“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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Crowberry. Chukotka Autonomous Area
Crowberry, also known as shiksha, is a genus of evergreen plants in the heather family. It is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, though rare colonies can sometimes be found in South America, particularly on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. The residents of Chukotka highly value and cherish this remarkable berry for its beauty and beneficial properties.
The Russian name "vodianika" (crowberry) is derived from the high water content in its fruits. Crowberries contain vitamin C, as well as caffeic and benzoic acids, which impart powerful antioxidant and restorative properties to the berry. However, it's important to remember that the fruits can accumulate heavy metals, so they should only be gathered in environmentally clean areas, away from roads.
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Rhodiola rosea. Khanty-mansi autonomous area
Rhodiola rosea is a plant from the Crassulaceae family, listed in the Red Data Book of Yugra. In popular usage, Rhodiola is called "golden root" due to its unique medicinal properties and the golden color of its roots. It also has a second name, "rose root," because of its sweet fragrance that closely resembles that of a rose.
In folk medicine, rhodiola has been known to people for several centuries, it is especially popular in the northern expanses of the Russian Urals and Siberia. Rhodiola rosea is often compared to ginseng, although it is much more affordable. It helps the body adapt to adverse environmental conditions and cope with the effects of diseases and stress. It is used to enhance endurance, performance, and longevity.
Interestingly, the plant has always been surrounded by many legends, and the locations where golden root grows were carefully hidden from outsiders.
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Ivan Chai. Novgorod region
Ivan Chai (botanical name — Chamerion angustifolium, also known as Ivan-Tea, fireweed, rosebay willowherb) is a perennial and fast-growing herbaceous plant widespread in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Ivan Chai grows in the Novgorod region, where it is collected in the pristine and protected forests of the region.
Ivan Chai has a dense rhizome and a straight stem that reaches up to two meters in height, narrow wedge-shaped leaves, and pinkish-purple inflorescences. In summer, it can be found not only in the forest but also in gardens, as it easily adapts to both shade and open sunlight.People have valued this plant since ancient times. The gathering of this medicinal herb takes place from mid-June to mid-July during the flowering period. In August-September, the inflorescences are covered with fluff, thin white hairs of seeds that emerge from the mature, pod-like fruits. All parts of the herb, from the flowers to the roots, are considered medicinal.
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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.
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Pontic rhododendron - an ancient ornament of the Adygea land
In the Republic of Adygea one can admire the blossoming of high-mountain vegetation - there is an abundance of Caucasian rhododendrons, primroses, anemones and a couple of dozens of other plants, many of which are unique relics and endemics.
Rhododendrons belong to the Heather family and are related to Ledum, cranberry, bilberry and lingonberry; they have medicinal properties. Modern medicine counts at least nine medicinal species among them.
Pontic rhododendron (Latin: Rhododendron ponticum) is a dense creeping multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 1.5-2.5 m, with evergreen leathery leaves of rich color. Flowers are 5 cm in diameter, purple, often with small greenish-yellow spots or veins, fragrant; collected in large ball-shaped inflorescences at the ends of shoots. Each of them contains from 8 to 20 flowers.
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Yarrow. Tver region
The Tver region is a land of dense forests, gentle rivers, quiet lakes, and lush meadows. Many meadow herbs are medicinal plants, such as common yarrow. Yarrow is still actively used in folk medicine today. It is taken internally as a remedy for regulating metabolism, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and sleep disorders.
Yarrow is a large genus of the Asteraceae family, comprising about 150 species. The common yarrow, or woundwort (Latin: Achillea millefolium), is the type species of the yarrow genus. The genus name derives from Achilles, the mythical hero who used yarrow to heal wounds. The species epithet (mille - thousand, folium - leaf) refers to the plant's numerous leaf segments. The plant is widespread in Europe and Asia and has been introduced to other continents. In cultivation, yarrow is grown as an ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic 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.
