The Power of a Flower
THE SYMBOL OF PEACE IN 15,000 CARNATIONS
The now legendary oversized Easter egg that has stood in the Dolder Grand’s Steinhalle since 2009 sets the standard when it comes to aesthetics, creativity and floral craftsmanship. And that will be the case again in 2024. This year’s design features a dove of peace that will adorn the 3.5 m flower egg from 28 March onwards, creating a truly special aura of extraordinary sights and fragrances.
This highly complex piece is the work of the Dolder Grand’s team of florists led by Leonie Haupt, which started planning back in January 2024. “The Easter egg’s design and colour scheme are defined at the start of the year”, she says. “The carnations also need to be ordered in good time.” There are around 15,000 of them in total – plus another 2,000 for touch-up work, all of which are sourced from a florist in the Netherlands.
Three days of set-up
The egg will start to take shape just before Easter. Everything follows a specific procedure. “We start by building a special frame that is filled with floral foam and then watered”, says Leonie, who has previously worked at hotels such as Les Trois Rois in Basel and Suvretta House in St. Moritz. The carnations are then applied to the design in a tub. “This is important to stop the water from draining away.” Three people work full time on the design for up to two days.
How long do the flowers last?
“The egg stays beautiful for almost a week”, says Leonie. “The flowers are sprayed with water every day, which keeps them fresh for longer.” Leonie Haupt completed her floristry training in Basel at the age of 18, turning her great passion into a profession that she has practised with great enthusiasm ever since. And it’s not just at Easter that she shows just how radiant flowers can be.