“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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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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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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Lilacs. Belgorod region
The Belgorod region can rightfully be considered the capital of lilacs. For several years, local breeders have been meticulously cultivating various varieties of this beautiful plant.
Today, the syringarium at the Belgorod University Botanical Garden boasts more than 500 varieties. Here, lilacs are not only collected but also propagated using the most modern technologies. The laboratory for micro-clonal propagation of lilacs annually sends more than 5,000 test-tube-grown seedlings to nurseries across Russia for further growth. This means that today Belgorod lilacs grow in every corner of our country. Of course, they also adorn the regional capital and other settlements of the Belgorod region.
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Wild rose. Arkhangelsk region
Wild rose (Rosa) is a modest, unpretentious shrub of the Rosaceae family found almost everywhere, except for the Far North. It is valued for the beauty of a large bush, an abundance of greenery and a unique composition of fruits. Due to the richness of vitamins and minerals, rose hips as its fruits are called can rightfully be considered a real Russian superfood.
Wild roses are the wild ancestor of cultivated roses. Wild roses are much more unpretentious and hardy than exquisite hybrid park roses.
In Russia, there are more than 80 species of wild roses. The shrub grows, forming large clumps, often penetrating into populated areas, where it neighbors near fences with elderberry.
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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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Cowslip primrose. Republic of North Ossetia
Cowslip primrose is a perennial herbaceous plant, a species of the genus Primula in the family Primulaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek primus - early.
It is a light-loving plant, characteristic of areas dominated by shrub vegetation, small-leaved and light-coniferous forests. It is also found in mountainous and dry or steppe meadows. Primrose blooms in May-June. It is a medicinal and honey-producing plant. The species is included in many regional Red Data Books of Siberia.
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is also a valuable honey plant.
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.
