Siberian iris. Krasnoyarsk region

"Kasatik"... each of us has undoubtedly heard such a tender address to a boy or a man, and, upon hearing it, certainly smiled, because this endearing word sounds remarkably charming! But few know where this address originated. Our ancestors, the Slavs, often used the names of animals, birds, and plants in other, indirect meanings. There are two versions. According to the first, our ancerstors called swallows "kasatiks." Another version states that until the XIX century in Russia, "kasatiks" referred to irises, the botanical name of which came to us much later and was legitimized by Carl Linnaeus. In Greek, "iris" means "rainbow."

Siberian iris is an herbaceous plant with striking green sword-shaped leaves and blue flowers that bloom from late May and sometimes extend into early July. In the wild, it is found in Siberia, the Caucasus, regions of the European part of Russia, Europe, and also in Northern Asia. In culture, it is an indispensable plant for landscape design and landscaping of private and public spaces.

According to literary data, kasatsy (irises, kasatiks) grew in the upper garden arranged in the Kremlin in the XVII century during the reign of Tsar Peter the Great. The iris was cultivated by Grigory Demidov in the Solikamsk Garden. It is mentioned in the Imperial St. Petersburg Botanical Garden since 1857.

During the war and blockade of Leningrad, the huge collection of perennials, including irises from the Imperial Botanical Garden, practically ceased to exist. In the 1950s, a new stage of studying this plant began in Russia, and by the 1960s, as a result of Georgy Rodionenko's many years of work, the best collection of iris species in the USSR was assembled. In the Krasnoyarsk land, the Timofeev family has gathered a large private collection of various iris species: bearded, Siberian, and interspecific hybrids.

According to legend, the first iris bloomed millions of years ago and was so beautiful that not only animals, birds, and insects came to admire it, but also water and wind, which then spread the ripe seeds all over the earth. And when the seeds sprouted and bloomed, the iris became one of man's favorite plants.

Siberian iris seeds have a sedative effect. A decoction of the root helps with toothache and improves memory. The rhizome of the iris is valued in perfumery and aromatherapy. Irises symbolize femininity and deep contemplation of life in all its manifestations. Irises balance male and female. This flower is a messenger of natural harmony.

The beautiful Siberian iris-kasatik in the regional composition is situated on the pebble bank of the river, as if frozen in time, "embracing" the old boat that has had its day, its leaves swaying leisurely, echoing the wind... A plot seemingly taken from the pages of stories.