On Saturday, May 23, the Primorsky Aquarium hosted “Green Market,” a plant swap that turned into a true celebration for amateur horticulturists, early-career florists, and plant enthusiasts.
The event was organized by the staff members of the Aquarium and the Botanical Garden-Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Botanical Garden-Institute, FEB RAS). The exciting and varied program blended lectures, hands-on lab sessions where participants could step into the shoes of researchers, and creative workshops for both children and adults. Over just a few hours, attendees managed to do a lot: to learn about the most ancient plants that have survived up to the present day, to discover what the so-called “false palms” really are, to understand how gas exchange works in plants, to create a perfect spiral bouquet, and to master the fundamentals of floriculture.
“It was a real pleasure to connect with like-minded people,” said Ekaterina Golovan, Lead Engineer at the Botanical Garden-Institute’s Department of Environmental Education and Public Relations. “Just like me and my colleagues, they love and understand plants, so sharing our knowledge and experience with them felt especially rewarding.”
The visitors were also enthusiastic about the event.
“I’m so glad I came to this plant swap,” said Galina. “I managed to combine two things: visiting my favorite axolotl and listening to the experts. I have many plants both in my workplace and at home and I know a lot about floriculture, but learning from professionals is invaluable.”
“In biology class, I was greatly impressed by carnivorous plants,” added Maria, another attendee. “And what a surprise–today I got one through the swap! Thank you for such a wonderful event. Now I want to learn even more about plants and how to look after them in the best possible way.”
Time went by in a flash for everyone at “Green Market”. After the main program wrapped up, participants were offered an opportunity to extend the festive mood by joining a themed tour of the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit.
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