Recently, 30 trees of Oriental cherry were imported to Ukraine from Japan. The trees, usually refereed to in Ukraine by its Japanese name sakura, were replanted in the central Botanical Gardens of Kyiv.
Sakura is believed to possess some medicinal properties, but probably more important is the belief that being close to sakura trees and watching their blooms in spring cleanses your spirit and uplifts your soul. So come spring, Kyivans and visitors to Kyiv will have the opportunity of watching sakura blooms. Incidentally, other great attractions of the Botanical Gardens in spring are blooming magnolias and lilacs. Lilacs and magnolias in full blossom are a great sight too.
In fact, every botanical garden should strive to be a sort of a paradise on earth. In numerous religious paintings and icons the paradise looks like a garden with all kinds of plants from all parts of the world, with palms and fir trees growing side by side. It seems to be a natural thing for artists to do — how else could they show unity and harmony of the Universe before the Fall? Since then man has done a lot of damage to the green world. Luckily enough, the idea of an earthly paradise lives on. Gardens continue to be planted, and who knows, maybe someday, distant descendants of Adam and Eve will find a way of growing the Tree of Life with fruit that will give them eternal life.
The Kyiv Botanical Garden is an exciting place to visit practically any time of the year, though, of course, autumnal colours and vernal fragrances offer the best impressions. Nevertheless, even in the dead of winter, a visit to the greenhouses will get you transported to the rich colours and scents of the tropical lands.
Come to the garden for a mental escape from pressures of urban life, relax, and enjoy nature in its almost pristine paradisaical beauty.