Flowers seem to have two special days to emerge in full blossom in Ukraine: March 8 and September 1. These days are literally buried under flowers, although the bouquets present are essentially different on both occasions. The start of the school year demands solemnity and serious, almost protocol concentration. On our Women’s Day, it is the floral confession of love. The Council of Floriculturists of the Netherlands quickly understood our folk traditions and on the eve of International (i.e., in the CIS countries) Women’s Day staged a publicity show titled Romantic Spring 2000, presenting noted women of Ukraine — among them Suzanna Stanek, Nina Karpachova, Yuliya Tymoshenko, Kateryna Vashchuk, Oleksandra Kuzhel, Oksana Zabuzhko, Ada Rohovtseva, Olha Mykytenko, Olha Bohomolets, Iryna Deriuhina, Olha Herasymyuk, and Tetiana Borovyk, all prominent female government, political, business, diplomatic, cultural, and sports figures — with excellent Dutch bouquets made up of bewitching Grand Prix roses, tulips, all shades of gerberas, terry guelder rose, white carnations, wintergreen, and some other decorative greenery. The organizers meant this pattern to symbolize the touching tenderness of yet another spring.
