For the 64th time, a wonderful Chrysanthemum Ball started in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (NBS). In 2017, the exhibition features 37 thousand flower bushes. Most of them were placed in the arboretum in the form of a beautiful open flower, which covers an area of 773 square meters. m.
History of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden was established at the beginning of the 19th century and is considered one of the oldest research organizations in the Russian Federation. The Nikitsky Botanical Garden was founded by a famous biologist of that time, whose name was Christian Steven. In order for the garden to be enriched with new plants as quickly as possible, Steven tried to establish business relations with well-known botanical organizations in Europe, the United States of America and Asia. This made it possible to collect original and unusual expositions of species and forms of different cultures on the territory of the botanical garden.
It was understood that the creation of the garden would contribute to and accelerate the pace of development of agricultural production in southern Russia through the introduction of new technologies for its time:
- introductions;
- acclimatization;
- selection;
- wide distribution of southern fruit, flower, ornamental, new industrial crops, medicinal and other useful plants;
- research and active exploration of local plant resources.
3 years after its foundation, the garden began to publish the first catalogs of plants, where 95 types of apple trees, 58 types of pears, 6 berry and 15 ornamental species were published for the purpose of selling. After 12 years, founder Steven was able to collect about 459 varieties of exotic plants. The original layout was designed to allow free planting to blend in with lawns and flower beds.
In 1824, Christian Khristianovich moved to live in Simferopol and decided to transfer the management of the garden into the hands of his assistant Nikolai Andreevich Gartvis, leaving behind the leadership of this organization. The new manager of the botanical garden gave the institution his whole life. For almost 20 years he was its non-replaceable director. Over the years, the collection of the garden has been almost doubled. Relations were strengthened with various trade organizations located in Western Europe and the United States. Gartvis was able to assemble an excellent display of conifers: giant sequoias from California, cedars, cypresses and pines. After 4 years, in order to teach practical gardening, a special school was set up in the garden. Around the same time, fan palms, magnolias, plane trees took root here.
Current State
Significant damage to the NBS was brought by the occupation by German troops duringwar. The military destroyed a huge number of plants. After the end of hostilities in the Nikitsky Garden, work began on the renewal. The head of the institution, having traveled a long way through the cities of Poland and Germany, was able to find and restore the herbarium taken out during the war.
At the time when the institution was part of Ukraine, the herbarium collection located on the territory of the garden was awarded the status of a national treasure of Ukraine.
Since the spring of 2014, Crimea has been annexed to Russia. At the same time, in connection with the decree, the organization "Nikitsky Botanical Garden - Crimean Scientific Center" was created.
Exhibitions of roses, tulips, irises, clematis and daylilies are held on the territory of the garden. In addition, every year a luxurious Chrysanthemum Ball takes place. We will tell you more about it later in our article.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden: Chrysanthemum Ball
On the southern coast of Crimea at the end of autumn, the “golden time” is already coming to an end. And in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden at the Chrysanthemum Ball, a demonstration of a real riot of colors is held, represented by beautiful flowers - chrysanthemums. This year there are 360 types of chrysanthemums on display, 45 of them are new selections.
Chrysanthemum Ball in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden is the traditional end of the flower year. The first time an open-air exposition was presented in 1953. The date of the Chrysanthemum Ball in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in 2017 fell on October 25. In terms of duration, the flower exhibition will take a littlemore than a month, its closure is planned for early December. The exhibition is open every day, seven days a week, starting at 8 am. The price of an entrance ticket for an adult is 300 rubles, for children - 150 rubles.
Central display
The original composition "Petal" appeared with the help of winding paths that frame collectible chrysanthemums, radially diverging from the main flower bed in the form of a circle. The paths, in contact with each other, create curtains - eight "petals". Each is made up of one base color and its many shades, from light to dark.
Being near the central composition, you can see the most common color scheme, which is typical for chrysanthemums. It consists of 8 colors with their different shades: white, yellow, orange, red, crimson, pink, purple and ocher.
New varieties of flowers
In 2017, the Chrysanthemum Ball pleases guests with almost 200 types of chrysanthemums, of which about 50 are bred by the breeders of the botanical garden. New varieties of flowers will be shown to visitors for the first time. New exhibits were planted in separate flowerbeds - 45 small-flowered and 13 large-flowered hybrid forms.
Since 2016, for the first time in the history of the garden, the tradition of giving original names to new flowers has been introduced. This year, any visitor who comes to the botanical garden for the Chrysanthemum Ball can come up with a name for the newflower you like or send your feedback via the Internet.
The exhibition shows various flowers from three parts of the world: America, Asia and Europe. Planted chrysanthemums, according to established custom, will be located in the upper part of the botanical garden at the place where the tulip parade usually takes place in spring.
Queen and Princess Exhibition
Also, according to the custom that originated about 10 years ago, at the end of the exposition, the Queen and Princess of the Chrysanthemum Ball 2017 will be announced. This interesting and kind custom has taken root in the institution, and now the regulars of the exhibition cannot present a flower display without a voting process.
Flower Arrangement
The 2017 Chrysanthemum Ball, which shows off on two main glades in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, surprises visitors with bright colors, various shapes and a rich warm-chalky aroma of 37,000 different plants.
The collection of flowers is a fabulous, magical land. Butterflies fly over dozens of chrysanthemums and bees fly by. The sweet aroma of chrysanthemums has a bewitching effect. Fragrant flowers on a large square give the guests of the botanical garden high spirits, as well as the joy of excellent communication and enjoyment of the impeccability of nature.
