City trees are organically connected with architectural monuments, historical events, parks, or natural forest areas, included within the city limits. After all, it would be so simple - to create a register of the most significant natural monuments of Kyiv, including old relict trees, not forgetting to order historical research from Kyiv art historians, publishing them in one form or another. We have a similar list of natural monuments that were approved by decisions of the Kyiv City Council, starting in 1972, included in the “Program for the integrated development of the green zone of Kiev until 2010 and the concept of the formation of green spaces in the central part of the city,” developed by “ Institute Kievgenplan" in 2004. However, it is far from complete, does not take into account many aspects, and is intended for a limited circle of specialists. In Germany, in almost every locality, there is a similar register, with historical and scientific information, and is available to any resident. In order for this to happen in our country, it is necessary, first of all, to love Kyiv and be responsible for its fate, which, unfortunately, cannot be noted among some high-ranking city officials, from whom one can only hear the words “samose”, “thickets”, “wastelands” related to the green areas of the city. These officials, as a rule, believe that only serious financial investments will be able to “cultivate” an already existing green area, cutting down old oak trees and planting (or sometimes not planting) young seedlings, as happened, for example, in the historical park of the Polytechnic Institute. (According to the youth branch of the National Environmental Center of Ukraine, in the park, under the guise of its reconstruction, 5 oak trees with a diameter of more than one meter, which were the same age as the institute itself, were destroyed, many specimens of white acacia and other large trees) There is an obvious flaw in the cultural — educational education of these officials, starting from childhood. After all, there are the concepts of “relict trees”, “environmental protection zones”, “landscape architecture”, “wild nature”, “natural habitat”, “organic architecture” - and all of them relate to modern urban planning principles, the basics of economic management. Particularly relevant, in our difficult time of rapid development of Kyiv, is the information saturation of residents on environmental issues of the urban environment in general, and the state of parks, environmental and green areas of Kyiv in particular. True, this would greatly complicate the already difficult life and professional activities of city officials who are directly dependent on the construction industry, and deputies at various levels who lobby for it. Well, such is their difficult fate!
The fate of trees in Kyiv is also not easy. Here, for example, is the oldest decorative tree in Europe, Poplar, which is distinguished by its ability to get along with people - after all, it especially likes to grow to significant sizes in places where the latter gather - in squares and boulevards. This is why the plant gets its Latin name Populus – “folk”. The path to the development of this tree began in Persia, Greece, southern Ukraine and, finally, Kyiv, where it became very beloved by its inhabitants. Especially pyramidal, which reaches the height large sizes, and contrasts with the low urban development typical of Ukraine in the 18th – 19th centuries. In addition, the pyramidal poplar resembles the cypress trees depicted in Greek icons, which makes it especially popular among believers. Arose in the middle of the 19th century. Boulevard Highway (Bibikovsky Boulevard, also known as Shevchenko Boulevard) was originally planted with chestnut trees, which were beginning to come into fashion in those days. However, by order of Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, chestnuts, as sedition, were replaced with a pyramidal poplar, in which he saw an imperial symbol, and, allegedly, everything happened in one night. In turn, the people of Kiev did not miss this moment - they picked up chestnut seedlings and planted them in less official places, which they liked more in their simple understanding. It is believed that it was from this time that the rivalry between poplar and chestnut began as a symbol of Kyiv. For a century and a half now, there has been T. Shevchenko Boulevard with pyramidal poplars, which stretches for several kilometers and surprises with its monumentality and vitality. There have been attempts to replace and enhance its flora with American maple and chestnut. The boulevard has undergone several reconstructions. Quite recently, for some reason, a privet bush was cut down, which seemed to protect the trees from the traffic flows of modern civilization, and created some atmosphere of intimacy - after all, the poplar, according to Ukrainian mythology, is a symbol female destiny, has mysterious healing properties and protects against negative phenomena. Maybe this is the influence of Western fashionable “lawn culture” in the landscape of Kyiv? This summer, I had to see something similar - a huge, carefully manicured green lawn, bordered by a granite retaining wall adjacent to the Dnieper, in Koncha-zaspa, in front of private property " powerful of the world this”, on artificially reclaimed banks. In this area, a whole industry arose from dredgers, barges, excavators, dump trucks for the destruction of natural spawning grounds, protected water meadows, with lush grasses and flowers. Moreover, the destroyers of nature, they are simply poachers, took sand from the bottom of the Dnieper Bay, in the immediate vicinity of the building area, where underwater quarries were formed, over 18 meters deep, into which natural, tree-covered islands began to slide. The picture is not for the faint of heart!
In Kyiv, the largest, a giant black poplar, noticed and included in the register of natural monuments of Kyiv, during the construction of the “drop” in the Hydropark, grew not far from the Venetian channel. The tree is striking in its scale. I was also struck by the drama that was playing out on the same island, not far from the famous restaurant “Mlyn”, which strangely began to “conquer” the coastal area with small “mlyn” venues for people unknown to Kiev residents sports games like minigolf on artificial turf. It is here, where the Venetian channel meets the Desenka, that one of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Kyiv exists. To verify this, just look to the right when crossing the bridge in a metro car that runs from the Levoberezhnaya station to the Gidropark station. On an area of more than 2 hectares, the “Cultural and educational model complex “Kyiv in miniature” is being created, so that we Kievans and our guests will fall in love with the city, its history and architectural monuments even more - look in miniature and fall in love! The truth is created according to laws and rules that you don’t want to get used to - cutting down “unnecessary trees”, completely “removing the top layer of earth” for a bulldozer, asphalting access roads for mass bus and excursion services for tourists, with a possible visit to the above-mentioned restaurant. Or maybe this is the whole secret of the emergence of the “complex”, its business plan? The project has passed all approvals from city services, except for one thing - what will the people of Kiev say?
And the opinion of the townspeople must be taken into account. At one time, the people of Kiev said that they liked chestnuts more than poplars, and in the end they won. Even for some time, a chestnut branch decorated the city flag. In Europe, the chestnut tree became famous after the English architect Christopher Wren created a chestnut alley of 17 trees on the banks of the Thames in Bushey Park near London in 1799, and soon “Chestnut Festivals” began to be held there. In Kyiv, a similar thing happened in 1842 on the central alley of the University Botanical Garden. However, if you compare the famous chestnut tree in the Kitaevskaya desert, it looks almost twice as old as the university ones. Apparently, chestnuts decorated the estates of Kyiv monasteries starting from the 18th century. and then the townspeople liked them and became popular.
The Kitaevskaya Hermitage is located on a picturesque hill on the shore of a pond, opposite a hill covered with centuries-old forest, and just 9 kilometers from the city center. It was founded back in the 16th century. monks of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The Trinity Church, designed by the architect S. Kovnir, near which the oldest and most powerful Kiev chestnut tree grows, was built in 1767. In 1829, according to the project no less famous architect A. Melensky, a four-tier bell tower with a high spire was erected. Nearby arose monastery buildings with a warm church, a brick abbot's house, a house for pilgrims and the poor, and a hospital. Today, part of these buildings is occupied by the Institute of Horticulture of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, where another century-old tree grows - Japanese Sophora. A cascade of picturesque lakes adjacent to the Kitaevskaya desert complements the indescribable impression of what you saw. The Upper Lake is even included in the register of natural monuments of Kyiv, approved by the Decision of the Executive Committee of the City Council. Imagine a thin path winding along the steep shore of a lake, among relict trees, bent over no one and undisturbed by anything. water surface, except perhaps a brood of wild duck. This is a must see, preferably in the fall. The overall emotional impression is somewhat reduced by the pollution of the shores of the cascade lakes - a favorite place for spontaneous outings of barbecue lovers. But this is a fixable matter, and we are not used to it. Another thing to note large quantities crucian hunters. As for me, they fit quite well into picturesque landscapes this amazing Kyiv landscape.
Linden trees were no less popular in Kyiv. They were specially planted in prominent places for beauty, or near temples, where they became sacred. For example, the old Kiev linden is an ancient tree growing near historical museum since the times of the Grand Dukes, at the remains of the foundations of the Church of the Tithes. Or the linden tree growing in the Far Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, near the Annozachatyevskaya Church, which, according to legend, was planted by one of the founders of the Lavra, Theodosius. At least, their age is expressed in a very impressive figure - 1000 years. Whether this is true or not, we will not know as long as the tree lives - after all, only by the number of annual rings at the base of the trunk can one determine its age. The largest linden garden appeared in Pechersk at the Klovsky Palace in the mid-18th century. During the massive construction of this area with mansions, which justifiably acquired the name “Lipki,” the old park alley that led to the palace (Lipskaya Street) was preserved and arranged in the form of a boulevard. This is how the first boulevard in Kyiv, planted with linden trees, arose. Ordinary Kiev residents also loved this tree. It was believed that it could take on some of the curses of wives on their husbands, and that is why there are so many growths on the linden tree. At the same time, linden has symbols of kindness and sincerity. In the old days, strollers for girls were made only from linden, and for boys from oak. Linden posts are also known in history, which were not only comfortable as shoes, but also protected their wearer from wild animals - even the scent of a wolf did not pick up human traces, which was very useful on the hunt and in life, in those difficult times.
Here in Pechersk, on Lutheranskaya Street, after the devastating fire of 1811 in Podol, a German Lutheran community arose. This Kiev community was founded in Podol, starting in 1767, in a house near the Florovsky Monastery, where the German pharmacist Georg Friedrich Bunge once lived and worked. By the middle of the 19th century. on the “German mountain” there already existed the Church of Catherine of Alexandria, which in 2000 was beautifully restored by the German-Ukrainian company ARCUS. In those distant times, the community numbered 354 members, and today there are 450 parishioners registered in the active church. It should be noted the amazing friendliness, cleanliness and modesty in the interior design of the church, in which, for the convenience of parishioners, there is even a modern kitchen block. Amazing in its beauty and modern design stained glass windows in the altar of the church. All this creates a harmony of simplicity and accessibility to God. Stop by the Lutheran Church on Lipki, you won’t regret it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
On the same Lutheranskaya street, in the courtyard opposite the church, two noteworthy trees were discovered - a beautiful silver poplar, and a rather powerful oak tree growing on the mountainside, next to a house from the beginning of the last century. This oak, with its presence, raised a logical question - who came first - the oak or the house? And, of course, he recalled that the slopes of the Kyiv hills belonged to the plant world.
