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At present, the kingdom of greenery has more than 670 different
varieties and species of trees and shrubs. They have been brought from the Crimea
and the Caucasus, from Siberia and the Urals, Central and Southern Europe, from
Central Asia and the Far East, even from South America.
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Of special interest is the large collection of trees found in the so-called English Park...
It was laid out by the famous Russian horticulturist, Professor V. Pashkevich. He gathered
a very rich collection, including the bilobate ginkgo. The nettle tree, both the western
and southern varieties, is also represented. These trees are so solid and heavy that they
sink in the water.
The Turkish filbert comes from the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Balkans.
It reaches a height of 30 metres, grows quickly, is frost and disease resistant, and can
grow in places where the sun does not penetrate. Other trees in the park have curative
properties, particularly the Manchurian Aralia and the shizandra. The green groves of
Sofievka Park would not be half so attractive without the bushes that bloom in the spring
and summer. The smoke tree and the beautiful pearl bush from Central Asia come into full
flower during May. In June, the Japanese rosewood comes into bloom. And the jasmine during
June and July. As for lilacs, the varieties are profuse: white, blue, deep crimson, Persian
and Hungarian.
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Wherever you go in the park, you are thrilled by bird song. The nightingale
in spring is echoed by the throaty turtle-dove. And the cuckoo calls, according to a legend,
foretelling the length of your life. There are white and black swans, exotic species of
ducks and geese.
More than 150 years ago, Russian traveller I. Dolgoruky rapturously
exclaimed upon visiting Uman:"After entering Sofievka, I could have stayed there forever:
everything is so beautiful, marvellous. Everywhere one can see the touch of genius."
And today it is also impossible not to repeat those very words.
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