Alexandra Farms put a special spotlight on one of talented photographers. Flower photography came naturally to Galina Serebriakova. It was not until a friend pointed out her instinctive eye for floral structure and beauty that she considered a career beyond her role as a coffee specialist for a large company. Encouraged by that realization — and a growing sense of unfulfillment — Serebriakova turned to floral design. Over time, she became an influential designer and the owner of GALA, based in Bogotá, Colombia.

A native of Russia, Serebriakova studied floral design in Moscow at one of the capital’s most respected floral schools. During the course, she knew she had found her calling.

“I took the course, and I loved it so much — everything about it,” she said. “The flowers were spectacular, the color palettes, the teachers. I enjoyed every moment.”

While continuing her education, she remained employed at Una Coffee World and refined her floral skills at a shop located at the front of the café. There, she immersed herself in the floral world, learning varieties and their characteristics through hands-on experience.

In 2020, Serebriakova moved to Bogotá and launched her floral venture, leaving the coffee industry to focus fully on her passion. The decision came easily.

“I love everything about flowers,” she said. “How they look, the aroma, the color, the joy flowers give people and the beauty they bring to the world. Knowing that my work makes people happy — that’s what attracts me most.”

From the beginning, Serebriakova has sourced flowers from Alexandra Farms. When she launched her business, she said, Alexandra Farms was the only local farm offering small quantities of garden roses to local florists. From her initial launch six years ago to today, she has incorporated Alexandra Farms garden roses into nearly all of her designs.

“The designs shine when roses from Alexandra Farms are in them,” she said.

Serebriakova has developed a close partnership with Alexandra Farms, rooted in mutual admiration and creative inspiration. Both share a passion for showcasing the unique character of each garden rose through thoughtful design. Guided by romance and emotion, she considers Alexandra Farms’ garden roses essential to expressing her aesthetic.

“When you work with flowers that are so special and extremely beautiful, you have a mission not to overshadow their beauty but to make it shine,” she said. “That responsibility — and the passion of the Alexandra Farms team — always inspires me.”

The respect is mutual.

“Working with Galina is always a joy,” said Teresa Schafer, marketing manager at Alexandra Farms. “She has an eye for color, texture and shape, and she understands our garden roses in a way that feels almost intuitive.”

Serebriakova also credits her relationship with Alexandra Farms President Jose (Joey) R. Azout and designer Holly Heider Chapple as especially influential.

“There are people of great knowledge, experience and love of flowers,” she said. “I’m always inspired by Joey’s energy and passion for roses. Holly was one of the first floral designers I followed, and I have always admired her work.”

That admiration goes both ways.

“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Galina,” Chapple said. “She is a confident, beautiful designer with a lovely attitude and endless passion.”

Serebriakova attributes much of her success to her perfectionism and adaptability — qualities she believes will guide the next phase of her business. She hopes to open a floral studio in Colombia dedicated to creating unique, high-quality bouquets for Bogotá residents. She also envisions combining her expertise in coffee and flowers by opening a specialty café offering both, along with floral courses and workshops.

As her business evolves, Serebriakova continues to develop her studio, expand her collections and provide design services for events and custom projects. Alexandra Farms said it values its partnership with Serebriakova and looks forward to continued collaboration that pairs its garden roses with her distinctive design vision.