Find yourself a perfect bouquet at one of Kyiv’s flower stores
International Women’s Day, a holiday created during Soviet times and dedicated to the appreciation of all women, is just around the corner – on March 8. This means that all the stores selling merchandise for ladies are getting ready for big sales. The retailers who are sure to have the busiest time are flower shops, because flowers are always the most popular gifts presented to ladies on Women’s Day. As everyone who walks Kyiv’s streets can observe, flower stands and vendors are a dime a dozen in this city. Sure, there are plenty of street vendors selling flowers by the entrances to the metro or in underground passages, but no one can guarantee how fresh those flowers will be – in fact sometimes the flowers even inherit the scent of tobacco from standing for a long time in the underground passage. On top of that, the vendors definitely won’t provide you with a suitably elegant wrapping for your beautiful red roses. We suggest that you visit an actual flower shop or studio to find the perfect bouquets and gifts for this March 8.
Stylish flowers
Upon walking into the store Tsvetochnaya Vanil (Flower Vanilla), I was struck with its unusual entrance – it was decorated with columns made of twigs and interspersed with beads. The studio itself is rather small, but cozy, and it’s saturated with the sweet smell of fresh flowers. The studio’s variety of spring and exotic flowers is pretty large. According to one of the florists of the store, Yelena, at Vanilla you can find flowers common in Kyiv, like roses, lilies, tulips, freesia, orchids, anthurium (also called Flamingo Lily), as well as rare flowers like magnolias and lilacs. The latter are not seasonal, which is why they are more expensive, and in general you can’t find them anywhere but in flower studios. When I entered the hall, I watched as a flower arrangement was being made. The floral arrangement was created with various flowers all in yellow-green hues, which immediately reminded me of the lyrics of a popular Russian song: “Yellow roses – the symbol of parting.” As the specialists of the studio explained to me later, yellow roses were not considered the symbol of parting anymore, but rather a symbol of inner warmness and welfare. As Yelena told me, color symbolism in flowers has in general lost popularity. Eclecticism, on the other hand, which is a leading trend in modern art, has spread into the realm of flowers as well. The more colors and flowers are used in the composition of the bouquet, the more original and chic the bouquet is considered to be. However, the mixture should be harmonious, otherwise it will look kitschy.
According to Yelena, there are some basic rules of thumb when considering what kind of floral arrangement to choose. Bouquets for men are usually created from darker-toned flowers, whereas those for women are usually made in lighter hues. The same rule is applicable to age ranges – darker for elderly people, lighter for young people. Before choosing a flower arrangement, consider the event for which the bouquet is being prepared and the place at which the bouquet will be presented. You can also ask the florists to make a composition for a particular price (you can even order a composition consisting of only one flower amid decoration). The prices may vary from Hr 6 to Hr 1000 or more. The price will vary depending on the flowers you want to see in the composition, the wrapping and the additional decoration (toys, beads, hearts, bowknots, etc.) you choose. Of course, there is a catalogue of floral arrangements with prices available at almost any flower store, so you could just choose from their designs, but it is always more interesting to be involved in the process of creation.
Roses or lilies? Tsevotchanaya Vanil offers a wide assortment of flowers and pro florists ready to help you compose a bouquet. (Konstantin Klimenko)
If you want to surprise someone, you can have the flowers delivered. At Flower Vanilla during the non-holiday period, delivery around the city center will cost you Hr 28, to the regions near the center – Hr 48, yet you should be aware that the cost will grow during the holidays.
Another studio that I came across was the famous Green Gallery store, more than once mentioned in Kyiv Post. The gallery is rather small, but various flowers fill it with the unforgettable atmosphere of spring. Unfortunately, however, I wasn’t able to find out much else about the store: right after I introduced myself as a journalist (a big mistake), in order to get more information about the shop, the members of the staff declined to talk to me at all, and they wouldn’t even reveal harmless information like the price of their flowers – maybe I was a conspirator sent in by their competitors. Hopefully, the regular shoppers (unlike us “spies”) get better treatment at Green Gallery.
Though fresh flowers remain the most popular floral gift choice, indoor plants present an original alternative. House plants can be preserved for a much longer period of time – even for several years – which makes flowers in flowerpots really thoughtful gifts. A wide assortment of plants, knowledgeable assistants and reasonable prices can be found at Edelweiss shop. I found out later from the management of Edelweiss that the large store had a kind of “underground” reputation, since there wasn’t much info about it online, and it gained popularity through word-of-mouth. It also proved hard to find, even though I knew the exact address and that it was close to Petrivka metro station. After walking the same street several times, I finally recognized my destination – a line of happy buyers with green plants in their hands standing in front of the store. Inside, the shop was filled with plants of all kinds, from floor to ceiling. As I was told, the plants were imported straight from Holland and are sold at much lower prices then at any other flower shops. The professionals will surely help you make the right choice. If you want your present to look really festive, the florists will wrap it nicely and add some decorations. The plants, from violets and kalanchoe to huge palm trees, can be delivered anywhere – the cost depends on the destination and number of plants being delivered.