One of the natives of the German community, Saxon Wilhelm Gottlieb Christer (1812 - 1890), left a noticeable mark on the preservation and development of the flora of Kyiv. In 1850, in the Windy Mountains region, the company “V. Christer Gardening and Seed Farming” was founded. This farm became famous not only for the people of Kiev, but also for the whole of Ukraine - there were nurseries there fruit trees , vegetables and flowers, dairy farming, the best apiary in Kyiv, fish were bred in the lake, robots were carried out to acclimatize grapes. 300 varieties of apples and pears were imported from Belgium, an orchard was established, and books on gardening were published. After the death of the company's founder in 1890, his father's business was continued by his sons, Edmund and Julius. They founded new nurseries in Nivki, Vinogradar, and had several stores in Kurenevka, Podol and Khreshchatyk. History is silent about what happened during the years of the revolution, but it is known that in 1925, in the former Kristerov garden, a children's labor colony was located, which later became an agronomic seven-year school. Nowadays, this historical area on the street. Vyshgorodskaya 45, between st. Osipovsky and Polupanov is called “Kristerovaya Gorka” and the agricultural company of flower and ornamental crops “Troyanda” is located here. And in the yard on the street. Osipovsky 3, the most beautiful and tall Kiev “Christer oak” is growing. With delight, they even measured the circumference of the giant tree’s trunk - 5 meters, 96 centimeters. On the contrary, across the road grows a spruce of the same amazing beauty. It seems to me that it was not for nothing that the Saxon Christer founded the agricultural company on the Vetryanye Gory. After all, the road from Shchekavitsa on Podol to the St. Cyril Church passed through the most picturesque area, called by the people of Kiev “Kiev Arcadia”. The further located areas - Kurenevka and Priorka, were called “Kyiv Italy”. The inhabitants of these areas were very poetic, sang beautifully, were wealthy and independent. Their small estates were surrounded by gardens. The vegetable gardens produced good harvests. Wealthy Kiev residents made trips to Kurenevka, Priorka, Wind Mountains and further to the City Forest - Pushcha-Voditsa. Many people stopped by the open park of the Kin Sad dacha to admire the views of Kyiv and the surrounding area from Knyazha Gora. It should be noted that in the Priorka area, where the street begins. Vyshgorodskaya, there is an amazingly beautiful birch grove, and a little higher, on the mountain, a giant oak grows among old pines. Unfortunately, these relict trees cannot be seen from Vyshgorodskaya Street, and few people know about their existence. At least their condition, especially the hollow oak, is crying out for help. In the upper part of this grove, boundaries are not established, at least not marked, which allows private developers to advance on the green zone in an organized front. The mighty oak trees on the same street, near the cinema named after. T. Shevchenko. Here begins a park and green area with private buildings and lakes.
Since we found ourselves in this historical agricultural part of the city of Kyiv, we have no right not to go to the Kin-Sadness park, especially since we mentioned it a little higher. This park is located in a once picturesque area, in the area of the current T. Shevchenko Square. At the end of the 18th century. here was the dacha of the head of the Kyiv Arsenal, engineer and writer, lieutenant general M. S. Batichev. Later, the dacha became the property of the Pereyaslavl landowner P. Ya. Lukashevich, who, starting in 1838, settled in “Kin-Grust” for permanent residence with several serf families. In general, the name of the area “Kin-sadness” is associated (although the data is unconfirmed) with the next visit to Kyiv by Catherine II. It is known that the empress did not like Kyiv, did not understand, or did not want to understand its nature in the literal and figurative sense. I dreamed of wiping Podol off the face of the earth and building new city on the Pechersk Hills in the style of St. Petersburg. And I was very sad about it. But, once finding himself in a picturesque area, and climbing the Prince’s Hill (from which, according to legend, Kyiv princes loved to explore the surroundings) exclaimed to her next favorite - “Throw away the sadness, look how beautiful it is”! So it was or not - we will never know. But someone said this phrase! So, through the efforts of P. Ya. Lukashevich and his serfs, perhaps the only English-style park in Kyiv with lawns, a lake, and secluded natural groves arose. Greenhouses also appeared here, where exotic plants were grown, and livestock was grazed on the green lawns. There were many fruit trees and shrubs too. There was everything from pineapples to lingonberries. There was a gazebo on Prince's Mountain - a favorite place for Kiev residents to view. Let me remind you that this amazing park has always been constantly open to visitors of citizens of all classes. (let’s not compare modern dachas of rich people in Pushcha-Voditsa, behind green high and strong fences - after all, we already live in the 21st century!) All other Kyiv parks resembled old German ones - with dense shady alleys, garden beds, plantations of medicinal plants, complex garden and park heaps, valleys of roses, terraces and so on. And this is not surprising. We already know about the existence of German Lutheran settlers in Kyiv! The current state of the park "Kin-sadness" causes, excuse the pun, sadness, as, indeed, everything in Kyiv's historical natural heritage. It became especially sad after seeing a cottage-type facility being built directly in the park area by a high-ranking official from the field of justice - the prosecutor of the Shevchenkovsky district of Kyiv. What can we say about the simple developers of the Shevchenko village on the Wind Mountains, who are advancing on the park green area! Apparently there is someone to follow by example!
However, for the majority of Kiev residents living on the Windy Mountains, Priorka, Vinogradar, Kurenevka, their small Motherland, surrounded by gardens, is truly a road. And it is not surprising that in front of residential multi-storey buildings, they, in their own way own initiative, front gardens with shrubs and flowers are laid out, fruit trees are planted. This phenomenon has become the norm in other residential areas of Kyiv. The Ukrainian soul, suffering from modern urbanization, requires the aesthetics of the soul: after all, cherry is a symbol of mutual love, spring, beauty and courage. Pear - due to its prickliness, symbolizes mysterious supernatural forces that influence the birth of children, is the patron of virginity, a symbol of a lonely girl and her sadness. The apple tree is a symbol of love and fertility.
But the oak, according to Ukrainian mythology, in ancient pagan times, was considered the tree of the god of thunder and lightning Perun. He is valued for his strength and beauty. This is the most durable tree in Ukraine. In Volyn there is an oak tree that is 1300 years old, in Cherkasy region it is a little younger – 1100 years old. In Kyiv, in addition to the aforementioned giant oaks on Priorka and the Windy Mountains, similar ones grow in the Golosievsky forest, on Lysaya Gora, in the Pokol tract, Galerny Island, Zhukov Island, Koncha-Zaspa and other places.
