Written by Tinatin Bujiashvili
When I judge art, I take my painting and put it next to a God made object like a tree or flower. If it clashes, it is not art. Paul Cezzane
Can you imagine a little Eden in the hurt of Tbilisi? It is the Gardenia Nursery in the vicinity of Tbilisi along the way, leading to Tbilisi Sea. Approaching the place, you will hear sounds of music. As soon as you open the gate, you will find yourself in the three-dimensional harmony of color, form and aroma, assembled into one wholesome piece by a masterful artist.
The first feeling of astonishment passes and I start looking around. On the right side you will see an old car filled with flowers. Strawberry-lovers can find the reddest and sweetest ones there too.
Cutely constructed and decorated narrow paths all over the place between the arrays of plants of so many shades of green, neat birdhouses perched on thin poles.
Before visiting Gardenia, you may never imagine something beautiful can be created from old boots or shoes, that they can be used as flower-pots. There I saw sandals which remind me of my childhood, as I had the sandals like these.
Nothing compares to sitting at the fountain in a hot day with roses around you… Not far from me Zura, the owner of the Gardenia, and his staff was busy looking after the flowers-watering and planting them-17 000 all of them…Not an easy job! So our guide Zura Chalatashvili did a good job for us and explained everything in details. He remembered the very day Gardenia started, that the first flower was Saffron and today 17 000 various of flowers, how the arrays of plants were done. How they plant flowers in one pot, after a time they replant in a bigger one and so on. He told us about Maro Babo, the oldest member of the staff. We saw how energetically she did her job…
In the middle of the garden there is a newly built little café which serves homemade cakes. So you can rest on an ancient-style chair and enjoy peaceful atmosphere of flowers and think…
When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.
Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.
At Gardenia Shevardnadze
VISIT GEORGIA.COM 