Tashkent botanical garden

The nature of our planet is organized very harmoniously and well-balanced. Each natural zone has own peculiarities and beauties, each region is unique and wonderful. It is impossible to find two identical valleys, two equal streams on the world. Millions years have made our planet as the wonderful world, full of endless variety of life. And sometimes we need to leave an urban fuss that not to lose a connection with nature. It can be done without leaving the city – most cities have their unique natural zones. One of such beautiful places is the Tashkent Botanical Garden.

During the World War II, when people from all over USSR were evacuated to Tashkent and neighboring cities, Botanical garden was opened in the capital of Uzbekistan at the initiative of Academician Fedor Rusanov. For over fifty-year history thousands of plants from all over the world have been collected here.

The foundation of the botanic garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan dates back to the 20s of the last century. The garden started to have its modern shape in the 50s under the supervision of academician Fedor Nikolaevich Rusanov.

Tashkent Botanic garden with a territory of almost 70 hectares is the largest and oldest botanical garden in Central Asian region. Arboretum of the garden occupies 40 hectares. Today in the unique natural zone of Tashkent there are over 4500 sorts of trees, flowers and other plants. Botanical garden is divided into five parts, which correspond to flora of Central Asia, Eastern Asia, North America and Europe, including natural zones of Crimea, Caucasus, Far East. It became possible due to if an acutely continental but favorable climate of Uzbekistan, where it is possible to grow plants from other climate zones.

Acquaintance with this wonderful garden starts form the small pond, in which delicate-pink lotuses blossom in the late spring. After it there are several alleys around the garden, which lead to the central part of the garden. All sectors of the park are closed up here, so you may begin walking from any climate region, either flora of America, Europe or Asia. But it is better to start from the Рill of Wishes. One of paths leads to this hill. The whole ritual consists of rising up the stairs, where on each footstep you should repeat your wish in mind, and at the top you should tie the ribbon to the tree. And when the ribbon is torn, you wish will come true. However it’s better to spare the tree and just to rise up the stairs.

Botanical garden has greenhouses, hothouses and special nursery for medicinal herbs. In these greenhouses numerous sorts of exotic plants from tropical and subtropical countries are presented. The most well-known rare plants in Uzbekistan are see the relict coniferous tree - metasequoia, another relict plant - ginkgo, magnolia, decorative plants as tulip tree, Japanese quince, plants, listed in the Red Book such as eremures, Taxodium, which you can see in the exposition of North America flora, irises and others.

Botanic Garden in Tashkent is an open air museum, a national treasure and the pride of the country and science. Though attractive year round, the garden really comes into its own in autumn when the heat of summer days has subsided and the trees are sliding from green into every shade of red, orange and gold. Inquisitive squirrels, some nearly tame, raid picnics and dart back and forth across the gravel paths while the garden's guides introduce visitors to the more important specimens in the botanical collection. In spring the garden is blossomed and is full of odors, in summer it is green and saves from heat, in autumn it is really fabulous palette of colors from bright-yellow to dark-red.

By all means drop in at the garden in summer to enjoy the shady coolness and amazing peace on hot languishing summer days, to walk around the pond filled with water for summer time. You may be lucky to have a chance to see a real blue bird living on the lake, the bird is completely blue or rather light blue and of the size of a big dove.

But the garden is especially picturesque in autumn. The riot of the garden's colors in combination with particularly fresh and clean air evokes a blissful state of calm and quiet. And amidst the leafless tree branches you can easily find mischievous squirrels which have selected this a bit wild place in the heart of a huge city for their home.

And if you feel like eating something during your fascinating walks along the intricate paths of the garden you can always have a snack in a small cafe under centuries old plane trees fully under the impression of being in a wild forest, because you will have for chairs and tables billets of wood of various sizes.

You can come here with children or with company of friends for picnics. Also very often school excursions and ecology actions are held here. By the way it is more interesting to walk with guide: he will tell you interesting stories and legends related to these unique plants.

Tashkent Botanical Garden is really enchanting place – here you can relax body and soul.