The scent of flowers is something that has always made a strong impression on me. When I discovered Elen’s “paradise” garden in the village of Ezerec near Shabla, I knew this place was magical. Her yurt stands out among the sunflowers. It resembles a mysterious beehive that hides the secrets of Elen Sabatini. The Ezerec native with French roots revealed one of them to EcoVarna. It is related to a beautiful talent that she recently discovered.
When did you realize that you liked making decorations from dried flowers?
– It’s a result of my personal development. One of my interests is related to biodiversity conservation. I am particularly fond of the research of French landscape architect Gilles Clement, who reveals three main ideas: “The Planetary Garden” (Le jardin planétaire), “The Garden in Motion” (Le jardin en mouvement), and “The Garden of the Third Nature” (Le Tiers paysage). He is very well known and works as a lecturer at the largest landscape school in France. The ideas he develops are related to the fact that if we imitate or preserve the natural processes of nature, we will protect biodiversity.
One of Clement’s famous projects is an abandoned space in Parc Henri Matisse, France, which, with his help, has been transformed into a habitat for vegetation to grow without human intervention. Linden trees and various other species of trees are now growing there, emerging from the concrete. An interesting thought of his is that when there is no human intervention, nature itself finds a way to recover.
Another rather economical idea of his is landscaping with “ordinary” and native plants from nature. This model is used in many Western countries.
So, you use only plants from the region to make your decorations?
Yes, I started with Clement’s idea. When I created “The Garden of Bees” as a natural habitat with honey plants, I realized that my affinity was not so much for growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables, but rather for flowers. So I decided to start taking care of more flowers and learning about growing them. In addition to welcoming visitors, I want to offer products made from flowers at the farm. Initially, I made fresh bouquets, but after realizing that bouquets made from dried flowers last longer, I decided it would be beneficial to make those as well.
What techniques do you use to dry the flowers?
– I use three drying techniques when making the decorations. The flowers are placed in a box filled with borate or silicate salts. This preserves their color and shape. Almost all flowers can be preserved using this technique. The other technique involves a mixture of glycerin, alcohol, and water, in which the flower must remain for about 10 days. It preserves the greenery and elasticity so that it is not so brittle after drying. The third technique is well known to everyone—drying in the shade. For example, for limonium, which is often used for drying, the glycerin technique is suitable because the flower crumbles a lot, and this technique preserves its elasticity.
For me, beauty will save humanity.
Is your idea to offer ready-made decorations to people who love and buy your honey?
Yes, when I go to sell honey at the markets, I want to offer bouquets and decorations with flowers. I love making brooches with dried flowers. Every woman enjoys dressing up like a fairy. In Bulgaria, the connection to our roots is much stronger. I believe that it has not been lost. At the moment, we are limited to one type of gerbera and gypsophila, with most of the production coming from the Netherlands. Bulgaria used to be strong in flower production, but almost all nurseries have gone bankrupt.
Are you saying that there is no need to import from abroad?
Yes, why import from afar when we can produce here? The climate and soil in Bulgaria allow for such production. We have the land, the right climate, and the experience. But we use “clichés” and buy gerberas with lots of paper for a lot of money. At the same time, you can make a bouquet with yarrow, cornflowers, and other plants that are just as beautiful. Why import when we can produce them ourselves? It’s a trend. Flower producers themselves need to establish a practice and offer flowers that are characteristic of our region. It doesn’t have to be exotic to be beautiful.
