“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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Tuberous begonia. Tula region
Begonia is a very elegant plant, in which literally everything is beautiful: both flowers and leaves. The main feature of begonias is their lush flowers, which completely cover the plant. The plant is characterized by an incredible variety of flower forms - they can be similar in structure to peony, narcissus, carnation or camellia.
Begonia is a genus of plants in the Begoniaceae family. It is a low herbaceous perennial plant with a rhizome in the form of a bowl-shaped tuber.
The first artificial hybrids were obtained in 1870, and subsequently at least seven species were used for crossbreeding. As a result of this painstaking work, more than 200 varieties of this perennial plant were born.
This flower is classified into trailing, herbaceous, and shrub varieties. However, the most important distinguishing feature is the presence of a developed root, which is formed in the shape of a massive tuber, reaching up to 6-7 centimeters in diameter.
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Viola Wittrockiana. Saint Petersburg
Viola Wittrockiana, a plant from the Violet family, was imported from Japan and Central China and blooms from April to October. Its common name is pansy, violet or Anyuta's eyes in Russian.
Viola is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, including in Russia and Saint Petersburg. It is an undemanding and fairly cold-hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -1 °C, making it the first to be planted in Saint Petersburg. It delights with its first flowers as early as April. Due to its resilience to the challenging climate conditions of Saint Petersburg, viola has no competitors.
In spring flower arrangements, viola takes the lead role. For Victory Day, the city decorates flowerbeds in commemorative places: around memorials, on squares, in city gardens, and parks.
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Siberian iris. Krasnoyarsk region
"Kasatik"... each of us has undoubtedly heard such a tender address to a boy or a man, and, upon hearing it, certainly smiled, because this endearing word sounds remarkably charming! But few know where this address originated. Our ancestors, the Slavs, often used the names of animals, birds, and plants in other, indirect meanings. There are two versions. According to the first, our ancerstors called swallows "kasatiks." Another version states that until the XIX century in Russia, "kasatiks" referred to irises, the botanical name of which came to us much later and was legitimized by Carl Linnaeus. In Greek, "iris" means "rainbow."
Siberian iris is an herbaceous plant with striking green sword-shaped leaves and blue flowers that bloom from late May and sometimes extend into early July. In the wild, it is found in Siberia, the Caucasus, regions of the European part of Russia, Europe, and also in Northern Asia. In culture, it is an indispensable plant for landscape design and landscaping of private and public spaces.
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Sphagnum moss. Karelia
Karelia is one of the marshiest regions of Russia, with swamps covering almost a quarter of the republic's territory. This is a complex and rich ecosystem that is protected by the state.
Moss is found everywhere in Karelia. Sphagnum, or Sphagnum moss (from the Greek "sphagnos," meaning sponge), is a common inhabitant of swamps. In Russia, more than forty species of sphagnum grow.
Sphagnum moss has unique moisture-absorbing properties, capable of absorbing water up to 20 times its mass.
Bog moss has no roots; its cells grow upwards while the lower layers gradually die off. However, they do not rot. Decay is prevented by the phenol contained in sphagnum—an antiseptic that kills bacteria. From the dying parts of sphagnum, raised bog peat is formed. This is how, due to sphagnum and other aquatic plants, lakes become overgrown and swamps appear.
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Linden. Lipetsk region
The linden tree is an undeniable symbol of Lipetsk. The city itself is named after this tree. Lindens are everywhere in the Lipetsk region: on the coat of arms of the city and the region, as a steel tree representing Lipetsk metallurgy, and as a symbol of healthy longevity, nature, growth, and progress.
There is a legend that on the grounds of the ironworks in Lipetsk, near the office of Peter I, grew a centuries-old linden tree. According to the legend, the tsar ordered the tree to be preserved during the construction of the factories: "Under the shade of this linden, our work will progress easily and successfully!"
Linden trees live very long—on average 300–400 years, with some specimens reaching up to 1200 years. Thus, the tree also became a symbol of longevity. Linden trees not only adorn avenues but also serve as a source of medicinal raw materials.
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.
