Violeta Živković from Šantarovec near Jagodina revives the tradition of making decorations from dried flowers, combining her love for flowers and creativity in making unique arrangements. Since she was a child, she nurtured her passion for growing flowers, and in recent years she dedicated herself to drying and making decorations in order to preserve the memory of the past when dried flowers were a part of everyday life. In the vicinity of Jagodina, she is the only one who grows flowers in large quantities, while only a few elderly women sell small bouquets of dried flowers in the markets.
The process of growing flowers begins in the greenhouses, where Violeta plants the seeds, maintains the plants and protects them from insects and diseases. After planting in beds and outdoors, harvesting begins in July. Flowers are dried in boxes or in the air, stored in cold places to maintain elasticity for winter decorations. In the winter months, when there are no fresh domestic flowers, Violeta makes arrangements for funerals, New Year and Christmas. Her arrangements contain natural elements such as Christmas trees, wheat, cones, chestnuts and acorns, with accessories such as decorative gourds, which she also grows herself.
Violeta’s flower creations are a hit among customers
Each arrangement is unique and requires from 15 minutes to several hours of work, depending on the size and inspiration. Violeta often works at night, when she is free from other duties. This process is a source of joy and fulfillment for her, because through decorations she expresses her creativity and passes on tradition to new generations. Her creations decorate homes during the holidays and bring the warmth and beauty of nature into interiors.
Among the flowers she uses, statica, zinnia and yarrow stand out. Statica comes in various colors and retains its color after drying. On the other hand, zinnia, also known as “beautiful man”, blooms from summer until the first frosts. Zinnia can be used fresh or dried. Hajdučka grass, resistant and adapted to the local climate, blooms until October, making it ideal for winter decorations.
Although the traditions of drying and arranging flowers are becoming rarer, Violeta believes in the importance of preserving this practice. Her works win the hearts of lovers of natural decorations, reminding us of the value of domestic production and natural materials in a time of dominance of imported flower arrangements.
Source: Good morning
Source: boljazemlja.com
