germany, where he imports a large quantity of tropical flowers.
In 2002 she completed a floral design course at the Canadian Institute of Floral Design.
Business this year was favourable, she says, adding that "...most of the year...we have been pretty busy." Prices for floral arrangements begin at $1,500 and can go over $10,000.
As for her clients: "It is a mixed portion of people. They come from all brackets."
But customer satisfaction is important. "I don't really look at the money that much."
Among her clients are Nova Scotia Bank, hotels, embassies and international organizations' local offices.
Most of the supporting items used in her floral arrangements are also local. Unlike florists based overseas, who have full access to readymade containers, she has to improvise.
Hence, vases for floral arrangements are made from bamboo and from manacro broom, while seeds and lotus pods are used as accessories.
"Sometimes you have to make something out of nothing" by being creative, she says.
Recently, Double 'B' Exotic Gardens began exporting flowers after taking a break but this recent effort to regain a presence on the international market has met with some hindrances.
Due to lengthy delays at transshipment points like Trinidad, when using the BWIA cargo service, there was a lot of spoilage. "You are losing the people who are buying from you," she says, indicating that they recently lost a US market due to shipment delays which caused the flowers to spoil.