Alla Olkhovska, an avid gardener with a collection of approximately 120 clematis varieties, finds her greatest joy not in the commonly admired large-flowered hybrids but in the smaller, less cultivated species. These petite blooms, often referred to as “leather flowers” and predominantly native to the Southeastern United States, have captivated her gardening heart.
The diminutive charm of these flowers provides a unique allure for Ms. Olkhovska, complementing her passion for photography. Beyond their visual appeal, she is notably impressed by the resilience of these bell-shaped blossoms and their ability to thrive in the face of the intensifying heat and dry conditions prevailing in her garden.
Particular varieties, such as the whiteleaf leather flower (C. glaucophylla) and scarlet leather flower (C. texensis), have proven to be especially robust, continuously blooming and adapting admirably to challenging environmental factors.
However, two years ago, an unexpected and more urgent call for adaptation reached not just the plants but also the gardener herself, alongside her fellow Ukrainian citizens. War had reached Kharkiv, Ms. Olkhovska’s hometown, and permeated the entire nation.
Currently 38 years old, Ms. Olkhovska had been diligently expanding her plant collection, envisioning the establishment of a small nursery for rare plants. The onset of war, however, presented a new and pressing mission: finding a means to support her family in the midst of adversity.
