The Hortênsias Project, recently launched during the 37th Festuris – Gramado International Tourism Fair, began its activities with the Gramado community with a special event held with sixth-grade students from Mosés Bezzi Municipal School in Várzea Grande. The meeting marked the project's first official visit to educational institutions in the municipality.

The students participated in a chat with the project's creator, Beatriz Gehlen, the CEOs of Festuris, Marta Rossi and Eduardo Zorzanello, the municipal secretary of Agriculture, Eliezer Lima, and the head of the Municipal Garden, Márcio Potratz.

During the conversation, the young people learned more about the proposal presented at Festuris, which envisages various actions throughout 2026, involving schools, tourism entrepreneurs, and the local community. Among the planned initiatives are new educational meetings, visits to institutions, roundtable discussions with the tourism sector, and practical activities involving the planting of seedlings.

After the chat, the meeting left the classroom and moved to the front of the school gym. There, under the guidance of Márcio Potratz, the students learned planting techniques and got their hands dirty, planting hydrangea seedlings.

“Much more than planting hydrangeas”

In highlighting the importance of the initiative, Eduardo Zorzanello reinforced the transformative role of education and the project's link to the future of the city.

“This project goes far beyond planting hydrangeas. It symbolizes the power of education in teaching and developing each one of us. Future entrepreneurs, public managers, and people who will have the mission of thinking about our city for the future will come out of this school. Our home is where we live, where we study, it is our city. You are carrying forward the idea of education and the importance of belonging to Gramado. We want this little seed to grow more and more,” he said.

For Marta Rossi, reviving the symbolism of the hydrangea means reconnecting Gramado with its origins and with the welcoming spirit that enchanted its first visitors.

"Our soul must remain colorful, and we convey this color to visitors; this is hospitality and a warm welcome. Today, we have beautiful landscaping in Gramado because, in the past, residents would get together to plant hydrangeas. It was through them that the first tourists came. The hydrangea remained, but we lost the flower a little as a symbol, and it was a symbol of unity," she said.

About the Hortênsias Project

Designed to strengthen the sense of belonging, environmental education, and care for the city, the Hortênsias Project's mission is to involve the population of Gramado in actions that combine preservation, tourism, culture, local identity, and the revival of local essence. Activities will continue throughout 2026, with a schedule focused on schools, organizations, community groups, companies, and public authorities.