The interior of Satamatie is immediately striking with its magnificent, atmospheric palm trees and other plants. Where do they come from? Introducing the woman behind the green interior.
The interior and visual design of Satamatie has been created in collaboration with partners from Lappeenranta. One of these is Eija Johansson , the entrepreneur of Viherpalvelu Green Home, who is responsible for practically all the plants and plantings seen on Satamatie. We interviewed Eija to tell us more about the greener side of Satamatie.
There are many different plants on Satamatie. How did you go about building the whole thing when there was nothing but empty space?
“We set out to implement the interior design of Satamatie together with the restaurant manager Rebecca Lehtomäki. Her wish was to create a green oasis in the space. The space is so large that it needed some large plants, so we ended up with large Kentia palms. They create a wonderful atmosphere even in winter. The palms were ordered from Holland.
Our goal was also to make the most of the beautiful natural light. We both get to use our creativity, so the collaboration with Satamatie is really rewarding for me. The every Friday cake, coffee, flowers package has worked really well. The idea is that I make bouquets of flowers for Satamatie every Friday. I make a different bouquet every week, with a touch of myself, depending on my mood and the time of year.
Ecology is important to me in all my work as a gardener. I use natural materials whenever possible and try to avoid plastic, for example in packaging. I make bouquets so that they decompose completely, and I also try to avoid wire and oasis mushroom in my grave booklets to keep the amount of waste to a minimum.”
People seem to have their own favorite spots on Satamatie. What part of the space do you like to look at the most?
“The best thing about Satamatie is the wonderful atmosphere. When you go there, you feel welcome every time. There is a really nice team of people and a relaxed atmosphere. My favorite spot varies depending on my mood. One of my favorite spots is the armchair corner near the front doors. It gets beautiful natural light, the plants frame the corner and give a peaceful atmosphere. The armchairs are also really comfortable. Sometimes it’s nice to go up to the podium and look out over Lake Saimaa.”
Gardening is a dream job for many people. How did you end up doing it?
"My grandmother was a gardener, and that's how I dreamed of starting a flower shop and becoming a gardener. Nature has always been really important to me. However, I studied to be a cultural secretary and a little bit of graphic design. I worked as a youth counselor, among other things.
While I was on maternity leave, I dreamed of a new profession and saw an advertisement for a gardening school. I decided to apply for the training, it was a bit of a now or never situation. My internship supervisor recommended that I start my own business and helped me get started. I haven’t regretted becoming an entrepreneur for a day.”
Plants and nature have surprising effects on people. What are they like?
“I recently completed a horticultural therapy training course. In addition to fulfilling clients' wishes and dreams for their yards and other projects, I hope to share with them the positive effects of nature on our well-being.
Many people today want their yards to be easy to maintain and require as little effort as possible. I hope to help them see the other side of the coin. After a busy day, spending some time in the garden does wonders, it's living in the moment. Part of the pleasure is doing it yourself and seeing your own handiwork right after the work is done.
Plants can also improve air quality and are visually pleasing to the eye, bringing comfort and good mood. Plants are also calming and act as sound and noise absorbers. I recommend everyone to spend at least a little time in nature every day.”
The green space is a logical area for the average person from spring to autumn. What does a gardener do in the winter? Are you on vacation or hibernating?
"I also work in the winter! In the winter I start planning the next summer, its projects and do yard planning. In addition, in the winter I do snow removal work for my job, flower tying work on request, taking care of green plants and of course continuous cooperation with Satamatie. And of course I also take a little vacation!"
You have already held a few different, much-praised workshops on Satamatie. What do you have in store for the spring and summer?
"In a week, on Tuesday, April 24th, there will be a Mini Garden Workshop, where you can make your own small garden from green and succulent plants in a glass container. There are still a few places available for that. In addition, there will be various flower and plant workshops during the spring and summer."
The intention is to also organize services for companies, for example during the "tyhy" days.
The idea of the workshops is not only to plant, but also to create and bring joy, and to practice being in the moment and seeing the diversity of nature. ”
---
Satamatie 6 open daily from 12 to 6 p.m.