Grand Palace in Peterhof, a hall with winter view. Near Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 22, 2005
Dvortsovaya Square, Alexandriysky Stolp (Alexander Column, Pillar), and Winter Palace (Hermitage museum). Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 25, 2003
The Hermitage (Winter Palace) at Dvortsovaya Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 13, 1999.
Prayer hall of a church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 16, 2016
Dvortsovaya Square, Alexandriysky Stolp (Alexander Column, Pillar), and Winter Palace (Hermitage museum). Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 25, 2003
Group of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
Cluster of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on Rudakovskaya Lane in Smolenskoe Cemetery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 12, 2017
Winter Palace from Dvortsovaya Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 2, 2017
Gate of Winter Palace on Dvortsovaya Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 7, 2013
Vaults of church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 16, 2016
Vaults of Church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 7, 2018
Church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 16, 2016
Sculptures at the roof of the Hermitage (Winter Palace) from Dvortsovy Prospect. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 13, 1999.
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on Zakharov Island in Gatchina Park. Gatchina, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 12, 2016
Ceiling of church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 16, 2016
Winter rosettes of mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) in sand on a logging site near Hallojarvi (Gorynskoe) Lake near Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, April 27, 2017
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis) on a log near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 12, 2017
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) appearing earlier in the season on a polar(?) stump between houses near Toreza Prospect. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2018
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a base of Peacock wooden sculpture in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 24, 2016
Large cap of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
An alley in Sosnovka Park in winter. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 19, 2005
Winter swimming from a bastion of Peter and Paul Fortress. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 13, 2013
Church of Winter Palace in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 7, 2018
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 12, 2017
A decoration in Alexander Hall in Hermitage museum (Winter Palace). Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2005
Sculpture on the roof of Winter Palace on Palace Embankment. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 16, 2016
Herald of the winter waxcap mushrooms (Hygrophorus hypothejus) on mushroom show in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 1, 2016
Young winter mushrooms (velvet stem, Flammulina velutipes) taken from Pavlovsk Park, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, November 1, 2016
Winter Gnat (Trichocera Hiemalis) on melting snow in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
View of the Hermitage (Winter Palace) from Dvortsovy Bridge. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 6, 1999.
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis, Polyporus brumalis) near Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2016
Long line of tourists standing in courtyard of Winter Palace in order to enter Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2009
Winter Palace from Dvortsovaya Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 5, 2018
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on rotten log in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 16, 2016
Group of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on Rudakovskaya Lane in Smolenskoe Cemetery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 12, 2017
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a stump in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 16, 2016
Caps of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) near Oredezh River in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 16, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a rotten stump in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a willow in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
Samson Fountain in winter in Peterhof. Near Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 6, 2013
Winter Palace (Hermitage) from Dvortsovaya Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2016
Russian traditional winter food sold in market in Oranienbaum. Lomonosov, near Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 6, 2013
Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 12, 2009
Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) east from Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 8, 2014
Fountain of Grand Cascade in winter in Peterhof. Near Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 6, 2013
Flowers of Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) east from Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 8, 2014
Yellow flowers of Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) east from Kuzmolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 8, 2014
Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) near train station of Komarovo, 25 miles north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 9, 2016
Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka)(?) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) behind reeds on a beach in Sestroretsk, north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 8, 2016
Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) near Olginsky Pond. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2016
Flowers of Common Winter Cress (Yellow Rocket, Barbarea vulgaris, Russian name Surepka) near Olginsky Pond. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) near Oredezh River in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 16, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on the ground in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 16, 2016
Pores of winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis, Polyporus brumalis) near Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2016
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis, Polyporus brumalis) taken from a rotten log near Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2016
Small winter mushrooms (velvet stem, Flammulina velutipes) taken from Pavlovsk Park, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, November 1, 2016
Bunch of winter mushrooms (velvet stem, Flammulina velutipes) taken from Pavlovsk Park, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, November 1, 2016
Back lit winter mushrooms (velvet stem, Flammulina velutipes) taken from Pavlovsk Park, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, November 1, 2016
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a mossy stump in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 23, 2016
Masses of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
Cluster of winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) with snow on a dry tree in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 21, 2017
Blooming winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Flowers of winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Winter mushrooms (velvet foot, Flammulina velutipes) at the base of Elephant sculpture in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 2, 2017
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 8, 2017
Old iron cross and winter mushrooms on Nevskaya Lane in Smolenskoe Cemetery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 12, 2017
Small winter polypore mushrooms Lentinus brumalis(?) growing on peat in swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 23, 2017
Small winter polypore mushrooms Lentinus brumalis(?) taken from swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 23, 2017
Winter rosettes on alpine hills in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 2, 2017
Hymenophore of winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis, Polyporus brumalis) found between Pesochnaya and Dibuny north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, April 3, 2017
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis, Polyporus brumalis) found between Pesochnaya and Dibuny north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, April 3, 2017
Winter rosette of leaves on a beach near Sestroretsk. West from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 12, 2017
Details of a winter rosette of thistle under power lines in Dibuny, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2017
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis) near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 29, 2017
Winter polypore mushrooms (Lentinus brumalis)(?) on roadside near Kavgolovskoe Lake in Toksovo, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 10, 2017
Winter-fruiting woodland mushrooms (Meottomyces dissimulans) near Dibuny, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 27, 2017
Winter-fruiting woodland mushrooms (Meottomyces dissimulans) in a ditch near Dibuny, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 27, 2017
Winter forest west from Kavgolovo Lake near Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, February 12, 2018
Winter rosette of thistle under power lines in Dibuny, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2017
Winter-fruiting woodland mushrooms (Meottomyces dissimulans) in Tarkhovka near Sestroretsk, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 27, 2018
Sugar-frosted leaves of the bog blueberry or bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), locally known in Russia as golubika. The ice crystals have nucleated along the leaf margins, outlining each small oval leaf in white. This creates a striking contrast with the deep crimson tissue. The deep red pigmentation is due to anthocyanins.This is a classic sign of the "pre-winter" season (predzimye) in the taiga ecosystem. Kannelyarvi, north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 1, 2025
Garden work at alpine Hill (or Alpinarium). The people visible in blue jackets are likely garden staff or volunteers preparing the alpine beds for winter. Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia in Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 8, 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
This scene showcases a sophisticated understanding of color layering in landscape design, using native species to create depth. The distinct red-purple haze of the Red-barked dogwood (Cornus alba or Swida alba) in the foreground acts as a grounding base, contrasting sharply with the luminous yellow of the maples and the vertical white lines of the birch trunks behind it. The dogwood s dense, fine twig structure (which turns vibrant blood-red in winter) adds a chaotic, bushy texture that complements the more open, airy canopy of the deciduous forest. This composition highlights the transition of seasons; while the canopy glows with "golden autumn," the understory dogwood is already revealing the red bark that will provide visual interest throughout the snowy Russian winter. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Mushrooms Herald of winter (Hygrophorus hypothejus) in a spruce forest in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 11, 2025
Masses of mushrooms Herald of winter (Hygrophorus hypothejus) in a spruce forest in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 11, 2025
Side view of mushrooms Herald of winter (Hygrophorus hypothejus) in a spruce forest in Posiolok near Vyritsa, south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 11, 2025
