Small blue flowers of Wild Hyancinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 27, 2009
Early fruit of wild strawberry (Russian name Zemlianika) east from Kuzmolovo, 7 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 22, 2011
Flowers of wild strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 25, 2017
Wild Island of Big Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2016
Flowers of wild strawberry east from Kuzmolovo, 7 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 22, 2011
Wild roses on the beach and Sestra River in Sestroretsk, 15 miles north-west from Sankt Petersburg. Russia, October 2, 2000
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2011
Close up of a fruit of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 25, 2015
Dissected fruit of wild calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) taken from a swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 24, 2015
Blooming wild strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) west from Toksovo, 10 miles north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 24, 2009
Bumblebee on flowers of wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) in a forest north from Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 11, 2010
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Beloe Lake near railroad in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 12, 2009
Wild almond (Amygdalus ledebouriana) in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 10, 2016
Fruit of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) near Zapliusye in Pskov Region south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 27, 2010
Flower of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 7, 2011
Selling wild mushrooms on farmer s market near Udelnaya Station. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 16, 2013
Fruit of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 25, 2015
Wild strawberry fruit east from Toksovo, 10 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 9, 2009
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in a swamp in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2011
Flowers of wild strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in the park. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 4, 2010
Close up of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2011
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 28, 2011
Fruit of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in a forest north from Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 11, 2010
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 26, 2014
Wild (Empty) