The 2026 Florist of the Year Calendar is a project born from the need to create something shared, authentic, and close to our floral sensibilities. Five people collaborated on its creation – five Polish 'Florist of the Year' winners, who share a passion but have different experiences, temperaments, and artistic perspectives on flowers. The creative team included:
- Małgorzata Szwagiel, Florist of the Year 2020
- Zbigniew Dziwulski (that's me), Florist of the Year 2021
- Joanna Kiedacz, Florist of the Year 2022
- Kacper Terka, Florist of the Year 2023
- Monika Lis, Florist of the Year 2024
Each of us brings something completely different – different inspirations, different emotions, and a different story. This is mine.
A Floral Calendar Full of Diversity
Diversity was the key that paved the way for creating this unique calendar. Although we are different personalities, often with contrasting personalities, we were united by one thing: a common goal and a complete commitment to creating a project that would showcase a part of ourselves.
This calendar is our own initiative, in which nothing is left to chance – from the choice of motifs, through the compositions, to the way each photograph tells a story that resonates with us. It is a record of emotions, moments of creative focus, fascination with nature, and individual stories captured in the image.
In the photographs, we present not only our floral aesthetics but also ourselves – our approach to beauty, sensitivity, and way of seeing the world through flowers. Each month offers a different microcosm, different colors, different thoughts, and different inspirations that, though so diverse, create a cohesive whole thanks to their heartfelt and dedicated preparation.
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My Contribution to the Calendar
As part of the project, each of us has been given complete creative freedom and the opportunity to express ourselves through the selected months. I was responsible for three months of the calendar: February, June, and October. I treated these three compositions as a kind of triptych – a story divided into parts, yet inextricably linked. I wanted each of these months to feature not only a floral motif but also a deeper reflection on modernity, humanity's relationship with nature, and the search for personal balance.
My entire triptych is connected by the idea of a dialogue between humanity and the plant world, between responsibilities and emotions, between the external and the deeply personal. Each of the three months develops this idea in a different way, creating a story that I hope will move viewers and prompt them to pause.
February - 'Balance'
The February photograph is titled 'Balance'. In this work, I wanted to draw attention to the extremely relevant need for harmony among professional life, self-care, personal development, and a space for peace.
The model – a man dressed in corporate attire, elegantly posed in a yogic position – symbolizes the attempt to find balance in the daily grind. The flowers placed on his head become a metaphor for new energy, fresh thinking, and a return to nature, which often suggests how to regain peace. It's a story about how stability and inner balance are as important as professional ambitions – perhaps even more so.
June - 'Tolerance'
June is a special month, symbolically associated with freedom of self-expression, openness, and tolerance. These values became the foundation for the second installment of my work. The styling, titled 'Tolerance', was a challenge for me, requiring both artistic courage and a conscious step outside my comfort zone. However, I knew that if this theme was to resonate, I had to allow myself to experiment and be honest in my message.
The figure depicted in the photograph is a conscious play of contrasts – a record of diversity that doesn't try to hide itself. The model holds a blooming boa, made of flowers arranged to encircle the body, and expressive plant jewelry. His style combines elements characteristic of the 1920s, such as heavy makeup, with typically masculine accents like a shirt and tie. A corset, tight leggings, and stilettos complete the look – symbols of courage, expression, and breaking through established patterns. This blend of styles and inspirations is intentional: it demonstrates that a person doesn't have to fit into a single category, aesthetic, or form.
I wanted 'Tolerance' to be a story about the right to be oneself, about the freedom to express one's identity, and about respect for others' choices. The flowers that entwine the silhouette symbolize delicacy, sensitivity, and the natural beauty of diversity. They are like a manifesto that says, "Everyone has the right to blossom in their own way."
October - 'Happiness'
October concludes my triptych with a work titled 'Happiness'. It's the most cheerful and emotionally light installment of the entire series – a celebration of closeness, spontaneity, and the unforced joy that comes when one feels safe and accepted by another. I wanted this part of the triptych to counterbalance February's search for balance and June's reflections on tolerance; to show a moment when things simply feel good.
The photo shows a couple – a man and a woman – both smiling, carefree, and natural in their joy. You can see they're enjoying the moment and each other. The man holds a beautiful, energetic bouquet in his hand, a subtle symbol of how happiness is often expressed in small gestures, in simple forms of closeness. The woman, lightly suspended on his shoulders, creates a dynamic composition of movement and lightness with him – as if they were in the middle of a game, spontaneous play, something completely unforced. Their connection, gestures, smiles, and the way they look at each other create an image of happiness that doesn't need grand words or a spectacular setting.
The October scene is a story about relationships, trust, and how beauty often lies in the simplest moments of closeness. This happiness doesn't stem from perfection, but from being here and now – together.
Three Chapters of One Story
My triptych – 'Balance', 'Tolerance', and 'Happiness' – is three chapters of one story. Stories about a person who seeks harmony, learns to accept himself and others, and ultimately discovers the joy that comes from relationships and simple moments. February is about what we need internally. June – about who we are and how we want to express ourselves. October – about what closeness to another person gives us. Each of these works stands alone, but only together do they show the full path – from exploration, through acceptance, to fulfillment.
Available for Purchase Now
It's impossible to ignore the enormous role of everyone who supported this project. We extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors and partners – it was their commitment, trust, and genuine support that enabled us to create the calendar and see it through to completion. Gratitude also goes to the photographers, who captured our visions with incredible sensitivity and professionalism, and to the models who brought these images to life with their energy and openness. Without them, this project wouldn't have the impact it has today.
The 2026 Florist of the Year Calendar is available for purchase, and all proceeds from its sale will be donated to the creation of another project of this type. In this way, we want to sustain the idea of collaboration, mutual inspiration, and the creation of a space where Polish floristry can develop, mature, and be more visible than ever before.
The price is 49 Polish złoty (around 14 USD, 12 EUR) + shipping cost. Email: stowarzyszenie@floryscipolscy.pl, or via mobile: 0048 661 200 328.
Photography by Marta Wozniak Fotografia, Marcin Czech, Pawel Totoro Adamiec, Marcin Chrusciel, Svitlana Turko Zefir Studio, Sprezyna Photography Agnieszka Teska, and Tomasz Kula-Andryszcak Projekt.
