Fernleaf peony. Ulyanovsk region
The fernleaf peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) is an incredibly beautiful and rare wildflower listed in the Red Data Book. It is recognizable by its large, bright red and dark purple flowers and its needle-like, lacy leaves. The peony is one of the symbols of the Ulyanovsk region and is depicted on the flag of the Radishchevsky urban settlement.
The first shoots of the peony appear early in spring, breaking through the snow, and by the end of summer, the plant reaches half a meter in height. The peak of its blooming season is in late spring when the hills in the south of the Ulyanovsk region are covered with green carpets dotted with scarlet sparks.
It is believed that the fernleaf peony is the very "scarlet flower" that the youngest daughter asked the merchant for in the eponymous fairy tale. Several facts support this version: the Aksakov family estate was located in the Simbirsk region (now the village of Aksakovo, Mainsky district, Ulyanovsk region), and Sergei Timofeyevich drew most of the plots for his works from his life. According to Aksakov, he first heard the plot of the "Scarlet Flower" from the housekeeper Pelageya, a local resident.
Legend has it that if you go to the meadow with your beloved and ask the flower for happiness, your marriage will be long and strong. On the day the wild peony blooms, the Radishchevsky district of the Ulyanovsk region hosts the annual "Wild Peony" festival dedicated to this fairy-tale symbol.
The festival's history began in 2002 when it was first organized by Vladislav Selishchev, a geography teacher from the village of Radishchevo. The place where the peonies grow was later named Selishchev's Hollow after him. The festival is held every year, with its main goal being the revival of Slavic culture and the development of event tourism in the region.
The peony flower has medicinal properties. Most often, the rhizome and bud are used for medicinal purposes. Fresh peony leaves are rich in vitamin C, and all parts of the plant contain flavonoids and tannins. In folk medicine, an infusion of this flower is used to treat anemia, lung, and heart diseases, but it is important to remember that the plant is poisonous, so the dosage must be strictly observed.
Every spring, the Ulyanovsk City Center for Improvement and Greening propagates this valuable plant by dividing the bush.
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.
