“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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Fern, or Common Ostrich Fern. Kemerovo Region
The common ostrich fern (Latin: Matteuccia struthiopteris) is a perennial fern, a species of the genus Ostrich Fern from the Onocleaceae family. This hardy, shade-tolerant ornamental plant is listed in the Red Books of several regions of Russia.
The common name for this fern comes from the resemblance of its fronds to ostrich feathers. The broad, feathery foliage of the ostrich fern is colored in an emerald hue, although the color can range from light green to brown. The height of the plants can range from 1.5 to 2 meters.
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Pansies. Bryansk region
If the beginning of spring was warm and sunny, then as early as in April pansies (called in Russian "Anyuta's eyes") begin to bloom on the meadows and forest edges of the Bryansk region. This is the folk name of the flowers, which botanists call Víola wittrockiána. In the language of flowers, the three colors of the petals have their own meaning: white is a symbol of hope, yellow is for surprise, and purple is for sadness.
Pansies are a long-known, but still popular hybrid of large-flowered European violets.
It is believed that the fashion for pansies in Russia appeared thanks to the work of L. Tolstoy's “Anna Karenina”, in which the main heroine decorated her outfits and hairstyles with these flowers.
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Sunflower. Kherson region
The sunflower belongs to a vast polymorphic genus in the Asteraceae family. The Latin name of the genus, Helianthus, translates to "sun flower."
A sunflower is not just a single flower but thousands of tiny ones, called disc florets, because their centers form perfect spirals. The flowers in the center of a sunflower grow according to a precise mathematical pattern called the golden ratio.
The Russian name (“podsolnukh” that can be roughly translated as “under the sun flower”) arises from the ability of the flower heads to always turn toward the sun. Sunflowers have a special sensitivity to sunlight, which allows their heads to turn throughout the day, following the sun’s path across the sky.
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LILY OF THE VALLEY. UDMURT REPUBLIC
The symbol of musical Udmurtia is the lily of the valley (also called May bells). This flower's theme is closely associated with the great native of Udmurtia, the world's most performed composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Lily of the valley was his favorite flower, perhaps because it bloomed around his birthday, May 7th, in the forest clearings around his hometown of Votkinsk.
The lily of the valley has become the true soul and brand of Udmurtia, the musical symbol of the region. The image of this flower is often found on postcards and festival emblems associated with the name of composer P.I. Tchaikovsky. Many events celebrating the composer take place during the flowering period of the lily of the valley.
The flowers of the lily of the valley are also needed in the perfume industry, where an essential oil with a pleasant aroma is extracted from them.
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Cloudberry. Nenets Autonomous Area
A unique berry called cloudberry grows in the Nenets Autonomous Area. The residents of this polar region consider cloudberries a symbol of the Nenets area, along with reindeer.
Cloudberry (scientific name Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a perennial low herbaceous plant of the Rubus genus, part of the Rosaceae family. This arcto-alpine species grows only in tundras and marshes.
The plant blooms from June to July, and the berries ripen 40–45 days later. The fruit is a semi-spherical aggregate of drupes, fused together, with a distinctive smell and taste. Unripe berries are yellow-red, somewhat firm and "squeaky," while ripe berries are orange, resembling pure, bright amber.
In ancient times, cloudberries were called "swamp amber", "eyes of the swamp", "swamp watchman", and in the north, "royal berry". Folk names for cloudberries include "northern orange", "arctic raspberry", and "moss currant". For the Nenets, cloudberries symbolize femininity. Ornaments depicting cloudberries are placed on baby cradles as a protective charm. There is also a dance ensemble named "Moroshki" in Naryan-Mar, established in 1985.
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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.
