“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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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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Kamchatka bilberry. Sakhalin region
Kamchatka bilberry (Latin: Vaccinium praestans) is an endemic plant of the Sakhalin region, a wild berry bush from the genus Vaccinium of the Heath family. Locally, this berry is called "klopovka" (lit. "tick's berry"). This unusual Sakhalin berry is distinguished by its large, bright red fruits. The skin is smooth to the touch and glossy. The juicy pulp is edible, but it is usually not consumed raw.
Klopovka shrubs grow near trees in mixed forests and bogs. The plant's shoots can lie on the ground, hidden among grasses and mosses.
The berry picking season is late summer to early autumn. By August, the fruits acquire their characteristic bright red color, and in September, they may darken to a burgundy hue. Berries harvested in August-September have a high concentration of beneficial substances.
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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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Lingonberry. Leningrad region
Lingonberry (Latin: Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a small evergreen shrub of the Vaccinium genus in the Heath family. Lingonberry leaves are covered with a dense, glossy skin, and the dark red berries are known for their health benefits and bright, sour flavor.
Lingonberries grow in various regions of Russia, but they are especially abundant in the Leningrad region. In the fall, the forests here are covered with red carpets of lingonberries, and local residents go on quiet hunts for these tasty and healthy berries. The best harvest usually occurs in September when the fruits are full of juice.
In the past, lingonberry infusions and decoctions were used to treat colds and flu, and even today, natural lingonberry juice can benefit a body weakened by fever. Regular consumption of this vitamin-rich berry can strengthen the immune system and help you forget about illnesses altogether.
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Venus slipper. Kostroma region
Venus slipper (lady's-slipper orchid) of the orchid family is a perennial herbaceous plant.
It is found in semi-shade under the forest canopy, less often in open spaces. It stops blooming in heavy shade. It grows in sparse pine, spruce, broad-leaved, small-leaved and mixed forests, as well as in glades and forest edges, bushes, forest and mountain meadows, forested green-moss and sphagnum bogs.
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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.
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.
