THE IVY INSTITUTE
RETREATS
An Italian floral retreat experience.
21st - 26th May 2025
SOLD OUT
EVOLVE:
/ɪˈvɒlv/
To gradually unfold into a more refined, intricate, and elevated state of being, where each change is a step towards deeper growth and transformation.
Imagine…
Warm spring days, 6 of them to be exact, spent immersed in nature, design & the timeless beauty of Italy.
Your home base an enchanting, family owned authentically Italian resort nestled on the banks of Lake Como with epic views of the Alps in the distance.
You’ll hand-select vibrant blooms from an Italian flower farm bursting with colour as you learn the art of floral design amidst the fields. Here we’ll also explore floral fabric dyeing, infusing the landscape’s hues into your creations along with a peaceful picnic among the flowers.
A day dedicated to innovative concept design & creation of a luxe floral installation that will become one with the ancient stone facade of the portico.
Mornings spent doing a gentle yoga practice overlooking the mesmerising Lake Como, where you’ll be invited to dive deeper into self-discovery with a guided meditation & soul mapping workshop.
An afternoon learning photography to capture the essence of your artistry and the stunning landscape. Plus a variety of ‘choose your own adventure’ options and plenty of free time to explore the cobblestone streets of Bellagio.
This retreat is where nature, beauty, and creativity intertwine—my dream floral experience, where you'll evolve and grow alongside your artistry, and I would love for you to join me.
Meet our Coaches
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Lead Facilitator
After 30-plus years in this beautiful industry, I am more passionate than ever about redefining floristry for tomorrow.
As a proud Sustainable Floristry Advocate, earth-conscious design & sustainable practices weave through all that I do.
Sustainable thinking supports a healthy future - for people, businesses and our natural environment. For a nature-loving industry that relies on a healthy planet, don't you agree we should be leading the way?
From within my Ivy entangled Greenhouse nestled on the Dharawal land [NSW southern highlands] that my family & I deeply love, I connect with my students, members and mentees either via my online courses or in person events. Supporting them along their entrepreneurial floral pathway to a successful, thriving and aligned floral business.
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Australian born living in Italy for over 24 years.
Mother of 3, Vedic meditation teacher, 4/1 Manifestor in HD, tea & mango smoothie lover.
In the beginning I was stressed out, exhausted all the time and riding the emotional roller coaster of motherhood and starting my own business… I thought being a ‘good mother’ meant the over tiredness was ‘normal’, part of being a parent— and didn’t question it.
Until I did.
Then I started to question everything! My book The modern Alchemist chronicles that journey and offers an alternative way to think about and be successful in business and life (with kids!).
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After completing an Economics degree and living in Paris for 3 years, Olga returned to her hometown in the Lake Como region to work in the family business, a plant nursery, and pursue a Masters in Landscape and Garden Design. In 2016 she started growing cut flowers and decided to dedicate part of the nursery to the cultivation of cut flowers. In 2017 Olga's Flower Farm was born.Today, Olga's Flower Farm has grown into a thriving and vibrant business with an international team growing seasonal flowers from mid February until the first frosts in early November. Their 'Grown to Dye' project uses the waste materials of flower farming to create a rich palette of natural dyes which they incorporate in their classes.
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I first picked up a camera in high school and loved it so much, I haven’t stopped shooting since. I believe photography and videography can be a practice in mindfulness — because searching for what is beautiful about life is a real gift… a gift that’s kept me inspired and working as a full-time photographer and videographer for 20+ years.
For the past decade, I've been teaching women in business to create their own captivating content using just their phone camera.
Home is a 10-acre country property where I live with my family, tending to a large veggie garden, orchard, bees, sheep, and chickens. My mother, a micro flower grower, lives with us, providing an endless supply of floral inspiration for my personal photo projects.
Where we’ll call home
Crotto del Misto is a charming, family-owned resort located in Lezzeno, nestled on the picturesque shores of Lake Como. Known for its traditional cuisine with a modern twist, the resort offers a delightful experience with its specialty in lake fish and local meats, all complemented by a carefully curated selection of wines aged in their historic cellars. The property features stunning lake-view terraces perfect for dining or hosting events, as well as a private lakeside area and various outdoor activities such as wakeboarding and kayaking.
The resort's history adds to its charm, as it was once a favourite spot for boatmen seeking fresh fish and homemade salami during the days of sailing ships. Today, it remains a beloved destination for those looking to enjoy authentic Italian hospitality combined with the beauty of Lake Como.
Lezzeno is in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region on the shores of Lake Como, known for its dramatic scenery and historic villas.
The closest international airport being Milan, you can then travel by Train, Bus or Car [approx 1hr 20 min] to Lezzeno. Accommodation is 25 min - Como and 15 min - Bellagio.
Your Investment
King room [lake view] with ensuite - single occupancy: $5750 AUD pp
King room [lake view] with ensuite - twin share*: $5350 AUD pp
King room [mountain view] with ensuite - single occupancy: $5550 AUD pp
King room [mountain view] with ensuite - twin share*: $5150 AUD pp
Room allocation is on a first in basis
SOLD OUT
*If you would like to come with a friend in a twin share arrangement, please contact Nadine to arrange.
