53rd floral show and competition opens in Spivoche Pole

Florists in all nine districts of Ukraine’s capital have prepared masterpieces of landscape design. This year visitors to the 53rd floral show and competition are admiring paintings decorated with flowers and leafy plants instead of paints.

This year’s show, entitled “Uk­raine in Bloom,” will last until Sept. 1. Each district of Kyiv created unique floral compositions using similar plant species: marigolds, carnations, as­ters, begonias, chrysanthemums, etc. Between 50,000 and 80,000 flowers were needed for every floral composition. The florists’ task was complicated be­cause their work had to feature a specific topic: love, well-being, wisdom, hope, faith, and peace.

All the floral artists coped 100 percent with their task, and people eager to acquire a souvenir photo were lining up near every composition. One featured two gray doves made out of painted reeds inclining their heads to­ward each other. Another, made with asters and chrysanthemums, depicted dancing girls wearing Uk­rainian national costumes. Guests were eagerly lining up to sign the guest book.

“We worked on the exhibit for two weeks,” said Antonina Pohorila, a florist from the Kyiv public utility in Obolon district. “First, we sewed special grasses, and then we set up iron frames to which the flowers were attached. We covered certain areas with soil, and only after that we began working on the most important phase: planting the flowers. Twelve people worked on our composition entitled ‘Well-being.’ Each person on our team had to reproduce a certain element: a vine leaf, a bunch of guelder roses, ears of wheat, cornflowers, etc. Since all these components are symbols of the Ukrainian people, according to our plan they symbolize Ukraine’s well-being.”

The participating florists say that the exhibit is improving with each year, and new trends in landscape design are being created. Before, most of the compositions looked like ordinary paintings and were constructed horizontally. Now designers prefer vertical, upright models, like a small chapel, an old wizard, and snow-white swans. After the exhibit ends, the municipal authorities will announce the winning districts. When the floral compositions are taken apart, the flowers will be replanted in greenhouses, where the florists will look after them to create even better masterpieces next year.