Happy holiday, dear subscribers! On this day, I would like to talk about the tree, the symbol of Russia.

Most, of course, will name birch as a truly Russian tree, but this is not so. In 1988, hanging birch (Betula pendula Roth.) Officially became the symbolic tree of Finland.

Officially, Russia does not have a tree – a symbol of the country, but back in 1960, Soviet foresters chose it. At the end of the V World Forestry Congress, which was held in Seattle, they decided to end the event with the creation of the Peoples’ Friendship Park. In the central alley, the delegations of the participating countries were to plant their country’s national tree. Soviet foresters decided that the tree representing the USSR should be Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.).

Why larch? Firstly, larch forests occupy a significant territory in Russia. The ranges of various species of larch, and in the country there are 11 species of this genus, extend from the European part of the country to Sakhalin. Secondly, larch wood is actively used both in construction and shipbuilding. Almost all the buildings of the XVIII century in St. Petersburg stand on stilts made of larch. Strong and even trunks of this tree were used for ship masts. In Peter’s times, Lindulovskaya Grove was laid, which was intended for growing ship woods.

Currently, five copies of two types of larch grow on the territory of the Summer Garden.

All a happy holiday.

#Gardens of the Russian Museum # Mikhailovsky Garden # summer garden # Russian museum #rusmuseum_gardens #igardens