Sprawling plant of storksbill (Geranium robertianum)(?) on abandoned railroad in Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 24, 2016
Flower of arum in aquatic plant greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Flower of water lily in aquatic plant greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Flowers of Sempervivum plant (houseleek) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 16, 2015
Flower of great burnet plant (Sanguisorba officinalis, Russian name Krovokhliobka) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2015
Volkhov Hydro-electric Plant. Volkhov, east from Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 4, 2011
Plants near greenhouses in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 18, 2013
Blue flower bud of a plant of lily family in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 14, 2011
Sage like plants Lamb s Ear (Stachys byzantina) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 20, 2014
Red fruit of Anthurium like plant in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 23, 2017
Flowers of a parasitic plant common toothwort (Lathraea squamaria, Russian name Petrov Krest) in Gatchina Park, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 16, 2011
Ornamental plant of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) with red leaves and green berries covering a wall in Venus Garden in Lower Gardens. Peterhof (Petrodvorets), a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 28, 2015
Horsetail and fern plants in area of Novaya Sylvia in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 30, 2014
Flower buds of sempervivum plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 23, 2009
Large lilac flowers near All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Sempervivum plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 23, 2009
Venation of a leaf of an aquatic plant in a greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Hogweed (Heracleum) near an insect lab of All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Aquatic plants in a greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Maritime plant on Petrovskaya Street. Kronstadt (part of Saint Petersburg), Russia, February 11, 2013
Masterwort plant (Astrantia major, Russian name Zvezdovka) in Old Sylvia in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 19, 2015
Plants of pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) in moss near Kanneliarvi, 40 miles north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2005
Yellow garlic like plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 10, 2009
Cone like fleshy axis of a plant in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 27, 2009
Lilac near an insect lab of All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Prickly plant in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 5, 2016
Fern like plants in Menkovo, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 1, 2011
Green leaf venation in aquatic plant greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Red fruit of a plant of calla family in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 23, 2017
Red fruit of a plant of calla family in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 27, 2009
Dormitory for workers of power plant GRES-1 (1930s) at Obvodny Canal. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2010
Close up of lilac flowers near All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Fruits of a plant of lily family Riabchik(?) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 23, 2009
Angelica(?) plant east from Toksovo, 10 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 9, 2009
Leaves of aquatic plants in a greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Leaf venation in aquatic plant greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Blooming berberry near All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Tall plants near greenhouses in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 18, 2013
Sedum(?) plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 20, 2014
Plants on a roadside in Posiolok, 50 miles south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 28, 2001
Flower of a marsh plant in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 5, 2016
Fern like plants in Menkovo, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 1, 2011
Clover like plant in fields west from Lavriki, 2 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 26, 2012
Tour of an insect lab of All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
A. V. Sergeev in his lab of the former 16th Department of S. I. Vavilov State Optical Institute. A chemical bottle is intended for watering a plant, it is labelled pit nelzya (don t drink in Russian). Vasilyevsky Island, Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 14, 1999.
Sedum plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 2011
Checkpoint gate of Naval Plant. Kronstadt, part of Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 28, 2013
A plant in a forest near Orekhovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 4, 2001
Monument of a Russian revolutioneer V. I. Lenin (M. Ya. Harlamov, 1926) at 51 Obukhovskoy Oborony Prospekt at the entrance of Nevsky Plant (former Semiannikov Factory) near Metro Elizarovskaya. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 3, 2010
Leaf venation in aquatic plant greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Venation of aquatic plant leaf in a greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 18, 2011
Umbellifer plants of Angelica sylvestris (Russian name Dudnik) in fields west from Deviatkino. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 29, 2011
Orange fruits on a plant of calla family (arum) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 31, 2012
Sempervivum plant (houseleek) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 13, 2012
Creeping plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 22, 2013
Amaranth like plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 30, 2013
Small rosettes of succulent plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 9, 2013
Tall plants in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 18, 2013
