“FUTURE IN FLOWERS” FESTIVAL
The festival began on 21 May and ended on 8 July, on the last day of the RUSSIA EXPO. This large-scale flower marathon captured the whole VDNKh area, and unique art objects made of flowers were introduced in several locations simultaneously. Guests could witness more than 100 million flowers, flower exhibits from all 89 regions of the country, and designer flower compositions from institutions and state corporations. Future in Flowers workshop held floristry classes, lectures from well-known plant breeders, and fun trivia games. Visitors were shown the best achievements of national plant breeders: about 400 types of peonies, 140 types of lilacs, 120 types of irises, 250 types of roses, 30 types of dahlias, as well as other flowers and plants of Russia.
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Flax. Smolensk region
Common flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a plant that grows up to about 120 cm tall. Its flowers form an "umbrella," and after blooming, seed capsules appear in their place. Flax is a valuable agricultural crop used in the textile, chemical, and even food industries. For example, strong linen threads are made from its stems and leaves, and its seeds are pressed to produce oil that is extremely beneficial for health and beauty. Additionally, flax is used to make medicines, nutrient substrates, and components of technical mixtures. In recent years, specially bred varieties of flax have become a popular choice for landscape designers.
Flax has been known since ancient times and has always been revered as a symbol of light, purity, and fidelity. High priests of Egypt could enter temples only in linen clothing, and pharaohs' mummies were wrapped in linen fabrics. Herodotus mentioned that among the gifts brought by one of the pharaohs to the temple of Athena in Rhodes, the most valuable gift was linen fabric.
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Komarov’s lotus. Khabarovsk region
Komarov's lotus (Nelumbo komarovii Grossh.) is a wild-growing, highly ornamental, medicinal, food and ritual plant. It is included in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation, Khabarovsk, Primorye region, Jewish Autonomous and Amur regions.
There are two very close species in Russia: Caspian lotus in the European part and Komarov's lotus in the Far East. The Far Eastern lotus was described and singled out as an independent species by Alexander Grossheim in 1940. He named it in honor of Vladimir Leontievich Komarov, the greatest Russian botanist, researcher of the flora of the Far East and neighboring countries. As of now, one of the leading botanists of the region — Doctor of Biological Sciences Maria Kryukova — has been studying lotus in the Khabarovsk region for more than 30 years.
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Wheat. Stavropol region
The Stavropol region is the breadbasket of Russia. More than 40% of the region's area is fertile black soil. Many crops are grown here, the most important of which is wheat, the golden queen of the fields.
Wheat, as the world's leading grain crop, is an integral part of the history of the region's development, and its golden ears decorate the coat of arms of the Stavropol region and symbolize prosperity. From year to year the region is among the country's leaders in terms of grain yields.
Folk festivals and main events of the region are connected with wheat: the tradition to celebrate the Harvest Day appeared here as early as in the 20s of the last century. In 2024, the Stavropol region will host the All-Russian Field Day - the largest exposition of achievements of the national agro-industrial complex.
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Pine. Chelyabinsk region
European red pine (Pinus sylvestris) – a tree from the pine family – is a widely distributed species in Eurasia and one of the most valuable coniferous species in our country. Pine forms pure stands but can also grow alongside other coniferous or deciduous species.
Mature pines reach a height of 25–40 meters, and the trunk can exceed one meter in diameter, classifying pine as a tree of the first magnitude.
Chelyabinsk is likely the only metropolis in Russia that has a full-fledged pine forest in its center. Writer and local historian Vyacheslav Lyutov calls the pine forest the Chelyabinsk urban archetype, implying that it is the main treasure of Chelyabinsk.
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Lungwort. Mordovia
Blooming lungwort is a wonderful ornament of our spring forests. It has been growing in the forests of Russia since ancient times, and it also grows in the Republic of Mordovia. An ancient Slavic legend says: if you drink nectar from twenty pink and twenty violet flowers of lungwort, your heart will become healthy and kind, and your thoughts will become pure.
This valuable medicinal and ornamental plant is affectionately called medunchik, apiary grass, honey grass, medunka, because the spring flowers of this plant are rich in nectar, which attracts a lot of bees.
The scientific name of the genus (Pulmonaria) comes from the Latin word pulmo — "lung". This is because in the past lungwort was widely used in the treatment of lung diseases. Lungwort is also one of the Russian names for this plant.
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Lingonberry. Leningrad region
Lingonberry (Latin: Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a small evergreen shrub of the Vaccinium genus in the Heath family. Lingonberry leaves are covered with a dense, glossy skin, and the dark red berries are known for their health benefits and bright, sour flavor.
Lingonberries grow in various regions of Russia, but they are especially abundant in the Leningrad region. In the fall, the forests here are covered with red carpets of lingonberries, and local residents go on quiet hunts for these tasty and healthy berries. The best harvest usually occurs in September when the fruits are full of juice.
In the past, lingonberry infusions and decoctions were used to treat colds and flu, and even today, natural lingonberry juice can benefit a body weakened by fever. Regular consumption of this vitamin-rich berry can strengthen the immune system and help you forget about illnesses altogether.
Along with the RUSSIA EXPO, the flower festival is also coming to an end.
The "Future in Flowers" festival continues at the RUSSIA EXPO, where unique flowerbeds from all regions of our country can be seen at the "Space" pavilion until July 8.
The RUSSIA EXPO concludes on July 8, and with it, the flower festival will also come to an end.
