The "corpse flower" bloomed in Bratislava in early August. (source: TASR)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
A stinky one-day wonder
People waited for hours to see the flower. (source: Jana Liptáková)
Hundreds of people flocked to the Botanical Garden in Bratislava in early August to witness a rare spectacle. After years of waiting, the Amorphophallus titanum plant, or titan arum – also known as the “corpse flower” – bloomed there for the very first time.
“It’s a plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world,” said Norbert Zlámal from the Botanical Garden, which belongs to Comenius University, as quoted in a press release, adding that the one in their possession is over two metres tall. It blooms for only 24 hours.
It usually takes six to 10 years for the plant to burst into flower, the botanist added. Once it does, it starts attracting insects.
“It’s a kind of large incense stick that evaporates the smell far away and attracts insects to land on the prepared landing area and pollinate the actual female flowers located at the bottom of the funnel,” Zlámal explained, adding that the smell from the flower is really strong. This has helped earn it the title of "smelliest flower in the world".
Jana, who was among those who waited in line to see the titan arum bloom, compared the smell to a combination of sauerkraut and socks.
“I waited for two hours, but it was worth it,” she said, while leaving the greenhouse at 22:50. “Seeing, and especially smelling, it in person is not like seeing it in the newspaper or on TV.”
She expressed sadness at the shabby appearance of the greenhouse in which the flower had grown and bloomed.
“Surely the Botanical Garden deserves better,” she said. “On the other hand, hats off to our botanists.”
Former SND director receives a prestigious award
Matej Drlička (source: SITA)
Only a few days before being sacked as head of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Matej Drlička received a prestigious French award.
Joining a pantheon of notable personalities such as writer Paulo Coelho, actors George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Audrey Hepburn, and former Czechoslovak president Václav Havel, he was granted L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (becoming a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), bestowed by the French state upon persons who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the field of art, culture and literature, or for their contribution to the influence of arts in France and throughout the world.
“He received the award from French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, as a recognition of his years-long activities in culture and excellent work at the helm of the SND,” the theatre wrote on Facebook. The official ceremony is set to be held in autumn.
Drlička’s career as an orchestra member was closely linked to France, the SND noted in a press release.
“France has played an important role in my life because it is the country where I have lived and worked for many years,” he said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “In the field of art and culture, it is a power that has been setting trends for centuries and fundamentally shaping Europe. (...) It is a huge honour for me that my work was noticed by this country.”
Fighting packaging waste in the mountains
The collecting container situated at Kráľova Hoľa. (source: SITA)
People can now deposit their empty plastic bottles and cans even during a hike to one of the most popular peaks in the Low Tatras.
A special collecting container was installed on Kráľova Hoľa, situated in the eastern part of this central-Slovak mountain range. At an altitude of more than 1,900 metres above sea level, it has become the highest collecting point in the nationwide deposit-and-recycling system, the TASR newswire reported.
Altogether 13 collecting containers were placed in Slovak national parks in 2023, with another four being added this year. They can also be found in the Hiadeľské Sedlo saddle in Low Tatras and in the car park near the Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa ice cave in Slovenský Kras.
“By developing this activity, we want to prevent the creation of discarded waste and support the development, protection and cleanliness of Slovak national parks,” said Marián Áč, head of the Správca Zálohového Systému organisation that coordinates the deposit system, as quoted by TASR. “The administrations of the national parks themselves have determined the places with high frequencies of visitor movement, where we are gradually placing collection containers.”
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Inspired by American ambulance drivers in the world wars, former US official Brock Bierman takes on a similar mission to Ukraine.
There are three hills named Kľak in Slovakia. The best known of them is the one with a distinctive rocky nose in the Malá Fatra mountain range.
Distilleries, a craft brewery and a lavender farm. Discover the hidden gems of the Myjava region.
Australian Jessica Fox, who has won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics, rides on boats made in Slovakia.
Two reconstructed toll houses, built near the Old Bridge in Bratislava in around 1891, will soon offer coffee, ice crea, cakes and locally produced delicacies
Political meme of the week
Aaaaa! (source: SME/Rosie Naive Art)
With this meme, echoing Edvard Munch's The Scream, artist Rosie Babicová, whose works can be found on the internet and social networks under the name Rosie Naive Art, reacts to recent developments in Slovakia's cultural sphere. First, Matej Drlička was dismissed as director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND) on August 6; a day later, Alexandra Kusá was forced out as head of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG). Both steps, which came at the behest of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (Slovak National Party (SNS) nominee), prompted outrage both at home and abroad. While the opposition is planning a protest, prominent Slovak artists initiated an online petition calling for Šimkovičová's dismissal. It has so far attracted more than 150,000 signatures.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
