“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.
-
Read more
Red clover. Kirov region
The Kirov region is classified as an area of risky agriculture. Therefore, the focus in agriculture is on livestock and fodder crops. Red clover is the most widespread fodder crop in the field grasslands of the Kirov region. Since fodder fields occupy the majority of the arable land in the region, clover flowers are probably the most abundant flowers in the Kirov region.
Red clover (Latin: Trifolium pratense) is a plant from the genus clover (Trifolium), family Fabaceae (legumes), subfamily Faboideae (Papilionoideae).
The Latin name of the plant translates to "three-leaved," as the three leaves are one of its distinguishing features. Four-leaved clovers, which are famous for being lucky charms, are much rarer.
Clover is of great economic importance to the region due to its high yield and nutritional and fodder value. Clover is a source of biological nitrogen accumulation in the soil. Its roots host bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, which assimilate molecular nitrogen and transfer it to the clover in exchange for carbohydrates. Additionally, clover improves soil fertility, as its deep roots extract potassium, calcium, and phosphorus from deep soil layers and leave them in the upper arable layer.
-
Read more
Adams' rhododendron. Irkutsk region
Adams' rhododendron is a small evergreen shrub with a pleasant scent. The flowers are small and pale pink. It is endemic to Eastern Siberia and is listed in the Red Book of the Irkutsk region. The plant is named after the naturalist and botanist Johann Friedrich (Mikhail Ivanovich) Adams, who first described it in his report following an expedition to Eastern Siberia. It does not grow in artificially created environments and is found only in nature.
For the indigenous peoples of Siberia, sagan dailya — as they call Adams' rhododendron - has always been considered a miraculous plant. They prepare a tizan (herbal drink) from it, which was used in magical rituals and ceremonies at the imperial courts of the Qing dynasty in China. In Buddhist mythology, rhododendron is one of the seven plants surrounding the god of medicine and health. Siberian shamans brewed an aromatic drink from it to communicate with the gods. The plant is shrouded in legends.
-
Read more
Cherry tree. Vladimir region
The history of the appearance of the cherry tree on the Vladimir land has several versions, but all of them say that the cherry tree came to us from Byzantium together with Orthodoxy.
According to one version, the first saplings of the southern tree were brought by Andrei Bogolyubsky, according to another - by Athonite monks, according to the third - the cherry was brought in the wagon of the Kiev Metropolitan.
Delicate blossom, exquisite fruits - a tree unseen in Russia was a rare curiosity.
-
Read more
Wheat. Stavropol region
The Stavropol region is the breadbasket of Russia. More than 40% of the region's area is fertile black soil. Many crops are grown here, the most important of which is wheat, the golden queen of the fields.
Wheat, as the world's leading grain crop, is an integral part of the history of the region's development, and its golden ears decorate the coat of arms of the Stavropol region and symbolize prosperity. From year to year the region is among the country's leaders in terms of grain yields.
Folk festivals and main events of the region are connected with wheat: the tradition to celebrate the Harvest Day appeared here as early as in the 20s of the last century. In 2024, the Stavropol region will host the All-Russian Field Day - the largest exposition of achievements of the national agro-industrial complex.
-
Read more
Purple loosestrife. Sverdlovsk region
The king of Ural herbs is the purple loosestrife "Blush" (Latin: Lythrum salicaria). In folklore, this plant is also called "weeping herb." In the "Book of the Dove," Russian spiritual verses from the XV century, it was written that "the weeping herb is the mother of all herbs."
This plant was endowed with magical and healing powers, and quarreling friends would come to make peace with this flower. Crosses made from purple loosestrife were believed to ward off evil forces and protect from arrows, bullets, and swords. People would hang these crosses above doors and windows to keep evil out and prevent nightmares. The stem of the weeping herb, cut at dawn on the eve of Ivan's Day (summer solstice), was used as a talisman by treasure seekers.
Purple loosestrife was also used to predict the weather. Half an hour before rain, the plant would "start to cry." In reality, this "intelligent" plant sensed moisture in the air and released excess liquid. You can check this phenomenon while strolling in the most famous nature park in the Sverdlovsk region, "Deer Streams."
-
Read more
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.
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.
