Why is the tradition of keeping balcony gardens unpopular in Ukraine?

They say that flowers bloom best in the homes of people with positive energy and in households where peace and harmony reign. Since ancient times floral and plant motifs have been an indispensable part of everyday life and even penetrated the vocabulary of our forefathers. Consider for example eyes like bluebells, a face like a poppy, a girl like a rose. Rushnyky embroidered towels, pillows, and bed sheets were an indispensable attribute of every household. Aside from being the required attribute of a home, the flower garden adjoining the house was the calling card of the hostess. Benches standing next to such floral oases were the customary meeting places for villagers after a long day of backbreaking labor. Perhaps this was not without reason, since it became a tradition for many generations, which has been preserved in the villages. Cities have obviously broken with this tradition. The drab grayness of their gargantuan concrete-and-glass structures often makes one feel depressed. Apparently, this has been an eyesore for the enterprising Moscow mayor. According to podrobnosti.com.ua, Yury Luzhkov has recently ordered that seedlings be given to Muscovites free of charge to encourage them to do something in the way of making their windows and balconies more verdant. Mayor Luzhkov is convinced that such encouragement will help beautify the city.

The Day approached the experts to find out why the tradition of flowering balconies won’t strike root in the city and the Kyivans, much like the Muscovites, need encouragement (though Mayor Omelchenko does little in the way of incentives).

Liubov BEVZENKO, Candidate in Sociology:

“We Ukrainians have a tradition of growing flowers. Villagers have always been particular about the flowers near their homes. This was the essence of our forebears’ concept of aesthetics, their religious and sacral underpinnings, their deep cultural roots. Now we are becoming more and more pragmatic. We limit our efforts to our daily routine. Meanwhile, a person should treat flowers with love and be in the right mood when planting them. We could revive this tradition through instilling aesthetic taste in our children. This should be done in the family circle and not in kindergarten or school. Because a child takes on trust whatever is done at home.”

Olena DONCHENKO, Ph.D. in sociology, director of the Laboratory of the Psychology of the Masses and Organizations, Institute of Social and Political Psychology, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences:

“Unlike Europeans, our people do not have a feeling for their own home. This applies to everything, starting with the building we live in and ending with our country. We care about cleanliness, comfort, and aesthetics only in our apartments. It is noteworthy that making hanging gardens and greenhouses is the province of better-off citizens, who hire designers for this purpose and have money and time to spare. The man in the street finds this outrageous and considers it a luxury.”

Yury KALASHNYKOV, psychologist:

“I think the conditions are simply lacking for keeping flowers on balconies. They have been brought inside. Today everybody attempts to shut himself off from the rest of the world. Life causes people to isolate themselves, burdened with their personal problems. Meanwhile, balconies serve to isolate people from the world. We expand the territory we inhabit only by means of expanding our dwellings. Even the owners of private houses are gradually abandoning the tradition of keeping flower gardens. The flower plots are being used more rationally, with potatoes supplanting flowers.”

Svitlana BABYCH, florist of the Na Desiatynniy Salon:

“Gardening is a time-consuming hobby. Only people with a green thumb can do it. Moreover, it is a costly hobby that few can afford. For example, one, say, begonia costs between UAH 15 and 40. And it takes at least five such plants to make a balcony look beautiful.”

Andriy HNITETSKY, florist:

“I wouldn’t say that the tradition of flowering dwellings, balconies, and gardens is disappearing. It’s just that people think about aesthetics only after their most basic needs are satisfied. And the problem is not even the cost, since it is possible to grow flowers without expensive accessories. People for whom flower growing is a hobby can always find the time for it. As for balcony gardens, I think the municipal authorities should be interested in this and supply, for example, flower pots or seeds free of charge.”

Volodymyr BYSTRIAKOV, composer:

“To surround oneself with beauty is the province of the rich. When the people are struggling to survive, they are preoccupied with other problems. As for me, I have planted a whole yard opposite the building I live in. There was an unused land plot opposite it. Now fruit trees are growing: a mulberry, nuts, cherries, plums, and apricots. I brought and planted them myself. Now the children can taste various fruits.”

Liliya PUSTOVIT, designer:

“I don’t think the tradition is disappearing. Quite the contrary, it is becoming more sophisticated. Now we can see beautifully flowered balconies and verandas, which were not there before. Of course, this can be seen only in buildings that are closer to the city center. Perhaps there have never been flowered balconies in other districts. Most people don’t care about flowers, for the world is becoming more and more material and rational by the day. Why plant flowers if you can’t eat them?”