Catch fish and see the Astrakhan Kremlin: colorful and unique flowerbeds of the regions at the "Future in Flowers" festival

The RUSSIA EXPO concludes on July 8, and with it, the flower festival will also come to an end. Don't miss the chance to visit this wonderful event and see the extraordinary flowerbeds of the regions with your own eyes. The floral expositions awaits guests at the "Space" pavilion.

CASPIAN PEARL. ASTRAKHAN REGION

The region's flowerbed highlights its industrial achievements, the development of the transportation system, and, of course, a tourist and cargo ship as a symbol of its transport and logistics potential. The region is a centre of international economic ties for Russia on the Caspian Sea. Light blue and blue flowers at the base of the exposition symbolize the Volga River — the longest river in Europe. In its delta, one can see the region's unique plant — the lotus — and catch another symbol of the area - the vobla (Caspian roach).

A unique feature of the exposition is augmented animated reality. It appears when you point your phone at the QR code on the plaque. Here, you can see bright and juicy watermelons, for which the Astrakhan region is famous, touch a live sturgeon, watch a real Caspian rose — a Red-listed lotus — bloom, and see the Astrakhan Kremlin, a unique architectural monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Photo: provided by the RUSSIA EXPO press office

UNITY. PERM REGION

In the Perm region flowerbed, not only flowers and plants play an important role but also a colorful installation in the form of the letter "P". This symbolizes unity and cooperation: like a bridge over a river, it connects different communities, cultures and ideas in a single space.

For the flower festival, the region chose a special symbolic plant — field horsetail. This perennial relic plant is widespread in the Perm region. Horsetails appeared on Earth 400 million years ago. Field horsetail is used in medicine. Its shoots are rich in microelements, proteins and vitamins. During the Great Patriotic War, field horsetail saved Perm residents from starvation and disease. This valuable plant even has a monument dedicated to it. Many delicacies and the famous Perm pies "posikunchiki" are made from horsetail.

Photo: provided by the RUSSIA EXPO press office

FREE DON. ROSTOV REGION

The Rostov region is a hospitable and colorful area. It was a former Cossack free territory, the land of ancient Greeks and Khazars, a historical crossroads between peoples, cultures, and traditions of the West and East.

The central part of the composition is the art object "Don-Father". Along the banks of the Don, flower compositions represent the living nature. Steppes are on one bank, while agriculture is on the other. The back of the stand features a mini-composition: the riverbank is designed in the "dry stream" style with small dark stones in the foreground. The bank is adorned with reeds and sunflowers nearby. In another corner is a weeping willow with branches reaching "the water".

The composition also features the floral symbol of the region — sage (Salvia from the Latin "salve", meaning "hello" or "be healthy"). In the Rostov region, the steppe sage is most common. It prefers to grow in dry meadows, forest edges and along the edges of roads and fields. The plant's stem, along with its flowers, can reach up to 60 cm in height. Sage has healing properties and is used as a spice for cooking.