One of the things that makes Kiev unique is the amount of wild open areas within city boundaries or adjacent to the city. Kiev is surrounded by forests on three sides and has several large islands on the Dnipro. It's possible to spend years in Kiev and know only of gray highrises, stuffy public transportation, and historic buildings downtown, but if you begin studying the map and exploring, you'll find an incredible amount of wild areas and greenery.
The Fomin Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical institutions in our Ukraine. From the very beginning of its foundation and during the whole century it has been the main centre of botanical science developement in Ukraine.
It was founded on May 22, 1839. Many scientific achievements of the Garden are widely known in Ukraine and abroad and some of them have gone down into the world science history. For example, the double fertilization in angiosperm plants was described by the academician Navashin, who was the garden director at the 19th century.
For a long period(1914-1935) the Botanical Garden had been headed by Academician Olexander Fomin, whose floristical research work is widely known.
To commemorate Academician O.V. Fomin's contribution into the development of botanical science as well as into preserving and enriching the collection funds, his name was given to the Botanical Garden in 1935. Address: Kominterna str., 1
Pechersky
Botanical garden was founded in 1935. It is the largest botanical garden in
Kiev — it covers the territory of
130 hectares. In spring the botanical garden is especially charming, when numerous bushes of lilacs are blossoming. There are also whole-year-round excursions in hothouses (tropical plants, orchids, camellias and azaleas). Address: Timiryazevskaya str., 1
Mariyinskiy park
This city garden was formerly known as the
Tsarskiy
Garden . This is a formal garden laid out in front of the
Mariyinskiy
Palace with fountains and statues. It’s a nice relaxing place to stroll or to sit and enjoy the beautiful trees.
Address: M. Hrushevskogo str. (Metro Maydan Nezavisimosti or Arsenalnaya)
Pechersk
Landscape
Park
If you head down the slope towards the Dnipro, there are quiet areas with gold-domed churches. This is a fantastic spot for sledging or skiing in winter. At the bottom is an open-air theatre, originally called the Spivoche Pole (Singing Ground), where open-air concerts are sometimes held in summer. Inaugurated in 1981. The park area is approx.
30 ha.
