The Botanic Garden welcomes visitors with fiery salvia, the first hints of golden autumn foliage, vibrant orange marigolds, and strikingly blue lobelia. The snapdragon beds are bursting with a full spectrum of colors, while magnificent dahlias sway proudly above them. By the pond, St. John’s wort soaks up the sun with its large, amber-yellow petals, and a solitary rose thrives beautifully on the alpine rock garden.
Tricked by the unseasonably warm, summer-like weather, lupines and cornflowers have begun to bloom again in the apple orchard. However, this space is currently dominated by the vibrant, golden hues of goldenrod.
In the "Paradise Garden" area, which showcased a stunning collection of ornamental crabapple trees in May, the trees are now bearing fruit. The tiny, berry-like apples display rich, deep crimson and burgundy shades.
The garden also boasts a brand-new feature: a rutharium. A rutharium is a unique landscape composition crafted from driftwood, stumps, roots, and branches, beautifully integrated with living plants. According to Garden Director Olga Kalashnikova, this area is designed especially with children in mind. A pathway paved with wood slices leads to a clearing where, alongside floral displays, rustic stumps are arranged for seating. It has become a charming gathering spot and a highly atmospheric photo zone.
Inside the greenhouse, the air is rich with tropical fragrances. The Murraya paniculata (orange jessamine) is currently in bloom; its delicate, snow-white flowers emit such a rich, honeyed scent that it feels like stepping into a warm childhood memory, reminiscent of a grandmother’s country home.
The first to appreciate the scale of the renovations were Mark Shleenkov, Acting Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Samara Region; Andrey Ardakov, Head of the Environmental Protection Department of the regional Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology; and Anna Rozenzweig, First Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation at Samara University. They strolled along the newly renovated pathways, inspected the upper pond (now cleared of invasive cattails), and enjoyed a cup of tea in the new rutharium.
Acting Minister Mark Shleenkov noted:
"The story of the Botanic Garden’s renovation began this summer when Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev noted at a government meeting that the administration was receiving numerous concerns from citizens regarding the garden's condition. The greenhouse roof needed repair, and the arboretum required updating, as proper biological and ecological recreational maintenance had not been conducted for a long time. The Governor issued a directive, and the Ministries of Science and Higher Education and Natural Resources stepped in—both financially and by mobilizing volunteers. The garden was temporarily closed for essential agrotechnical work. We tried to accelerate the process as much as possible so people could visit this season. As we can see today, everything looks wonderful, all concerns have been addressed, and we invite the residents and guests of our city to see the renewed Botanical Garden. I must note that our work on developing this beautiful location is far from over."
Andrey Ardakov, Head of the Environmental Protection Department, emphasized that the Samara University Botanical Garden is, first and foremost, a scientific research unit:
"Work is being conducted here to preserve species and subsequently reintroduce rare plants into the wild. It is excellent that we managed to clear the upper pond. It will now serve as a foundation for studying aquatic flora species."
Garden Director Olga Kalashnikova highlighted the intensive work completed over the past two months:
"We carried out extensive clearing of hazardous trees, renovated the pathways, repaired the greenhouse roof, planted new conifers and willows around the ponds, and cleared the upper pond of cattails. Today, we are opening for the second time this year, and we are thrilled to welcome our first visitors. We hope our new feature, the rutharium, will be especially popular with families: children can sit on the stumps and run along the wood-slice path. Welcome!"
Today, several thousand people visited the Botanic Garden, having missed this oasis of pine, oak, chestnut, and birch fragrances amidst the urban hustle and bustle. An impressive 350 visitors (!) toured the greenhouse collection! They listened attentively to the guides, purchased plants at the "Green Fair," meditated by the tranquil pond waters, and enjoyed the crunch of fallen leaves as they leisurely strolled along the paths, discovering the garden's most secluded corners.
Photo: Andrey Pavlov