– Olga Kovalenko
Tsvetochnaya Vanil (16 Lva Tolstogo, 287-5243).
Edelweiss (24G Moskovskiy Prospect, 418-7854)
Green Gallery (51/53 Volodymyrska, 246-4912)
Bessarabka and more
Besarabskiy market, also known as “Bessarabka,” is the most well-known place in Kyiv for buying flowers. The retailers at Bessarabka are used to “high-profile” shoppers, like politicians – including the president himself – who often buy flowers there. This explains the market’s high prices. The market’s assortment includes all kinds of flowers, like roses, tulips, narcissuses, and lilies. You can buy flowers by the stem or in arrangements. The price of one rose varies between Hr 8 and Hr 16, one tulip will cost you Hr 7 and one narcissus – Hr 5. But of course, keep in mind that as International Woman’s day draws nearer, the prices are sure to grow.
Iris flower shop consists of three rooms. In addition to flowers, the shop offers a wide assortment of other merchandise, including paintings of flowers, vases and flowerpots. “All the potted flowers can be divided according to flowers for women and flowers for men,” says Iris shop’s florist Irina Shestakovskaya. “Women’s flowers are blooming flowers with variegated leaves, such as freesia and tulip. Men’s flowers are more austere plants, for instance chrysanthemum. Flowers like iris and narcissus are considered to be suitable for both women and men. Bouquets intended for women should be roundish, while bouquets presented to men must be oblong.” All the bouquets are exclusive and their prices depend on the amount of flowers and decorations used (Hr 35 to Hr 1,500). The most popular flowers used in bouquets are roses (Hr 5 to Hr 12) and spring flowers like irises and narcissuses. Iris shop also makes wedding bouquets (from Hr 200) and provides floral decorations for restaurants.
Mona flower shop offers a wide assortment of sheared flowers, but the most popular ones are roses (Hr 5 to Hr 16), chrysanthemums and peonies. There is also a big assortment of pod flowers. The shop makes wedding and gift bouquets, as well as decorations for banquet halls. Mona shop also has a big assortment of other keepsakes and vases.
Bessarabskiy market (Bessarabska Ploshcha)
Iris (17 Drahomanova, 572-7220)
Mona (26 Bazhana Prospect, 585-1018)
Flowers from cyberspace
Ordering a flower delivery online is another useful option available in Kyiv.
www.florist.com.ua, which has Russian, Ukrainian and English versions, offers you a wide variety of composed bouquets. Prices vary from $51 for five roses to $187 for 51 tulips. It is also possible to send a postcard (for free), a box of candies (from $4), a bottle of champagne (from $4), or a plush toy (from $14) in addition to flowers. The delivery service can also take a photo of the recipient, right after he or she has received your flowers, which will then be emailed to you. The cost of the service if $4. You can pay for your order through a bank transfer or in cash. In the latter case, a courier will arrive to collect the money. The flowers that you can order on the website, or by calling 331-9307, can be delivered one hour after you’ve paid for them or at any other time or date you’ve requested.
www.daruy-kvity.com.ua web store has a huge amount of flowers and ready-made bouquets. All the bouquets are divided into groups to make your choice easier: business bouquets, bouquets for your beloved, wedding bouquets, and other kinds. In addition to flowers you can send a fruit basket, plush toys, cakes and perfume for a separate price. You can make your order by filling in the form on the website, or by calling 481-1683. There are five payment options, including by courier, through a bank transfer, cashless settlement, postal order, or through Western Union or Money Gram system. The web site also has an English version.
www.kvitka.ua web store has Russian, Ukrainian and English versions and offers a wide assortment of bouquets starting from modest bunches like “Alenkiy Tsvetochek” (Damask Flower) (Hr 80), which is an arrangement of three roses, to luxurious ones like “101 elite roses” (Hr 1770). All the bouquets are made by professional florists. There is also a big assortment of different keep-sakes that you can order in addition to flowers. You can make your order by filling in the form on the website, calling 481-1683, or by emailing [email protected]. There are seven means of payment, including payment by courier, through Web Money system or a bank transfer.
– Dmytro Lytvynko
