Ioana Hogman & Mihai Păcurar - All About the Reactor Garden!

Started in 2025, the Reactor Garden is a lovely initiative proposed by Ioana Hogman, cheered on and supported by Mihai Păcurar, alongside the wonderful team who joined the journey. Together, they have transformed the Reactor courtyard into a more vibrant space, alive with wonderful presences beyond just us humans!  Ioana shares the story of how this project blossomed through her answers to our questions, and Mihai wraps it up with some heartfelt thoughts at the end. If you'd love to follow along, be sure to check out the Grădina Reactor Instagram page for updates.

1. Tell us more about what the Reactor Garden means to you. How did this beautiful project take root for you?
Ioana Hogman: It is something very personal! I think it actually started a long time ago, during those many rehearsals when I’d steal glances at the courtyard, watching the sunshine peek through the blinds and onto the mulberry tree. For a few years, I kept asking myself if I would rather be outside in the light than inside the black box theater. Or at least if we could perform with the blinds open, embracing that space we usually shut out for the sake of the stage. In almost every play I’ve written, there’s a nod to plants, seeds, and our relationship with what we call "nature." Every time I wrote, I felt a longing for a direct, hands-on connection. It wasn't necessarily a void, but rather a growing need for more, for something different. I really wanted these references to step off the page and become our immediate reality! Then came last year’s focus on the theme of community, and it instantly clicked what needed to be done—at least from my perspective: expanding our community to include the non-human world.

While researching for "LOC – Parcul central", I read a lot about bringing gardens back into urban spaces. In fact, Cluj has some wonderful examples of this! And just as Reactor invited me to explore the theme of community, I was already getting involved with another garden here in Cluj, while also keeping an eye on some inspiring projects from afar, like the Experimental Research Station for Art and Life near Bucharest. I had this gorgeous vision of a lush, green courtyard—just like those satisfying "before and after" concrete transformations you see on Instagram. Of course, the reality of the space is quite different, and that’s a big part of how we work there—with the space, not against it, even when it feels like a bit of a challenge. Gardening is truly the best way to embrace patience and remember that we are part of a bigger picture!

2. Why this passion for gardening in a place dedicated to theater? How do the two complement each other?
I.H.: I believe there are so many beautiful connections between what happens on stage and what happens just outside the theater doors! At the same time, I try not to view the garden solely through a theatrical lens. While that comes naturally to me, I love remembering that plants thrive beautifully on their own, quite happily independent of our need to conceptualize, analyze, or shape them. Their journey is wonderful just as it is, without needing our artistic filters. Of course, artistic tools can help us feel closer to them, but simple curiosity and caring attention aren't just for artists. Right now, it's so rewarding for us to learn how to nurture these plants, observe their growth, find out what thrives here, and see how this journey transforms us in return! It's also fascinating to look at a garden as a space that offers fresh, gentle perspectives on political, economic, or philosophical questions. For me, it’s a wonderful space for learning to let go of control. Beyond that, I am absolutely delighted by the sweet community of people gathering around the garden, and the lovely moments between the plants and passersby. Seeing the joyful faces of my colleagues and the helping hands of our friends makes the whole experience richer and full of happy surprises every day. Just last Saturday, while working in the yard, we were surprised with a delicious cake! Amidst the waiting and the hard work, there are always beautiful signs that life is blooming.

3. What does a gardening session look like? What can people expect, and how can they join the fun?
I.H.: A gardening session looks just like any other, only without the heavy-duty shovels and rakes! Often, people expect a grand garden with wide plots and lush greenery. Instead, we have a cozy, paved little courtyard, complete with a van coming and going, theater-goers dropping by, and a team working hard every day. Our courtyard is also blessed with a mature mulberry tree that casts a lovely, cool shade (a real treat!). In summer, it’s either beautifully shady or beautifully sunny! We also have some incredibly vibrant ivy. So, a lot of our gardening is about embracing these unique features. Together with our lack of experience (for some of us, at least!), it calls for plenty of patience, a spirit of adventure, and a shared feeling that a garden can be anything we imagine! I find it so exciting to learn about the plants that already call this place home—the ones growing happily between the paving stones or in the cracks of the walls. Some might call them weeds, but in their own unique way, they are absolutely wonderful! Right behind the ticket booth and next to the stairs, a lovely Cymbalaria muralis is growing. Between the stones, we have chickweed (which we love sharing about on Instagram) and wild basil. We even planted some poppies between the paving stones, and when two or three bloomed, we threw a little celebration! We built tiny stone fences around them, hoping everyone would step carefully. So that’s the spirit of it! Anyone is welcome to join, as long as you're ready to get your hands a little dirty and enjoy the slow, beautiful process.

