Altai apothecary garden. Altai Republic

The flowerbed display of the Altai Republic is dedicated to one of the traditional activities of the indigenous population—Altai medicine, which is based on the collection of wild medicinal herbs and their cultivation in nurseries, followed by processing into dietary supplements and tinctures according to ancient recipes.

The centerpiece of the flowerbed consists of large ancient boulders with inserts of mirror composite, symbolizing the connection between ancient traditions and innovative technologies. The plants used in the composition grow wild in the mountains of Altai and form the basis of the famous Altai medicine recipes: saxifrage, yarrow, stonecrop, violet, and large rockfoil.

The juniper tree has been chosen as the symbol of the region for the exposition. For the Altai people, juniper (archyn) is the most sacred and revered plant. The Altai people believe that it possesses special purity, holyness, and healing properties. A lit branch of archyn is used to purify the home, cradle, hearth, and to fumigate a sick person. Branches of archyn are also used when seeking help from folk healers, during courtship, and in other rituals. In almost every Altai family, archyn branches are carefully stored year-round.