Parasitic insects on linden near All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Malformed seed head of common dandelion (Taraxanum officinale) damaged by insects, near All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2014
Plastic flowers with horsetail plants (Equisetum) in Nikolskoe Cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 29, 2014
Entrance of All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection (VIZR). Pushkin (former Tsarsoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 4, 2014
Moss plants on a large rock on a side of a field in Menkovo, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 4, 2014
Flower buds of a plant of sunflower family east from Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 8, 2014
Geranium (storksbill) plant with white flowers near a forest road east from Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 8, 2014
Lamb s Ear plants (Stachys byzantina) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 9, 2014
Great burnet plant (Sanguisorba officinalis, Russian name Krovokhliobka) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2015
Mat of blooming alpine plant Vitaliana primuliflora in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Mat forming plant Androsace sempervivoides in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Flowers of mat forming plant Androsace sempervivoides in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Flowers of mat forming plant Vitaliana primuliflora in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Sempervivum plant (houseleek) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 2, 2016
Colony of plants of seabeach sandwort (Honckenya peploides) in sand behind reeds on a beach in Sestroretsk, north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 8, 2016
Green flat moss-like plant tree fringewort (Ptilidium pulcherrimum)(?) spreading on a birch in Zakhodskoe, 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 10, 2016
Arisaema serratum plant (closely related to the Jack-in-the-pulpit) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2016
Small Balsam plant (Impatiens parviflora, Russian name Nedotroga) in Sestroretsk, north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 30, 2016
Oxalis and ornamental plants grown in a ditch near Kavgolovo Lake, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 5, 2016
Various plants in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 26, 2016
Plants near a greenhouse in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 4, 2016
Mickey mouse plant (Ochna serrulata, Ochna atropurpurea) in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 8, 2017
Cluster of small agave plants in greenhouses of Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 8, 2017
Cherry-spruce rust fungus (plant patogen) Pucciniastrum areolatum on a spruce cone near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 9, 2017
Yellow flowers of alpine plant Vitaliana primuliflora in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 22, 2017
Dog mercury plant (Mercurialis perennis, Russian name Prolesnik), female, in Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 1, 2017
Various plants in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 28, 2017
Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) parasitic plants in moss in Lembolovo, 35 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 8, 2017
Sphagnum moss wit sundew plants (Drosera rotundifolia) on Razliv swamp near Lenin Trail near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 15, 2018
Shoots of some plants in Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 7, 2019
Reddish purple blotches on leaves of broad leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) caused by a plant pathogen fungus Ramularia rubella in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 30, 2019
Seeds of a plant of garlic family in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 26, 2016
Hylotelephium triphyllum plant in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2016
Flower of Small Balsam plant (Impatiens parviflora, Russian name Nedotroga) in Sestroretsk, north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 30, 2016
Leaves of a plant of lily family in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 20, 2017
Mats of a creeping plant twinflower (Linnaea borealis) near Komarovo, 25 miles north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, October 1, 2017
Resupinate polypore mushroom pinkish waxpore (Ceriporia excelsa) or may be C. purpurea on underside of a wet alder log with plant roots in Tarkhovka Park, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 10, 2021
Details of resupinate polypore mushroom pinkish waxpore (Ceriporia excelsa) or may be C. purpurea on underside of a wet alder log with plant roots in Tarkhovka Park, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 10, 2021
Leaf of hosta plant in Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 26, 2021
Flowering plants in Parterre of Private Garden of Mariya Fiodorovna behind Grand Palace in Pavlovsk Park. Pavlovsk, suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 31, 2024
Stinging Nettle leaves (Urtica dioica) covered in a dense layer of hoarfrost in Kannelyarvi. The plant is famous for its trichomes (stinging hairs). In this frozen state, the ice crystals cling preferentially to these fine hairs and the serrated edges of the leaves, turning the plant s defensive mechanism into a surface for ice nucleation. North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 1, 2025
Panoramic view from the Tarkhovka shoreline that looks north-west across the Sestroretsky Razliv (Lake Sestroretsk) toward the city of Sestroretsk. This view captures the dual nature of Sestroretsk: a historic resort town with natural beauty (the lake, reeds, and stones) juxtaposed with modern urban infrastructure (heating plant and high-rise housing). "Three Chimneys" (Center): The most prominent industrial feature is the cluster of three tall red-and-white striped chimneys. These belong to the Sestroretsk District Heating Plant (part of the city s thermal infrastructure). Residential Towers (Left of Chimneys): The tall, beige-and-orange brick apartment buildings are part of the modern residential developments in Sestroretsk, likely along Tokarevskaya Street or the Razliv microdistrict. Church of Peter and Paul (Far Right): On the far right horizon. This is a modern church (consecrated in 2009) built in memory of the Russian submariners. "Pyramid" Building (Far Left): On the far left, there is a distinctive white building with a stepped, pyramid-like shape. This is likely the "Eden" (Edem) residential complex or a similar luxury apartment block, which is known for its terraced architecture. Tarkhovka Park near Sestroretsk, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, October 3, 2025
