This year in Ukraine, despite martial law, 20 events were held for Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD) in Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Boyarka, Bila Tserkva, and Vorzel.
At the Kryvyi Rih Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, several activities were organized for the psychological recovery of soldiers and their families. A location named “Viburnum Garden” was created in memory of the heroes who died in the Russian-Ukrainian War, and a new location “Do You Know What Peace Smells Like?” was established with various species and varieties of conifers, medicinal, and aromatic plants.
At the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a series of author-led excursions were carried out, especially, to the Lilac Garden, which has one of the largest collections of the common lilac with over 150 varieties. Also, the excursions to the magnolia, conifer collections, and the Parterre section were carried out. Moreover, a series of tours were held at the scientific part and greenhouses at the Botanical Garden named after Acad. O.V. Fomin, one of the oldest botanical institutions in Ukraine, which has amazing cactus and succulent collections, the leading one in Ukraine and containing over 2500 species.
A series of educational lectures and tours were held at the Boyarka Forest Research Station, where participants had the opportunity to observe rare flora species (Jovibarba globifera (L.) J. Parn.) and local botanical monuments (Khodosivsky Oak Quercus robur L.), and to learn about measures for their preservation.
Botanical tours were conducted along the trails of the Syretsky Arboretum of national significance and the Vorzel Reserve. During the tour at the Vorzel Reserve, visitors were invited to taste some tea made from medicinal herbs collected within the reserve.
Finally, at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a Conference for young scientists “Plant Biology and Biotechnology” dedicated to Fascination of Plants Day was held, along with a series of workshops on confocal and fluorescent microscopy for talented schoolchildren, visitors of the General Biology section of the Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth, and for all interested people.
All visitors greatly enjoyed the Fascination of Plants Day events and are looking forward to the next Fascination of Plants Day in 2026!