Beyond the gardening itself, we love gathering around our green space for sharing stories, enjoying delicious food, learning from one another, watching movies, and more! This year, we're even planning a special celebration for our beloved mulberry tree. It truly deserves it, especially after its starring role in the play "Event Horizon", where Oana sweety blows out its candle. That’s our happy plan for the near future—gathering around the garden and seeing what beautiful things blossom next!

4. What is the relationship with the future in this activity? What kind of conversation does it open up about the future, nature, plants, insects, and our place among them?
I.H.: Honestly, I think it's less about the theory and more about the joyful practice! There are already so many discussions out there. I want this garden to be a warm, long-term invitation—a commitment, a place to learn, and a place to meet. I truly believe that when we build real relationships and take gentle action, the message shines through naturally without needing too many words. We don't even need to look at this garden as some grand artistic project; it’s simply a beautiful, normal part of life—a green touchpoint that I hope more of us return to, whether that means a vast field or just showing love to the houseplants on our windowsills. Of course, it’s lovely to reflect on how we view the world, and gardens are perfect for that. I’ve been happily reading "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity" by David Graeber and David Wengrow. While gardens aren't the main focus, the book beautifully traces a history of gardening alongside early agriculture. In "Orwell’s Roses", Rebecca Solnit also touches on how gardens connect with the wider world. So, conversations are wonderful, but the hands-on joy should always come first! Last summer, as the garden was just starting to take shape, someone—a secret friend!—planted a little lettuce in a spot where we had removed some paving stones. It lasted about a week before returning to the earth, but that sweet, simple gesture spoke volumes. Who needs a long lecture when you have moments like that?

And yet, when thinking of a guiding theme, I fell in love with the idea of "insinuation"—inspired by the resilient plants that gently nudge their way through the cracks. It’s such a beautiful way to think about relationships: subtle, gradual, and full of rich layers to discover. That’s why the garden is a warm invitation, a lovely commitment, and above all, a hands-on joy. Any thoughts we share are woven onto the real connection we build together!

Mihai Păcurar

I find myself playing this wonderful mental game almost everywhere I go—whether public or private, indoors or out—imagining cozy living spaces and, lately, beautiful gardens! For me, it's all about finding sweet ways to reconnect with the people around us, creating shared spaces where we can find both comforting privacy and a lively, warm vibe together. Over the last few years, plants have taken a very real place in my heart, and I love bringing them into these visions. Ioana was the one who had the wonderful idea to start the garden at Reactor, and I was absolutely delighted to jump in and help! I’ve actually been tending a garden in another spot for a few years, where I’ve learned the joy of letting plants grow naturally. I've had my share of learning curves, but over time, this process has helped me form a lovely bond with the plants, recognizing their cycles and needs. I brought a bit of that daily magic to Reactor—I get so happy when I visit and see a plant growing, blooming, or bearing fruit! It's wonderful to see how someone (likely Cătă) has gently tied up a raspberry cane, or how someone else enjoys a fresh sorrel leaf on their way past, or that we're learning together that Kale has a two-year life cycle and looks gorgeous when left to bloom in its second year.

I can hardly imagine a welcoming space now without plants! And not just as decoration, but because their green presence invites us to slow down, mindfully connect with a different kind of time, and tap into a gentle, nurturing care that comes alive when we tend to them.

This beautiful practice feels like coming home to me, as I used to garden during my childhood. After being away from it for a while, resuming it has been a wonderful, gradual rediscovery. Connecting this with my passion for how we share our city spaces and live alongside other living beings has given me a clear, joyful path. I love exploring this shared world of nature's wonders, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem where we all thrive together!