Flower Festival "Floriada" - A New Tradition Of Peterhof

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Fountains, music, flowers

In recent years, Floriada has harmoniously blended into the series of Peterhof summer holidays. With this holiday of flowers, the museum workers of the summer residence of Russian emperors are developing the historical tradition in their own way.

The extreme drought of this summer did not affect the Lower Park of Peterhof: the proximity of the bay, the spray of fountains, and the tirelessness of gardeners provided the plants with freshness and lush bloom until late autumn. So it was originally. From early spring to late autumn, the summer residence of the Russian emperors under its historical owners was buried in flowers, starting with the hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, and irises loved by Peter I. And now every season in the State Museum-Reserve "Peterhof" opens with their parade. The flower decoration of the reserve this year consisted of 150 varieties, many of which are historical. Lawn mix for the restoration of parterres was recreated based on archival materials.

The royalty knew the symbolism of flowers and had their own preferences. Catherine II adored primroses, Alexandra Feodorovna - cornflowers and white roses, Maria Feodorovna - pale pink and carmine-red roses, Alexander III - violets … Museum workers of Peterhof develop historical traditions in their own way. 15 years ago, in the Grand Palace, they held the first exhibition of flowers with the participation of 60 arrangers. Since 2003, flower festivals have become annual. They include master classes by leading florists, arrangement exhibitions, floor design contests, music and art shows. The capital of fountains also began to sound in the status of a flower capital.

"Peterhof Floriada 2006" started from the Western Voronikhinskaya Colonnade. Here the best florists of St. Petersburg gave a master class - they showed the public how beauty is born. Vlad Petrovich Kuleshov, an international master, laureate of many international festivals, leading florist of St. Petersburg, head of the creative association "Flora", commented on the exciting show. The maestro, using the example of the created compositions, showed how feelings and mood can be expressed with flowers, explained the psychology of color.

- The composition "Butterfly" is a symbol of the coming autumn. Her purple butterfly wants to join someone, snuggle. The composition is based on magic tones. Blue represents hope and purple represents envy. The pompadour-style bouquet, popular at the end of the 18th century, is filled with hidden feelings. In the sunny bouquet "Fountains of Peterhof" one can easily recognize the "Sun" fountain with its streams and gilding. Red gladiulos are evidence of a passionate temperament, recognition of deep feelings. Airy accessories in the bouquet speak of softness and kindness of character. "Cornucopia" personifies Russian hospitality, wealth of the soul, generosity. White is the color of pure relationships. The arrangement "Carnival" embodies the dynamics of life, human impermanence, change of mood, difficult life situations. The bird of happiness in it falls from the colonnade, and right there the heather is a symbol of wisdom. Vlad Kuleshov speaks the language of flowers, he reveals not only the ideas of the authors, but also what they did subconsciously.

The finished works of floristic art were demonstrated by girls from the Petersburg Salon dance group, beautiful as flowers. They presented the bouquets to the audience, giving them the opportunity to admire them up close, after which they were placed on the podium, from where they were transferred to the exhibition in the lobby of the White Hall of the Grand Palace. In the evening, a musical floral show took place in this hall.

Natalia Pavlova, photo by the author