One of them, a handsome man, grew up near the road on Suvorov Street, in Pechersk, in front of elite residential buildings that were built on the site of a former hippodrome. More precisely, the oak grew first, and then everything else. Near this long-lived oak there is an information plate and a road sign with an up arrow - they say, pay attention, it deserves it! He was lucky in that he was two steps away from the Pechersk administration. The other two were not so lucky. In the same area, there are two more giant oak trees on Nemirovich Danchenko Street, which look older, but they are not included in the register of natural monuments, since they are located in courtyards, and from the street only their majestic crowns are visible, invisible to the eye of a city official. They have been growing for a long time - two hundred years...
But the oak tree - a long-liver on Industrialnaya Street 2, near the Shulyavskaya metro station, despite the poor conditions of its current natural habitat - a busy highway, the production buildings of the Bolshevik plant - looks quite confident, has spread its trunky crown widely, and rises above the neighboring building of the Stalinist era. The circumference of this four-hundred-year-old oak tree at the base is 470 cm. Perhaps this is the only relict tree I have seen in Kyiv, fenced with a decorative fence made of chains. All the rest grow themselves just like in the forest. By the way, this mighty oak tree is watching the events taking place in the park, on the other side of the highway. The people of Kiev know from numerous publications that local residents stood up to defend the only public garden in this industrial area. A pit has already been dug here for the construction of an office and residential multi-storey center, which initially provided for the complete destruction of the green zone. But only thanks to public intervention, part of the park was saved. The rest of the area, where construction robots are carried out, is guarded by “public relations managers,” or so they introduced themselves to me. Don’t think that I was scared of short-haired young men in black jackets and with strange, hard looks, without any emotions. I just didn’t want to take the camera out of my bag (I’ve become very attached to it over the past few years!) in order to perpetuate the dug pit, however, after I heard a simple question from the “managers” - “what are you doing here?”
Finding myself again in Pechersk, at the building of the former military governor-general, an architectural monument of the 18th century, on 29 January Uprising Street, I calmly and confidently took the camera out of my bag to capture the tall and beautiful ash tree that had grown right at the entrance. After all, this tree species is considered “male” and is a symbol of war. An ash branch was once sent to the enemy, which meant the beginning of hostilities, or the last warning. But, at the same time, being in his shadow, a person must experience peace of mind and all sorts of relief. It is known that this building is located in the center of the former Kyiv fortress. Despite the powerful fortifications and the scale of the fortress, its cannons were never fired. Well, that's how it happened. Apart from the mass resettlement of citizens of the Pechersk town to the valley of the Lybid River, to begin the construction of fortifications, other “military actions”, starting from the beginning of the 18th century, were not noticed in this place in Kyiv. Today, the relict ash tree stands on duty on a slightly different front - cultural. In the building, partially restored, the Ukrainian Center relatively recently began its exhibition activities folk culture"Ivan Gonchar Museum". I advise you to get acquainted with the unique modern exhibition, where traditional Ukrainian objects of folk culture are exhibited, collected by the artist, public figure and collector Ivan Gonchar, on the principle of the highest artistic and aesthetic quality of the exhibit itself, and not forgetting to look at the sentry before entering - the handsome ash tree!
The flora of the military hospital on the street is very interesting and picturesque. Shchorsa 2, especially in the fall. In this area, thanks to the “military presence”, both buildings, architectural monuments of fortifications of the mid-18th century, and relict trees - white poplars, centuries-old maple-sycamore trees, chestnuts - have been preserved. This area of Kyiv, from Lesya Ukrainka Boulevard (Dog Trail) to Cherepanova Gora at the stadium, and Vladimir-Lybidskaya Street, began to be built up only in the 50s of the last century, displacing numerous military warehouses, car depots, and repair shops. The development of the construction industry at that time did not allow global changes in the natural topography of the city, filling up holes, numerous streams, and lakes. Therefore, the groups of houses along Shchorsa Street (Novo-Gospitalnaya) were surrounded by greenery, on the territory of the upper field of the stadium and the adjacent military hospital; in those days, relict forests, oak groves, maples and chestnuts grew. It was part of this rich flora that was preserved in the military hospital. There is much less at the Central Stadium. But during reconstruction, restoration and recreation museum complex“Kiev Fortress”, adjacent to the military hospital at the bottom of Lesi Ukrainka Boulevard, ramparts with cannons appeared, but the trees disappeared. At the very least, the huge area of paving stones in front of the horseshoe-shaped building of the museum is in disharmony with the picturesque alleys and groups of preserved trees of the hospital.
The flora of Kyiv is interesting, amazing and diverse, which today is classified as five dozen natural monuments within the city. Among them are whole oak or birch groves, lakes with trees overgrown around them, and individual representatives, mostly trees, that are long-lived. It is interesting that blue spruces and smerekas, planted relatively not so long ago, on Khreshchatyk 36, and growing in front of the Kyiv administration building, are probably included in the approved register of natural monuments of Kyiv. I don’t want to offend them too much, but it seems to me that there are other, more significant examples of the city’s flora, and there are many more of them, and they require no less of our attention than on Khreshchatyk or Suvorov Street. Geological and natural conditions ideal for increased development of urban green areas. Unless, of course, you plant them in alluvial areas in the sand (Poznyaki Park), while covering natural lakes and water meadows with construction waste, with lush flora on centuries-old muddy soil, and hundred-year-old willows, as is happening now in Poznyaki-3. As a rule, architects formally draw stylized trees on their tablets, which depict the facades of the project being designed, without thinking about the essence of what is happening. This is just for scale. Well, we’re used to it, it’s accepted. All the same, even if the existing trees are taken into account and depicted correctly, the builders will do it in their own way! Builders, especially “modern Varangians,” often do not act very nobly. You can touch an already living tree with an excavator, cut off its root system - today I’m here, and tomorrow at another site, and in the fall, I’ll return home - everything here is foreign to me! The main heating network on Pushkinskaya Street was reconstructed. I doubt that old and recently planted trees will survive this. Spring, however, will tell. But on Reitarskaya Street the opposite happened. There was a man who was not indifferent to the fate of Kyiv, who invested his own money in planting about a dozen linden trees. This is probably what will happen in the world in the near future. One plants, and the other breaks. I wish there were immeasurably more people planting trees...
