Alexander de Jesús Nieto Marín
cultivator, florist, silletero, Santa Helena
Alexander Nieto is a silletero and flower cultivator from Santa Helena, an area famous for its tradition of flower growers. He has a vast knowledge of the use of flowers in traditional healing and medicine. And his silleta, or flower carrier shaped like a chair, carries over fifty different flower varieties.
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Alexander de Jesús Nieto Marín standing next to his silleta before putting it on for the day and showcasing it to festival visitors. Photo by Samantha Hawkins, Smithsonian Institution