Most students travel a few miles to get to college, but Garina Tucker has made a trek of more than 3,000 miles to train as a florist.
The 24-year-old is studying at City of Bath College so she can pursue her dream career on her home island of Bermuda.
Garina is in the final weeks of her Level 3 Floristry Diploma before she returns to the 22 mile long island in the Atlantic Ocean, which has a population of just over 60,000 people.
She has already secured her first full-time job at Demco Florists in Bermuda and is looking forward to sharing her skills and passing on what she has learned.
Garina said: “I really do feel I have a passion for floristry. I just love everything about flowers; I can’t get enough of them.
“I’ve really enjoyed the practical side of the course as we’ve covered all types of floristry from small to huge displays and arrangements.
“Being in England has given me a chance to become a qualified florist. Now I want to take what I have learned back home and put my skills into practice.”
Garina selected the floristry course because of its award-winning reputation as she knew students had scooped medals at a whole host of international flower shows, including Hampton Court and Chelsea.
Floristry students struck gold at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last year with their floral 1950s living room exhibit – they won the Best Floristry College Award with an impressive 89 out of 100 points.
The practical course includes 80 hours of work experience and the responsibility of making floral displays for prestigious college events such as graduation and student award presentations.
Garina and her classmates also recently had a starring role at the Bath in Fashion Festival where they created ‘living designs’ out of people’s unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories.
Garina was given her first taste of flower arranging as a primary school pupil. She fondly remembers “cutting everything that looked like a stem” to enter an annual three-day exhibition in Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens.
She said: “I remember every year I was told to get up early and search for flowers for the exhibition.
“It must have only been about 6am and I would be there holding a handful of hibiscus and passion flowers.
“The exhibition was a big thing for us as kids, it’s a Bermuda tradition and I loved being part of the show and being surrounded by flowers.
“Most years we helped put displays together with my Great Aunt then the first time I was old enough to do one by myself, I won second prize, I was so pleased.”
Garina, who lives in Bristol, said it had been an invaluable opportunity to experience the different working environments of Bermuda and England.
She said: “They use similar flowers, but the working conditions are very different. In Bermuda all the flowers are kept in huge fridges because of the heat and humidity, but in England you can have the door open and it still won’t make much difference as it’s always freezing!
“Floral designs are also very different. In Bermuda flower arrangements are very bright, bold and in your face, while in England things are more subtle and low-key.
“In Bermuda we put together bright flowers that they probably wouldn’t dream of mixing in England, but that’s us; it’s part of Bermuda’s colourful life.”
Garina, whose favourite flower is a gerbera, will return to Bermuda next month and her long-term plan is to set up her own floristry business.
She said: “I’m looking forward to moving back to Bermuda, it’s been a while. I’ve missed my family and friends and you can’t beat the summer in Bermuda.
“I love England too; living in a big city there is always something to do. But I can’t stand the weather, every time you leave your house, it rains! Now it’s time for some sunshine!”