The carelessness and irresponsibility of some of our managers
cities, with rapid socio-political changes, led to a real threat of environmental disaster. This is where selfishness manifests itself. market economy, which is the source of life and at the same time can destroy its foundations, as well as its own. You cannot isolate yourself from the outside world with a high fence, growing your own greenhouse garden, solve your own economic problems, ignoring the laws of nature, of which we are a part. After all, the world is not determined only by the human world, and the living space that surrounds us belongs not only to us, but also to the world of trees, herbs and flowers, not to mention squirrels, birds, or dogs and cats tamed by us. This is by no means a manifestation of sentimentality. Quite the contrary - after all, looking at what is happening, one gets the impression that global, sometimes catastrophic changes in the urban environment involve people who not only do not understand it, but also do not like it. True, love alone is not enough. It is necessary for society to create such conditions “so that the economy can set goals and boundaries, not just the economy,” said the German philosopher, representative of the practical philosophy of nature and environmental ethics, Klaus Michael Maer-Abich. And he also said that “it is not man who is the measure of all things, but everything that surrounds us is the measure of our humanity.” I would like us to become more responsible for the world around us, for the unique city of Kyiv - its beauty, nature, future. We are lucky - we live in a beautiful city among trees, and maybe trees grow in the city because they love it too!
Plants - symbols of Ukraine- quite a lot. Just as it is impossible to imagine Russia without birch, larch, rowan and chamomile, so the beauty of Ukraine is personified by: viburnum, oak, willow, cherry, poplar, periwinkle and marigold.
Kalina.
Since ancient times, it has been considered not only a symbol of girlish beauty and tenderness, but also a symbol of life, blood, and fire. It was viburnum that was used to decorate a wedding loaf, and viburnum along with oak was embroidered on a wedding towel (rushnik) - thus uniting the fragility of femininity and masculine strength.
As already mentioned, oak is a symbol of strength, durability and power. Mothers embroidered oak leaves on their sons' shirts so that the child would grow up strong and strong. And they even slept on oak benches, which, according to legend, increased strength.
Willow or pussy willow.
This tree was so revered in Ukraine that it was even immortalized in the name of the sixth week of Lent - Palm Week. The willow is considered a symbol of spring, joy, life, health, and fertility. People believed that willow could relieve headaches, heal wounds and even cure infertility.
Cherry.
Cherry is a symbol of the native land, mother, mutual love. The blossom symbolized the bride, the berries symbolized children and mother, and the cherry orchard symbolized family happiness. In ancient times, the cherry was considered the world tree of life. The New Year's celebration on March 21 was associated with it. The tree was planted in a barrel in the fall and left in the house. And already in March, it bloomed, and by the way the cherry blossoms, the girls wondered what awaited them in the New Year.
Poplar.
The symbol of stateliness and youth is the poplar. It was with the poplar that the slender figure of a girl and the unfortunate woman’s lot were compared. According to legend, this is beautiful tree there was once a girl who turned into a poplar (poplar), looking out long days and at night your beloved from the hike.
Periwinkle.
According to legend, this lovely flower received its name as a sign of respect for the love of the young man Bar and the girl Venka. Therefore, first of all, it is a symbol of eternal love - after all, periwinkle turns green even under the snow. It was planted near the house, and the girls always wove periwinkle into their wreaths.
Marigold.
Marigolds or Chernobrivtsy. According to legend, the mother had little sons - black-browed handsome boys. One day, when the mother was not at home, the Tatars attacked the village and kidnapped the boys. Returning home and not finding her sons, the mother searched for them for a long time, and soon found bodies torn by enemies, which she buried in the garden, near the house. Soon beautiful flowers grew in that place - Chernobrivtsy, which every morning, like sons, reached out to their mother, who watered them with tears.
These are ours Symbolic plants in Ukraine- our shrines.
This is, first of all, viburnum. Blooming cherry
Famous lines of Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko
Poppy, periwinkle, mallow. Of course wheat— it symbolizes the yellow color on our flag.
But chestnuts are rather a symbol of Kyiv.
There are many plants that are symbols of our country. And they are sung about in many of our songs. Weeping willow over the river, viburnum. Thorn bushes. Among the flowers I can name lily, periwinkle, poppy, and cornflower. Fruit trees include cherry and apple. And there is also a valley of daffodils not far from me.
The first thing that comes to my mind is, of course, a sunflower :) It seems to me that this is the most beautiful and in color the most positive representative of the flora of our country :)
It’s probably worth writing about Kyiv chestnuts :)
Without verbiy Kalini there is no Ukrani... This is a line from a verse, I don’t remember it completely, but this line displays the symbols of Ukraine. The coat of arms also uses ears of wheat; it can also be considered a plant symbolizing our region rich in black soil.
Although, if you think about it carefully, you can find many such plants. For example, Bukovina is called that because there are a lot of beeches there, and the Carpathians can be symbolized by smereka. Where would we be without sunflowers - that sun of the steppes :)
And also the periwinkle, since ancient times it has been considered a symbol of our people and is present at all holidays, from weddings to funerals (however, this is exactly the same in the West, as in the East with this tradition, I don’t know). These are our symbols :)
Ukraine-nenka is the most beautiful country. And it has many symbols. It's not about state emblem or flag. But about something completely different, close and dear.
