“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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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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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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Red-stemmed buckwheat. Penza region
In its development, the Penza region relies on the medical industry and creation of products for health: pharmaceutical goods, biologically active additives, natural cosmetics. At the RUSSIA EXPO, the region is presenting Bashkir red-stemmed buckwheat. The variety was obtained by breeders by selection from various hybrids and is included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements.
Although the birthplace of red-stemmed buckwheat is the Urals region, it is successfully cultivated in the Middle Volga region, which includes the Penza region. Here this unpretentious plant has been cultivated since 2012 and is used as a medicinal raw material. At the moment, red-stemmed buckwheat is cultivated on an industrial scale on 7 hectares of fields located near the villages of Kulyasovo and Mamadysh in the Kameshkirsky district.
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Alpine Bearberry. Kamchatka Region
From late spring to mid-autumn, the plant life of Kamchatka astounds with its multitude of colors and diversity. The geographical location of the peninsula, its humid oceanic climate, and active volcanism influence its formation. The bright, delicate, and resilient flowers of Kamchatka withstand cold sea fogs, extreme temperatures, and strong winds. One of the symbols proving the vitality of Kamchatka’s nature is the Alpine bearberry.
The scientific Latin name Arctous alpina (L.) Niedenzu comes from the Greek Arctous, meaning "northern". This low-growing deciduous shrub, standing 10–50 centimeters tall, is found in the vast tundra and on the rocky slopes at the foot of volcanoes. The resilience of this little brave northerner is highlighted by Kamchatka botanist and researcher at the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve, Maria Otkidach.
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Siberian pine. Tomsk region
The cone, which became the center of the region's composition at the RUSSIA EXPO, symbolizes the heart of the green, rich in forest resources region.
The Siberian pine, or Siberian cedar as it is called in Russia (Latin: Pínus sibírica), was chosen as the center of the composition for a reason. The pine forest occupies one fifth of the forest fund of the region. Siberian pine is one of the most beautiful and majestic trees of Siberia. Siberian pine lives up to 300-500 years, but only at the age of 30-60 years it begins to bear nuts. That is why it is often said that it is a tree for grandchildren. Only the grandchildren of the person who planted it can enjoy its nuts.
Since ancient times, people have considered the Siberian pine to be an animated being. There is a legend about a tired hunter who once camped under an ancient cedar tree in a remote taiga. The cedar was very old, all covered with twisted, crooked branches, and the ground under its crown was covered with a thick layer of fallen needles.
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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.
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.
