Apple tree in russia

5 trees Russians can’t get enough of

1. Birch tree

One of the most common trees in the country, the birch is one of the most Russian trees and has inspired many songs, poems, and paintings. It’s a symbol of the country and has held a place in the hearts of Russians since ancient times. Slavs considered this white slender tree sacred and associated it with spring, purity, natural beauty, and feminine qualities.

While linguists connect the origin of the name “bereza” to ancient Slavic “berza” meaning “to shine, show white,” its name is also similar to such Russian words as “beliy” (white) and “berech” (to keep, to take care) – Slavs attributed the birch with the ability to protect people from evil powers. People either asked the tree to help out directly, or planted one near their house.

The birch and things made from it (like “lapti” footwear or decorated boxes that appear in souvenir shops today) were thought to ward off evil forces. People believed (and some still do) that just having a walk in a birch grove or simply touching a birch tree can help restore emotional balance, reduce stress, and help one stay happy.

The birch also provided a certain alternative to Egyptian papyrus — Russians used birch bark for writing when paper was not yet known.

2. Oak tree

“By the sea stands a green oak tree; / A golden chain strung round it:/ And on the chain a learned cat / Day and night circles round it/..” go the famous opening lines of Alexander Pushkin’s Ruslan and Ludmila. The mighty and grand “Tsar Tree” provoked awe among Slavs as it did among many other peoples. It was considered a tree of Perun, the highest god of the Slavic pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning, and symbolized strength, glory, and male energy.

Following the example of Gods who ruled the world from under the so-called “World Tree,” Slavs also chose olds oaks for meetings, weddings, and rituals believing that everything that happens under their shade happened so by the rule of Gods.

Slavs also built temples and shrines in oak groves that were believed to have both healing powers and the power to bring people back from the dead. According to myth, the tree that acts as a mediator between humans and the Universe. That’s why it was thought that if a human established contact with an oak it would give him/her and even their children immense positive energy to live a long and happy life.

3. Rowan-tree

Praised in the works of such Russia’s poets as Marina Tsvetaeva, Alexander Pushkin, and Anna Akhmatova, the rowan-tree has long been a part of the country’s poetic soul. It’s a very Russian tree that was historically planted in noble estates, monasteries, and ordinary households. The trees festive appearance and bitter berries was and still is associated with lost youth and love, and loneliness. In poetry it is also represented a symbol of life – tragic and short term but never-ending – eternal.

In folk traditions dating back to the Slavs, the rowan-tree was believed to have magical powers as well. Its branches with bright red berries were considered to be Perun’s mace that could protect a human from all sorts of misfortune, like a witch’s spells. Similar to the birch, the rowan tree was believed to bring happiness to the household and it was common to use rowan berries or leaves to ward off evil, as medicine, to make the food last longer, and to purify water. The latter method is still used today — a rowan tree branch has chemicals that can decontaminate dirty water.

4. Fir-tree

The main Christmas tree, the “yolka” is another common resident of Russian forests. Also given a sacred significance by Slavs, it was believed to represent the eternity of life and connected the living and dead. Fir trees were thought to have healing powers and the ability to protect the household from bad things, its branches and cones were also used for medical purposes.

As a mediator between the living and the dead, fir trees became an important part of Slavic funeral rituals. Today their branches are still used as decorations for graves and its wood is used for making caskets.

5. Maple tree

Russians love to take pictures with maple tree leaves – it’s a sort of Instagram ritual to mark the beginning of autumn. Yet in Slavic mythology maple trees have a more mystical meaning – back in those days they were considered a symbol of reincarnation and Slavs believed that every maple tree hosts a human soul waiting for its next reincarnation. “Five-finger” maple leaves added to this human association.

A maple tree also had a second name – “yavor.” The tree was used to honor certain Slavic holidays and as decorations.

In Western Slavic culture, it was believed that maple trees could show the true nature of a person. If a dry maple tree started to blossom after someone touched it, it meant they were an honest and pious man/woman. Whereas if the tree became dry, the person in question was not so trustworthy.

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5 kinds of apples you can only find in Russia

Deep autumn is the time for winter apples — collect unripe then allow to mature in storage and preserve until spring. If you try them right after picking from the tree they’ll most likely be way too sour and tough. Two to three months of storage will turn them into sweet, delicious mouthfuls of joy. The following varieties of apple can be found in many Russian gardens and food markets.

1. Antonovka — ‘folk’ apple

Probably, the most widespread and ancient kind of apple in Central Russia. The origin of this luscious variety remains unknown, but it’s believed it was first cultivated by ordinary growers, before more advanced selection techniques were developed.