We know that when tulips are mentioned, Holland is always remembered, and a maple leaf reminds of Canada.
And there is no Ukraine without willow and viburnum. They are the symbols of our homeland.
Viburnum, poppy flowers and periwinkle have always been considered a symbol of Ukraine; images of these plants and flowers can often be found on Ukrainian national shirts - embroidered shirts, and in addition they were sung by many Ukrainian writers and poets.
Chestnut! The chestnut is a symbol of Kyiv, and Kyiv is the heart of Ukraine. If you dig into history, you can find many legends about this connection. And it’s already known that Kyiv is a city of chestnut trees, this is not visible to the naked eye))) I live in the Kyiv region. and the city is planted with these very trees.
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning plants that are symbols of Ukraine is willow and viburnum. There is even such a saying: Without willow and viburnum there is no Ukraine. You can also cite many crops associated with Ukraine: mountain ash, birch, chestnuts, apple trees, pears, blackthorn, sunflower, cornflower, poppy and many others.
One of the famous plant symbols of the Ukrainian land is viburnum. there are a lot of Ukrainian songs about viburnum. The tree is considered the unifying link of all generations of Ukrainians.
In addition to viburnum, oak and poplar have long been known.
Many trees are the symbol of Ukraine. People sing about them in songs, write poems and fairy tales about them, and use symbols in rituals.
The symbol of strength and courage is the mighty oak. Oak leaves were embroidered on men's shirts.
Willow It is believed that it purifies water; with it in their hands, guys invited girls on dates. Willow branches lowered into the water symbolized sadness and sadness.
Girlish beauty and freshness were symbolized by everyone's favorite viburnum. The flexible figure of a girl and an unhappy fate - poplar.
The city of Kyiv is beautiful,
happy city.
Over the overflowing Dnieper,
all in the green of chestnuts,
all covered in sunspots..."
Bulgakov M.
Nowadays the chestnut is considered to be the symbol of the city, but this was not always the case.
Oak groves, ash trees, poplars, willows, lindens, chestnuts replaced each other at the silent post of “city amulets.” They witnessed the sad events of “Slavic Jerusalem”, and they were silent victims of human fashion.
I’ll start the essay with the oak tree, since it was the oak tree that was the world tree of the ancient Slavs. According to their beliefs, the world consisted of 3 tiers: The upper tier is the sky, the world of the gods. The middle tier is the world of people. The lower, underground tier is the world of spirits and shadows. Each tier had a numerical designation (1,2,3) and was symbolized by birds (sky), wolf and bear (earth) and a serpent ( underworld). The lower tier included several parts; it was possible to penetrate underground and return back through wells, rivers, lakes and seas. The connecting link was a tree (Oak). The oak was the personification of strength and power among the Slavs, and in ancient times it was dedicated to the mighty Perun. All Indo-Europeans associate the cult of the Thunderer with the same tree. The Slavs believed that oak trees were preserved, growing “even before the creation of the world,” when there was neither earth nor sky, and one “Okiyan-sea” spread throughout the entire universe. Under such oak trees, military councils were held and important decisions were made. The earth under them is healing, heals a person.
In sacred oak groves, the oldest and most respected trees were surrounded by a fence, beyond which only priests could enter. There they performed their sacrifices and made predictions, making them depending on the noise of the trees and the rustling of leaves. Near such a sacred tree, even the most brutal murderer or thief became inviolable. Next to the prayer oak stood statues of Perun, Svarog, Veles and other gods. Honey, mash, beer, and wild animals were sacrificed. In return, people asked: “Save, ancestor, our grains from storms, hail and the scorching sun! Protect our family - your children - from the evil Khazars and Pechenegs.” Women hung wreaths and beads from acorns on the branches and asked: “Give us, great one, the strength to give birth as easily and abundantly as you give birth to your children.” The dead warriors were burned on a bonfire made of oak branches, for “oak is the tree of men, its flame purifies the soul of a warrior.” And on the holiday of Ivan Kupala, all Ivans were decorated with oak wreaths. Perhaps the word “oak” once sounded like “good” and meant “good tree.”
Perun's oak was mentioned in a medieval Western Ukrainian charter of 1302. According to later legends, the body of the Novgorod idol Perun was carved from oak, and the unquenchable fire in front of his statue burned from oak wood.
Yaroslav the Wise in his “Russian Truth” described the law according to which the trial was previously carried out before the “sacred oak” (especially difficult cases both sides picked up red-hot things).
According to ancient legends, a sacred tree grew in Kyiv, in which a prophetic raven lived. It was he who broadcast his prophecies before all the misfortunes that befell the city. They say, last time he was seen in 1941. Naturally, there is no confirmation, but that’s what they say. This raven was an assistant in the good work of the Kyiv sorcerers, who honored their hometown and tried in every possible way to protect it from misfortunes. Some say that this tree was on the current Frunze Street, others, on Kryshtek, others, on Vladimirskaya Gorka... All versions agree on one thing: the tree was lost (either cut down, or dried out), and the raven flew away from the city, because in People don’t believe in totems these days...
Linden trees were no less popular in Kyiv. They were specially planted in prominent places for beauty, or near temples, where they became sacred. The largest linden garden appeared in Pechersk at the Klovsky Palace in the mid-18th century. During the massive construction of this area with mansions, which justifiably acquired the name “Lipki,” the old park alley that led to the palace (Lipskaya Street) was preserved and arranged in the form of a boulevard. This is how the first boulevard in Kyiv, planted with linden trees, arose. Ordinary Kiev residents also loved this tree. It was believed that it could take on some of the curses of wives on their husbands, and that is why there are so many growths on the linden tree. At the same time, linden has symbols of kindness and sincerity. In the old days, strollers for girls were made only from linden, and for boys from oak. Linden posts are also known in history, which were not only comfortable as shoes, but also protected their wearer from wild animals - even the scent of a wolf did not pick up human traces, which was very useful on the hunt and in life, in those difficult times.
