“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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European olive. Republic of Crimea
The olive tree has been considered a symbol of peace since the time of the Great Flood. Noah released a dove several times to find out if the Ark would soon reach land. One day, the dove returned with an olive branch in its beak. Noah understood that God had turned His anger to mercy and forgiven humanity. According to legend, the olive tree was the first plant to grow on earth when the flood receded.
In Crimea, the olive tree appeared along with the first Greek colonists in the 2nd millennium BC. Today, the peninsula is home to a centuries-old olive tree recognized as the oldest tree in the region, and hundred- and two-hundred-year-old olive groves are scattered along the southern coast of Crimea. The first Russian olive oil in Crimea was produced in 1826 by order of the imperial court.
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Kaluga rose. Kaluga region
Floriculture is one of the growth points for the Kaluga region. A quarter of all greenhouse flowers in the country are grown here. Special attention is paid to roses: there are more than 60 varieties of them in local farms. And recently the region has got its own special flower - a white rose, which received its name in honor of the regional capital.
The Kaluga rose is a peony-like variety from the Netherlands, which is grown by the breeders of the largest Kaluga flower production company. It all started three years ago with a single flower. Thanks to the experience and talent of local specialists, they managed to breed it. Now it is the top variety for the company and the whole region.
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Snowdrop anemone. Orel region
Anemone sylvestris, or snowdrop windflower (also known in Russian as forest anemone), is a delicate flower of the buttercup family. Its name, "anemos," translates from Greek as "wind." The flower received its airy name due to its weightless petals that flutter at the slightest breeze. In Central Russia, the Orel region boasts large quantities of this Red Book plant, as anemones grow best at the intersection of forest-steppe and steppe zones.
There is a paradox in the "botanists' jokes" series: the forest anemone does not grow in forests, and its relative, the oak anemone, does not grow in oak groves. Forest anemone prefers bright and fairly dry places, it is often found in pine forests and sparse oak groves, as well as at forest edges. However, its delicate flowers are especially stunning among the shimmering feather grasses on steppe slopes. In religious-themed paintings, scarlet anemones are often depicted because, according to legend, red buds grew from Christ's blood after the crucifixion.
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Rhododendron mucronulatum. Primorye region
In spring in cities, forests and hills of Primorye, delicate pink clouds appear. This is the rhododendron blooming. Its delicate flowers represent both the fragility and strength of nature. The Russian folk name of rhododendron is bagulnik, and it is also called the Primorye sakura.
There are more than 10 species of rhododendrons in the Russian Far East, 8 species in Primorye region, and one species that needs protection in Vladivostok suburbs. It is rhododendron mucronulatum (lat. "sharply pointed").
Since 1994, thanks to the proposal of the outstanding botanist of Russia Sigismund Kharkevich, rhododendron mucronulatum has become one of the two symbols of Vladivostok along with the Amur tiger. By the way, Vladivostok is the only city in Russia that has legally approved natural symbols. And in 2024 this plant celebrates a kind of anniversary.
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Flax. Ivanovo region
Flax is a plant that has been the mainstay of the region's economy and life since ancient times. At the beginning of the XX century, the textile industry began to develop on a large scale. Flax was grown in these lands as the main raw material for fabrics. Clothes, porridge, seeds for salads, garden plants - flax had a wide range of uses.
Now a new stage in the industry is emerging with the use of technology and the forgotten raw material — flax. Flax growing and flax processing is a priority for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Ivanovo region. It helps the economic cluster to resume the work of textile industries that use flax as a raw material.
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Edelweiss. Republic of Dagestan
Edelweiss, or Leontopodium, is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant, 12-25 cm high, of the aster family, widespread in the high mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. The scientific Latin name Leontopodium can be translated from Greek as "lion's paw", which is what the appearance of the inflorescence resembles. But the Russian word "edelweiss" is a transliteration from German and means "noble white".
In his monograph "Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of Dagestan" Candidate of Biological Sciences, Professor Shamil Huseynov described in detail this amazing flower, which is a symbol of courage and bravery, as well as pure selfless love among highland peoples. Shamil Abdulkasumovich was awarded the title "Merited Worker of Higher School of the Republic of Dagestan" for his contribution to the study of plants of the region.
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.