When I received an invitation from a neighboring country to participate in a large-scale event, I had no idea how captivating the journey would become. The Tulip Festival ‘Қызғалдақ мұра’ in Taraz was not held for the first time, but this year it turned into something truly grand.
The City of Taraz, Kazakhstan
Founded in the 4th century BCE, the city of Taraz was once a key northern hub along the Great Silk Road. According to the accounts of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, it was a melting pot of traders from across the world. Today, the modern city stands atop the remnants of this ancient metropolis, unearthed during excavations beneath the former central market.
A Scarlet Arrangement Inspired by the Wild Greig’s Tulips
This year, the city administration decided to host the tulip festival in the nearby mountains, where wild Greig’s tulips bloom in their natural habitat. To my surprise, I was invited to open and launch the festival just one day before my scheduled floral masterclass. It was both unexpected and deeply inspiring.
On May 1, within the spacious hall of the Romantic flower salon, I created several floral arrangements in front of an audience. The first bouquet was especially meaningful in terms of color. I intentionally avoided tulips and instead composed a scarlet arrangement inspired by the wild Greig’s tulip—using Red Eye roses and vivid red Ranunculus.
A Vivid Cultural Medley
The bouquets were presented by stunning women from Taraz dressed in traditional Kazakh attire. Their costumes, radiant in color and adorned with silver jewelry and semi-precious stones, added a vivid cultural tapestry to the presentation.
Kazakh folklore is filled with tales of beautiful women from Taraz, who served as muses for poets and travelers alike. One such legend is that of the beautiful Aisha-Bibi, whose image symbolizes purity and spiritual resilience. She fell in love with the ruler of Taraz, Karakhan. Tragically, her journey to him was cut short when she was bitten by a snake. Refusing to part with her even in death, Karakhan performed a wedding ritual to join her in the afterlife. As a tribute to his eternal love, he built the majestic Aisha-Bibi Mausoleum, which still stands today near Taraz.
A Story of Flowers, Heritage, and Human Connection
After the masterclass, we organized a photo session with the bouquets and our graceful models at the very site of the Aisha-Bibi memorial. Our team—models, photographers, bloggers, and mobile videographers—gathered in harmony to capture the essence of this moment. Many tourists passing by thought we were filming a historical documentary. In a way, we were telling a story of flowers, heritage, and human connection.
The day concluded with an evening horseback ride, with the bouquets once again taking center stage—symbols of beauty, culture, and the emotions that bloom where creativity meets tradition.
Models: Taisiya Zakharova, Leila Tatarenkova (@leila.rustamovna.t), Inna Nikolaevna Gulyaeva, Gulnaz Rakhmanova, Bayan Aymakhanbetova (@alfamed.taraz), Sholpan Smetova, Medina Ahtanberdi (@akh.mdn), Tokhtasyn Babakhanov (@tokhtas1n), Alina Mai Suan, Viktoriya Usmanova, Alina Mai Suan, Oksana Vassilyeva (@vassilyeva_oxana), Yelena Kholstinina (@tg_bouquet), and Kamila Valiyeva (@kamila_bell). Photographers: Lyubov Nazarova (@nazarova_foto), Mariya Molchanova (@mariya_molchanova_), Aliya Aubekerova, Yelena Marzoyeva (@photograf_taraz), Petr Anokhin (@petr_anohin_), and Molladzhanova Luiza (@molladzhanova). Floristry: Petr Anokhin (@petr_anohin_) and Yana Prokudina (@yana_dyart)