Today on Lipki there are buildings of the Administration of the President of Ukraine, the building of the Supreme Council, the National Bank of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers and many other administrative buildings. Lipki is gradually beginning to acquire a new look due to the reconstruction of old buildings. Many attic buildings have appeared, and new buildings are being built. The green decoration of streets and alleys remains unchanged. The streets of Lipok, surrounded by the greenery of spreading trees, remain cool in the hottest weather. The old names have been returned to the streets and now you can endlessly walk along Lipki and discover more and more new corners of the history of Kyiv
For a long time, poplar competed with chestnut for dominance on the streets of the city. After all, according to local legends, the poplar is a symbol of women’s destiny. It was this tree that all the murdered girls turned to. It has mysterious healing properties and protects against negative phenomena. The slender poplars failed to “become a symbol of the city,” but still, there is one place where they are immortalized - which arose in the mid-19th century. Boulevard Highway or Bibikovsky Boulevard (in honor of the Governor General, who laid it out in 1842), now Shevchenko Boulevard, was originally planted with chestnut trees, which were beginning to come into fashion in those days. However, by order of Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, chestnuts, as sedition, were replaced with a pyramidal poplar, in which he saw an imperial symbol, and, allegedly, everything happened in one night. In turn, the people of Kiev did not miss this moment - they picked up chestnut seedlings and planted them in less official places, which they liked more in their simple understanding. It is believed that it was from this time that the rivalry between poplar and chestnut began as a symbol of Kyiv. From that moment on, a new “green” era of “ruling the city” began.
Chestnuts were brought to Kyiv back in 1825 and were first planted on the territory of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. From there, the people of Kiev carried them around the city, because young chestnut trees grow quickly.
The chestnut leaf appeared on the coat of arms of Kyiv in 1969. Now the city has two coats of arms: a large one - with the image of the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of the city, and a small one - with a chestnut leaf and flower. In addition to the enormous prevalence of the tree, the important fact that the chestnut has very easily depicted leaves and flowers also played a role.
The post was written mostly based on materials.
Text of the booklet published by the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center
Text and photo by V. Boreyko
Why protect ancient trees?
Kyiv is beautiful and remarkable for its monuments. Old centuries-old trees are also monuments - only of nature, history, folk poetry. They are witnesses past centuries, our spiritual heritage, “memorial authenticity” of the past, evoking feeling admiration and inspiration. Long-lived trees are real living wonders of the world, striking in their height, crown size, trunk thickness, confidence and power. They whisper the speeches of centuries. The history of ancient trees is no less interesting than the history of people.
Caring for century-old trees - characteristic feature culture of Western civilization. “If you meet an old tree, take off your hat,” the Czechs say. “There are two things that are inaccessible even to God: to create an old tree and a nobleman,” says a French proverb. The theorist of landscape art A. Pop wrote that it is better to burn down your house than to cut down a century-old tree. In Poland, about 20 thousand centuries-old trees are currently protected, in the UK - 17 thousand. In Canada, old trees receive medals, in Lithuania and Estonia they are specially registered in computer banks, in the USA the book “Glorious and Historical Trees” is dedicated to ancient trees, in the Czech Republic stamps are published with images of outstanding ancient trees, in Germany obituaries are printed on the death of ancient trees , in Poland, websites about centuries-old trees have been created, which contain more than 8,000 photographs and 300 films. All this fosters love for native land, a sense of patriotism and mercy for the living.
Protection of ancient trees in Kyiv
Unfortunately, in Ukraine, which has a territory much larger than Poland or Great Britain, only about 3 thousand centuries-old trees are protected.
Although there are examples of a different kind. If in Kyiv in 1986 only 7 places of growth of ancient trees were protected, then in 2008 there were already 51, with a total of 252 trees. Over the past 20 years, the number of protected areas where ancient trees grow has increased almost 7 times! This is the result of effective collaboration the public, Kyiv environmental services and deputies of the Kiev City Council. The main initiator of the conservation of ancient trees in the capital of Ukraine is the Kiev Ecological and Cultural Center, on whose initiative 70% of the places where ancient trees grow are taken under protection. According to Art. 27 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine” declares them natural monuments. The Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center treats centuries-old trees: cleaning them from rot, sealing hollows and cracks. Money for this is allocated not only by the Kiev city administration, but also by the Kiev residents themselves, for example, TV journalist of the “1+1” channel Lesya Sakada-Ostrovskaya donated money for the treatment of Peter Mogila’s linden tree, Kiev lawyer Andrey Kozlov - for the treatment of Shevchenko’s mulberry, director of the Novochem Water company technology" - Sergey Schneider - for the treatment of an oak tree on Blakitnogo Street. 17 old-time trees have already undergone treatment. Help for trees is carried out according to an original methodology developed by the Center and approved on June 7, 2007. Civil service reserve affairs of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ukraine.
At the recent (May 2008) elections of the mayor of Kyiv and deputies of the Kiev City Council, the protection of centuries-old trees was included in the election programs of a number of political parties and blocks, for example, Vitali Klitschko’s block. Care and respect for old trees become one of the tenets of the culture of Kiev residents.
Ethical treatment of ancient trees
Long-lived trees, like old people, are sick and weak, and therefore require attention, compassion and care. And the sick and weak are protected not because it is economically profitable, but because he is weak and sick, and cannot protect himself.
