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Cacti Bloomed in the Forest Park of the Museum-Reserve

A rare and unusually beautiful phenomenon in the forest park “Pearl of Eurasia” was seen at the museum class by the boys and girls of the Children’s Health Camp of Vyoshenskaya school. A twisted prickly pear, exotic Mexican cactus, bloomed in the sands of Vyoshenskaya.

The forest park is being created by children. It increases annually with new green “population”. A few years ago this wonderful plant was brought from Astrakhan by the members of “Sholokhov Source” rally. Such cacti appeared in the Astrakhan steppes late in the XIX century: they were planted within an experiment – the scientists were looking for a way to stop wandering sands.In the Astrakhan Region this cactus species plays the same role as the man-made pine plantations in our sands.

The brought cacti safely survived several winters in the forest park of Vyoshenskaya surprising the viewers with the contrast of the greenness of the fleshy leaves against the whiteness of snow. And now the exotic aliens from South America surprised with their colourful bloom.

The cactus blooms late in May – early in June, with big yellow flowers. A bunch of unblown prickly pear buds can contain over a dozen of future flowers blooming day after day. And this is what allows you to observe the cacti flowering for several days. Each big brilliant sunny yellow flower of this cactus, when blooming, lives only one day.

According to legends, when the cactus flower opens, you can make a wish that will come true soon. So the visitors of the environment-literary forest park “Pearl of Eurasia”during the blooming of the prickly pear will have an opportunity to hear an interesting excursion and see a blooming flower to make a cherished wish.

Galina Pichuyeva

Tatyana Balak