The Antonovka (from the Russian name “Anton”) is a rather large apple which turns a yellow-green color after maturing. Russians like this apple for its special bitter-sweet taste and aroma. There are many breeds of Antonovka — for example, the dessert Antonovka has a red blush while the Kamenitchka is sweeter.

This apple is widely used for cooking. Russian housewives add it to sharlotka , make puree for children, and press it for juice. But the tastiest thing to do is to pickle Antonovkas with honey, Rowan, or herbs. You should eat Antonovkas before January – after New Year they become too soft.

How to pick: The mature fruits should have a waxy thin peel and rich smell.

2. Bogatyr – the ‘red brush’ apple

This apple is named after a Slavic hero and grows in almost any climate zone, it can also be preserved until late May. The breed was selected by Soviet agronomists from the Ivan Michurin Research Institute. When farmers collect these fruits, they are are light green but they become yellow with a red blush in storage. The taste is similar to the Anotonovka, only a little sweeter. This apple is good for compotes and pickling, and keeps its shape after boiling.

How to pick: The red “hip” is the signal that the apple is ready.

3. Simirenko – Russian Granny Smith

This apple is similar to the Golden in shape and the English Granny Smith in taste, but the Simirenko has very bright green fruits. Its flesh is tender and juicy with a wine-like, spicy aftertaste. Like the Bogatyr, it can be kept until spring.

This apple is very great in salads because when you cut it, it doesn’t become dark and pleasantly accentuates the taste of other ingredients. Moreover, all green apples are full of ferrum and vitamins.

How to pick: The fruit should be bright green and quite tough.

4. Anis – ancient Volga apples

Both breeds were cultivated by growers in the Volga Region. The Anis has numerous varieties that differ not only in color and taste, but also by the season.

The bitter-sweet Winter Anis is deep red and rather small — they only turn this color after falling from the tree or in storage, before they are light green. The Winter Anis can be eaten from November. Locals like this apple not only for desserts, but also for homemade wine and liquors.

How to pick: The fruits should be red all over.

5. Moskovskoe Zimnee – the apple for Moscow’s winter

This light red striped apple was created in 1960s by the Moscow State University by breeding the American Wealthy with the Russian Antonovka. Thanks to its frost resistance it grows in Russia’s central and northern regions – the tree can withstand temperature as low as -35 degrees Celsius.

You can enjoy the bitter taste of this fruit for a long time – on average one apple weighs about 300 grams and can be stored until late March. These fruits are very juicy. The Moscow Winter is good for jams and marmalades.

How to pick: The best fruits are big and light green with red stripes.

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Oak, spruce and apple trees: what trees are planted in Moscow and why

Almost four million trees and shrubs have been planted in the past six years. The largest landscape gardening programme in Moscow, A Million Trees, was launched in 2013. Since then, over 79,000 trees and 1.6 mln bushes have been planted in the city. This year alone, over 500,000 plants were planted in Moscow.

This year, almost 3,500 courtyards took part in the campaign; 13,000 courtyards, over 50 percent of the total, have been involved in it during seven seasons of planting. Most courtyards – 2,223 – were landscaped following a vote on the Active Citizen portal. Some 4,600 trees and 195,000 shrubs were planted there.

Social facilities, such as schools and outpatient clinics, receive new trees too. This year, 137 social facilities saw 850 new trees and 30,000 shrubs. Planting Holes is another programme to replace dead plants with new ones.

List of trees and shrubs planted in Moscow courtyards

Everyone can pick trees and shrubs to be planted in a courtyard from a brochure drafted by Moscow’s Department for Environmental Management and Protection. It features 64 species typical for the climate of Russia’s midland and the Moscow Region.

Plants are chosen not only by their appearance, but also taking into account their low-maintenance and ability to adapt to the city environment. For instance, silver birch, which is common in Moscow courtyards, parks and urban forests, can easily adapt to both cold and dry seasons. Its relative, the downy birch, requires less sunlight and can survive during harsh winters and flood seasons.

The list also includes several species of oak. The northern red oak is fast growing and tolerant of the city environment, is not demanding in terms of soil but requires sufficient humidity, while the pedunculate oak is not sensitive to draughts. The white willow grows well in an urban environment (with its gas and smoke) and is not demanding in terms of humidity and soil. The tatar maple, a small tree with black bark and a round canopy, is resistant to draught, does not require much sunlight and is the most winter-hardy of all maple species. Fruit trees are represented on the list by cherry and apple trees. Cherry trees grow quickly, and are resistant to cold, draught, lack of sunlight and smog. The Siberian crab apple is low-maintenance and winter-hardy; it is often planted near surface utility lines and in places where the sidewalk width does not allow for planting a bigger tree. The Niedzwetzki apple tree, with its dark green leaves and small fruit, is resistant to pests and diseases.

