This year's Festival of Flowers and Art at the Ksiaz Castle was held under the slogan 'Princess Daisy's Secret Garden'. The figure of this remarkable woman, her life, activities, and travels became an inspiration to create floral decorations in the courtyard, in several dozen chambers and castle spaces. This is my design with the fabulous Porta Nova Rose White Naomi that enlightened and enlarged one of the castle's tinies rooms.
Decorating Ksiaz Castle
One of the projects I coordinated was the decoration in the corner room on the 3rd floor of the castle. A small chamber with beautiful furniture was a challenge. Not only did I have to create a decoration in line with the theme of the festival, but I also had to respect the nature of the chamber. The black sideboard in the interior imposed the tone of the arrangement structure.
In spite of the petite size of the room, I endeavored to create an ambiance that would have the visitors experience a sense of wonder, bringing to life the princess's vision and inspiring craftsmanship. Paying homage to the strong, influential figure of Princess Daisy, I wished to carry forward her ethos, her kindness, and her noble efforts in my floral arrangements.
The Lace of Princess Daisy
The inspiration was the lace-making activity of this princess. In her diaries on June 4 of the year 1908, we read: "They worked mainly from their homes, and the middlemen who bought lace from them paid them little and used them terribly. I wanted to organize sales so that their work went directly to shops in London, Berlin, and elsewhere."
And it worked. Daisy von Pless founded free schools for lacemakers. The works of women educated there were presented in Lower Silesian health resorts. The princess managed to introduce the fashion for Silesian lace among ladies from high society - even the empress bought them. The project of developing lace schools was rudely interrupted by the outbreak of World War I.
Porta Nova Rose White Naomi
For this project, I chose the Porta Nova Rose White Naomi because of its exquisite beauty, elegance, and superior quality. It's a flower that's known for its large, fully bloomed, cream-colored petals and subtle, sweet fragrance - all characteristics which perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Princess Daisy.
My floral arrangement was kept in white and black colors. The shoots from the trees were painted black. They created an openwork space like lace, to which I wowed white rose flowers - the Porta Nova Rose White Naomi! and some beautiful gypsophila. The stems were partly in vials and partly in a bio-floral sponge. Lace napkins of various sizes and patterns were attached to the whole composition.
Every time I used this flower, I could imagine the princess herself, with her refined taste and class, appreciating the pure beauty of the Rose White Naomi! Each bud of the rose told a story of perseverance, unfolding to reveal its full splendor only at the right time, much like the women she empowered. Each lace napkin attached to the arrangement held a story, a testament to the hard work of the Silesian lacemakers. The juxtaposition of the intricate, handcrafted lace against the blooming White Naomi! created a beautiful display of art and nature, embodying the spirit of the princess's initiative.
Lightness & Elegance
The whole gave the impression of lightness and elegance. The Rose White Naomi! was nothing but spectacular! During the five days of work and the five days of the festival, I watched as the buds slowly unfolded, as she showed herself in all her beauty and presented her large blooming flowers. This rose's durability was amazing. She looked beautiful until the end of the festival. Every visitor could see the same beautiful arrangement on each of the five days.
The echoes of the past reverberated in this small chamber at the Ksiaz Castle. Through the floral design, the spirit of Princess Daisy von Pless was evoked, along with her remarkable efforts toward improving the lives of the lacemakers. As a floral designer, I have often found myself walking the tightrope between bringing out the inherent beauty of the flowers, while maintaining their integrity and inherent symbolism. I hope that in this installation, I was able to strike a balance between the two and present a piece that was as moving as it was visually striking.
Flowers have a language of their own. In this arrangement, they spoke of history, of resilience, and of an enduring beauty that withstands the test of time. It was an honor to use my craft to tell this story.
Thank You
This arrangement and others for which I was responsible would not have been possible without the help of my assistants: Magdalena Płoskonka, Magdalena Zukowicz, Małgorzata Wróblewska-Tylus, Anna Gliwa, Anna Plecety, Piotr Konieczny, as well as the trust of the Polish Florist Association and the Ksiaz Castle, who entrusted me with the creation and coordination of this project.
All photos by Marcin Czech.