Each century-old tree is fundamentally unique and inimitable. Thoreau said that when a living tree is cut down, there is something almost tragic about it, for it becomes “mere wood.”
Trees, like people, have their own interests and needs for nutrition and growth, respiration and self-defense. Century-old trees have the right to exist and to compensation for damage due to human fault.
Centuries-old trees await our kindness, mercy and pity. They live to be protected and cherished, not to be destroyed. The protection of long-lived trees is our ritual of memory in front of those trees that are no longer on earth due to the fault of man.
Think of centuries-old trees as your elder relatives, listen to their wise rustling, have conversations with them, make friends with the centuries-old tree. It will never betray.
Causes of death of ancient trees
Long-lived trees die from many reasons. And most often not from natural death, but from indifference, stupidity and ignorance. People often set fire to the hollows of old trees for the sake of mischief. Many unique trees - patriarchs - are destroyed during construction. Instead of treating centuries-old trees (as architectural monuments are restored), public green construction enterprises cut down rarity trees or crown them, which also leads to death. The service, designed to protect green spaces, operates on the principle of “no tree, no problem”: gradually turning the city into a faceless and colorless wasteland.
In 1956, two huge oak trees were cut down on Syrtsa in Kyiv. In 1958, a 400-year-old oak tree was cut down near the building of the Ukrainian Agrarian University. Dozens of unique patriarchal oaks were cut down in Feofaniya, Syretsky Park and Goloseev. In 1998, a 150-year-old poplar was cut down on Andreevsky Spusk. In 2001, on the initiative of the Dnieper KPUZN, the patriarch poplar was cut down at the exit from the Hydropark metro station. Around this time, a century-old pear tree was cut down in the courtyard of the House of Officers.
The loss of these natural monuments should be perceived as a personal and citywide loss. Without them, Kyiv became a little uglier.
How to help centuries-old trees
Friends, if you have discovered a century-old tree in Kyiv that has not yet been taken under guardianship (oaks and poplars with a trunk girth of more than 4 m at a height of 1.30 m, as well as beeches, lindens, maples, ash trees, chestnuts, acacias, elms are subject to unconditional conservation , pine trees with a trunk girth of more than 3 m) - contact us at: 02218, Kyiv, st. Raduzhnaya, 31-48, KECC, by email. mail: kekzcarrier.kiev.ua, by phone. 443-52-62, 8-067-715-27-90. Those who want to get to know the centuries-old trees of Kyiv better can visit the photo gallery of “Wonderful centuries-old trees of Kyiv” on our website
Century-old trees should also be treated, fenced, and security signs installed. We are ready to provide advice to anyone who personally wishes to protect the centuries-old trees of Kyiv. Let's together cultivate the culture of centuries-old trees in our capital.
We will also be grateful to those who financially support the treatment of centuries-old trees and other expenses for their protection. Let's save another wonder of the world!
Kyiv owes a lot to these people for the preservation of many unique
centuries-old trees
Team of the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center
Irina Khovanets- chief specialist of the Kiev City Council permanent commission on issues
environmental policy.
Vladimir Mikhalyuk- Head of the Department of Land Bioresources, Econetworks and Environmental Support and Environmental Support of Facilities of the State Administration for Environmental Protection natural environment in Kyiv, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Ukraine.
Grunewald Oak.
Fairytale-looking oak tree. The oldest tree in Kyiv. Age - about 1000 years, trunk girth 5.3 m, height 10 m. It grows on the territory of the Zhovten boarding house near building No. 2. It is necessary to treat it and take it under protection as a natural monument.
White acacia.
The oldest white acacia in Kyiv. Age 130 years, height 15 m, trunk girth 3.7 m. Consecrated in 2007 by the rector of the Church of St. Panteleimon, Fr. Nikolai. Located on Pobeda Ave., 73-A. Taken under protection in 1999
Perunov oak.
The last surviving oak of the sacred Shuliavskaya grove,
destroyed in the 1920s. About 500 years old, height 15 m, trunk girth 4.6 m. Located on Kurskaya Street, 3. It should be protected as a natural monument.
Christer Oak.
Grows on Osipovsky Street, 3. Age about 700 years, height 25 m, trunk girth 6.2 m.
Taken under protection in 1997
Cherries at the Zoo.
The most ancient cherry in Kyiv. Age over 120 years, height 10 m, trunk girth 2.7 m. Grows on the territory of the Kyiv Zoo near the Ferris Wheel. Need to take
under protection as a natural monument.
Shevchenko oak.
One of the ancient Kyiv oak trees, under which Kobzar visited. Age 400 years, height 15 m, trunk girth 4.5 m, located in the Berezovyi Gai park on the street. Vyshgorodskaya.
It requires constant care, treatment and protection as a natural monument.
Ash tree of Sophia of Kyiv.
The oldest ash tree in Kyiv. Age 150 years, height 25 m, trunk girth 3.9 m. Located on the territory of St. Sophia of Kyiv, near the main cathedral. Taken under protection in 2008
Petro Mogila chestnut.
The oldest chestnut in Kyiv. It grows near the Trinity Church on Kitaevskaya Street. In 1994 it was consecrated by its rector, Fr. Miroslav. Age about 300 years, height 15 m, trunk girth 4.15 m. Taken under protection in 1994
Linden tree of Theodosius of Pechersk.
According to legend, it was planted at the end of the 11th century by one of the founders of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Theodosius of Pechersk at the grave of his mother. The oldest linden tree in Kyiv. Age 700–800 years. Height 10 m, trunk girth 6.50 m. Grows in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra at the entrance
to the Far Caves. Requires treatment and obtaining the status of a natural monument
national significance.