Kiev Botanical Gardens

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There are several Botanical Gardens in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The most well known are the one named after A.V.Fomin, the "State Botanical Garden", and the "Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine". The latter one is considered the most picturesque in Kiev, containing not only various kinds of plants but also neighbouring the Vydubychi Monastery.



[edit] A.V.Fomin Botanical Gardens

In 1839, the Kiev Shevchenko University opened its own botanica garden. The total area of the botanical garden covers 22.5 hectares (0.225 km²) and contains over 8,000 species of plants, including 143 species recorded in Ukraine's Red Book of Rare Species. In 1977, a 30 meter (98 foot) high glass greenhouse was built inside the garden, which houses the oldest palm trees on Ukraine. In 1935, the garden was named after the academician A.V. Fomin, who directed the garden for many years. The vestibule of the Kiev Metro station Universytet, is located on the northern edge of the garden, which was opened in 1960. (Google Maps link).

Lilacs in the Central Botanical Garden, with Vydubychi Monastery and the Left Bank of Kiev in the background. Photo copyright R. Lezhoev.
Lilacs in the Central Botanical Garden, with Vydubychi Monastery and the Left Bank of Kiev in the background. Photo copyright R. Lezhoev.

[edit] Central Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is also called the Central Botanical Garden. Founded in 1936, it covers 1.3 km² (120 hectares) and contains over 13,000 types of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants from all over the world. It boasts a great amount of coniferous trees and locusts, flowers such as peonies, roses, magnolias, and bushes including lilacs. The garden contains a number of hothouses, conservatories, greenhouses and rosaries. It is the most popular amongst the residents, where one can see exotic plants, attend flower exhibitions, take a stroll along the beautiful lilac and rose alleys and enjoy the exquisite scents and aromas. The time of lilac blossom (end-Spring) is the most popular season in the central garden.

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