Inclusions:
5 nights accommodation
All breakfast / lunch / 3 X dinner
Transfers for all scheduled sessions within the retreat [ transfers to & from airport at own cost]
All flowers, sundries
Design workshops
Photography workshop
Meditation workshop
Yoga sessions
Business coaching session
Retreat gift bag
Schedule
21st - 26th May 2025
DAY 1 - Arrive at Crotto del Misto, get settled into your room, enjoy an apéritif or take a dip in the spring water pool before our welcome dinner
DAY 2 - Breakfast -SOUL MAPPING FOR BEGINNERS Masterclass + FUTURE VISION MEDITATION with Maddy - Lunch - Group MENTORING session IN-SYNC FUTURE PLANNING + Roundtable group discussion with Nadine - Free time to rest or explore - Dinner together
DAY 3 - Early ferry ride to Como - Travel to Olga’s flower farm - Morning FLOWER FARM TOUR, select blooms, FLOWER DESIGN & DYEING WORKSHOP - Picnic lunch - Country road trip back to Crotto - Prep flowers -Free time - gather for dinner
Day 4 - Yoga / meditation / swim / walk - Breakfast - PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP with Honey - Lunch - DESIGN SESSION & PHOTOGRAPH - Afternoon exploring trip and Dinner in Bellagio
DAY 5 - Yoga / meditation / swim / walk - Breakfast - DESIGN INTENSIVE with Nadine, concept to execution for large scale design at Crotto - Lunch followed by GROUP INSTALLATION - pre dinner cocktails on the terrace - Dinner & Free time
DAY 6 - Yoga / meditation / swim / walk - Breakfast & FINAL GROUP CONVERSATION, time for optional 1:1 sessions & Farewells
Workshop details
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Masterclass "Soul Mapping for Beginners"
I love seeing other people dreams come alive, so I've created this process called 'Soul Mapping' to help others find and uncover their 'bliss list!'
That's why I created this Masterclass 'Soul Mapping for beginners' .
We will cover:
The power of intention
Breathing techniques
Quantum time Visualisation
Establish the various steps to achieving our soul desires
Finally we will take 1 action towards those dreams so you will actually EXPERIENCE the transformation during our session.
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During our Group Mentoring session Nadine will guide you through her 3 part In-Sync Furture Plan. A self reflection, goal setting and planning process that is guided by the rhythm of nature, your own cycles. Marrying your personal and business dreams together to create a life that feels aligned and sustainable. This session will mesh beautifully with Maddy's Soul Mapping Masterclass to leave with clarity & an actionable to plan to be living a life & business by your own design.
Nadine is available for private 1:1 sessions throughout the retreat.
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Throughout the Retreat, guided design session will feature, the main one being a Design Intensive day, creating individual designs & incorporating those into our group installation. A celebration of Spring, Nadine will take you through the process of sight inspection, the process of creating a concept, Floral engineering & sustainable mechanics, through to creation of our luxe group installation. One we will enjoy ourselves with an afternoon apéritif. You'll then have the opportunity to practice your new photography skills and Honey will be there for personal profile shots to add to your portfolio.
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Master the art of creating stunning, light-filled images using just your phone camera. In this hands-on, half-day workshop, you'll learn:
Finding and utilising natural light
Composition techniques to enhance your floral arrangements
Shooting tips to capture the essence of your creations
Simple yet powerful editing apps to elevate your photos
No fancy equipment needed—just bring your phone camera and creativity! You'll enjoy:
Practical, hands-on shooting time
Personalised guidance from an experienced professional
Pre-set scenes featuring floral arrangements and a model with flowers
Perfect for florists or creatives looking to showcase their work beautifully on social media or websites.
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We begin our experience at Olga's Flower farm with a guided farm tour with Olga as she shares her knowledge & passion for growing flowers. Mid May we can expect to see, bearded irises in a rainbow of colours, itoh peony, cornflowers, sweet peas, alliums, roses, snapdragons, corncockle, orlaya, foxgloves etc all of which will be a dream to design with. Olga, will also guide us through her process of natural dyeing using the flower waste on the farm to create stunning ribbons of fabric that you'll incorporate into your designs. Finally we'll finish the day with a picnic in the fields.
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Included in cost:
Tour of Crotto del Misto's cellar (circa 1600)
Gnocchi cooking class
Villa garden tour
Morning Yoga
At additional cost: {POA]
1:1 session with Nadine
1:1 session with Maddy
1:1 session with Honey
How to Book
1.Deposit
To secure your place, a $550 non-refundable deposit is required.
2. Payment options
Nadine will be in touch to confirm your room selection & offer you either a Pay Up Front option or Split payment plan.
3. Pack your bags
Nadine will add you to our Evolvere WhatsApp group where we can get to know each other pre-retreat & share in the excitement of packing our bags for 🇮🇹
FAQs
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Once your deposit is paid to secure your spot, Nadine will be in touch personally to discuss your payment options. We can create a payment plan that specifically works for you.
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Yes, we are offering a $250 discount if you select this option.
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No, this is an all inclusive retreat (other than any beautiful Italian purchases you may like to take home with you).
There will be free time factored in to the retreat so you may like to have a bit of pocket money for the odd gelato or pizza!
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Yes. Nadine will share with you the numerous different transport options to get to the accommodation.
What people are saying about Evolvere
“This looks absolutely out of this world, Nadine .
You’ve put together the most gorgeous blend of creativity, mindset, spirituality & business focus.
Just the most unique & incredible experience. I’d LOVE to join….”
“OMG Nadine! This retreat sounds absolutely incredible!! this is like a dream come true…to be able to attend something so special would just be amazing…
Thank you for curating all of my passions into such a unique experience.”