Remains of a Finnish hydroelectric power plant on the Volchya River (formerly Saijanjoki), located near the village of Peta"ja"rvi (now Petrovskoye) in the Leningrad Region. The dam structure, including the concrete pillars and spillway, is still standing, creating a scenic waterfall that is a popular tourist stop on the Vyaryamyanselka Ridge eco-trail. Petyayarvi north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 5, 2025
Spillway of a Finnish hydroelectric power plant on the Volchya River (formerly Saijanjoki), located near the village of Peta"ja"rvi (now Petrovskoye) in the Leningrad Region. Petyayarvi north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 5, 2025
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) on Alpine Hill (or Alpinarium). Sterile Fronds (The "Feathers"): The large, outer leaves have turned from green to a golden-bronze color. These are the "ostrich feathers" that give the plant its name. They are withering now and will soon collapse for the winter. Fertile Fronds (The Dark Spikes): In the very center, there are the dark brown, stiff, upright spikes. These are the spore-bearing fronds (sporophylls). Unlike the leafy outer fronds, these become woody and persist standing upright through the entire winter, often poking out through the snow. Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 8, 2025
Italian Pergola located in the Private Garden (Sobstvenny Sadik) of Catherine Park. The pergola was built in 1865 (mid-19th century) during the reign of Alexander II. It was designed specifically to be covered in climbing plants, creating a shaded walkway or "veranda" that offered respite from the sun while allowing views of the obelisk and the surrounding landscape. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Picturesque density of Alexander Park s wilder sections. The vertical rhythm of white birch trunks cuts through the heavy, textured masses of yellow maple and brown shrubbery, creating a depth that feels more like a natural forest than a planted garden. The "golden autumn" palette is fully realized here, with the canopy s bright yellow filtering soft light down to the russet-colored undergrowth, unifying the chaotic vegetation into a warm, cohesive scene. This untamed aesthetic offers a sensory retreat, focusing on the enclosure and stillness of the woods rather than open vistas or architectural focal points. in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
The textural complexity of the park s planting, which moves beyond simple color contrast. The towering, evergreen spruces (likely Norway spruce) act as dark, architectural columns that anchor the scene, breaking up the horizontal sweep of the deciduous canopy. Their deep, somber green provides a necessary counterpoint to the "burning" oranges and yellows of the maples and birches, preventing the scene from becoming visually flat. The untouched, grassy banks and fallen logs floating in the water reinforce the "wild forest" illusion (a deliberate design choice known as paysage), evoking the moody, introspective landscapes of Russian Realist painters like Shishkin or Nesterov. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Forest interior with rich, layered complexity of mixed deciduous plantings. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
"Golden Autumn" in Upper Park. The image highlights a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees. Tall spruce trees (dark green) stand in contrast to the vibrant yellow of the maples and lindens, creating a rich texture and color palette typical of the Upper Park s diverse planting design. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Neoclassical apartment building located at 108 Bolshoy Sampsonievsky Prospect (corner of Serdobolskaya Street), viewed across Serdobolsky Pond. The dominant structure is a residential complex known locally as the House of Specialists or sometimes nicknamed the "Bastille near Lanskaya". Designed by architects Viktor F. Belov, V.A. Potapov, and M.P. Savkevich. Built between 1953 and 1956, representing the late Stalinist "Empire" style. It was commissioned by the Klimov Plant (Zavod im. Klimova), a major manufacturer of aviation engines, to house its employees. Lesnoy Park (Lesotekhnicheskiy Universitet), Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 14, 2025
Monument of heroes of Great October Socialist Revolution. It is a mass grave monument dedicated to Red Guards who died during the 1917 October Revolution and the subsequent Civil War. The site originated in 1917 as a burial ground for workers and Red Guards from the nearby Novy Lessner Plant (now the Karl Marx Machine-Building Plant). These fighters were killed in battles against the troops of General Pyotr Krasnov near Pulkovo during the defense of Petrograd. In 1953, a wooden structure was replaced by the current grey granite obelisk seen today. It was designed by architect Yuri Wiesenthal. This monument is a solemn reminder of the intense revolutionary history of the Vyborg Side, a district historically populated by industrial workers who were pivotal to the Bolshevik cause. Lesnoy Park (Lesotekhnicheskiy Universitet), Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 14, 2025
A view of the Pavlovsk Palace seen from the Triple Lime Avenue. Planted by Charles Cameron in the 1780s using linden trees imported from Lu"beck, this avenue was designed as the grand formal approach to the palace. The building at the end is the garden facade of the Great Palace. The dark figure standing in front of the palace is the statue of Paul I. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 15, 2025