Among the coniferous trees on the list are spruce, pine, larch, silver fir and thuja. The Norway spruce lives 250–300 years; it is low-maintenance but sensitive to the late spring groundfrost, draught and the bogginess of the soil. It is also sensitive to smog, unlike the blue spruce, which does not suffer from spring groundfrost due to the late development of its vegetation.

As for shrubs, Active Citizen users most often picked lilac, mock-orange and cotoneaster. The shiny cotoneaster and lilac are the most resistant shrubs for cities. The common lilac is fast-growing, not sensitive to soil and is winter-hardy. The Hungarian lilac is more resistant to smog and draught. The mock-orange, with its large fragrant flowers, can endure frosts, likes sunlight but can thrive in shade as well.

Care for plants in courtyards

To toughen up large trees, experts replant them several times in tree nurseries. Trees are usually planted on streets when they are 18–35 years old. The youngest are maples and lilac, the oldest are linden trees. Experts cover tree trunks to protect them from cold and sun exposure. The upper layer of soil is covered with tree bark in the winter. It protects the soil from drying out and prevents the freezing of roots.

The contractor is responsible for the adaptation of a tree or a shrub for one year, and the owner of the land plot cares for the tree for the next two years. If a tree dies due to the fault of the contractor, they must replant the tree at their expense. Experts clear snow, add more soil and till it, remove pest plants and cut canopies and dry branches to ward off disease and pests.

According to regulations, one hectare of residential development can accommodate no more than 100–120 trees and 400–450 shrubs.

How to make a courtyard greener

Applications for the Million Trees campaign can be submitted to the district council, emailed to the council’s website or to the department. Applications are accepted every year: in the autumn, before 10 September and in the spring, before 10 March. Each application must include only one courtyard. It is also possible to vote on the Active Citizen website. A decision is made within two weeks.

First, a diagram of the courtyard should be drawn with possible locations of trees and shrubs, as well as their number and species. The department will make a decision. If it is impossible to plant the chosen trees, the diagram will be adjusted.

After the application is approved, the department will purchase plants. Its employees will plant the trees and invite residents to take part in tree planting.

For more details on how to have trees and shrubs planted in your courtyard, go to the Advice section on mos.ru.

More trees in parks

The Million Trees programme is the largest, but not the only programme aimed at landscaping Moscow. Parks and urban forests are becoming greener as well. Thus, about 17,000 trees and 15,000 shrubs were planted in 2016 as part of measures to protect and develop specially protected areas.

Large-scale work will be done in the 850-letiya Moskvy Park: it will receive 180 more trees and over 15,000 shrubs. In the Terletskaya Dubrava recreation area, over 600 square metres of flowerbeds and 80,000 square metres of lawn will be put in place. The Mitino landscape park will see even more: 961 square metres of flowerbeds, plus over 500 trees and some 3,500 shrubs.

New trees, shrubs and flowers are planted not only in large parks, but also in small district gardens. This year saw the development of a park on Klimentovsky Pereulok, the Staropetrovsky public garden on Clara Zetkin Street, public gardens on Korovinskoye Motorway, between Bestuzhevykh and Rimskogo-Korsakova streets and on Sedova Street and Kibalchicha Street, as well as others.

Linden, chestnut and apple trees on My Street

Under the My Street programme, trees have been planted on 16 streets. Linden trees appeared on Tverskaya Street, while Novy Arbat Street now has, apart from linden trees, over 100 elms, Norway maples, rowans and red oaks. Maples and bird cherries were planted on Chernigovsky Pereulok, and maples, rowans, linden and apple trees were planted on Voznesensky Pereulok. Rowans and chestnut trees appeared on Taganskaya Street, Narodnaya Street and Goncharny Proyezd.

Over 1,700 trees were planted along motorways at the entrance to Moscow, with 40 more to be planted within the next two days. Works at the intersection of the Moscow Ring Road with Mozhaiskoye, Leningradskoye and Yaroslavskoye motorways and Leninsky Prospekt have been completed. Linden trees, maples and oaks were planted there.

In the near future, ten more streets in city centre will get new trees. The Garden Ring will receive 22 more trees: elms, maples, rowans and linden trees. Works will be soon finished on Malaya Dmitrovka Street, Nastasyinsky Pereulok, Taganskaya Street, Yakimansky Proyezd, Bolshaya and Malaya Yakimanka streets, Bolshaya Polyanka, Vozdvizhenka and the Boulevard Ring.

In all, over 3,000 trees will be planted under the My Street programme. Works will be completed in mid-December.

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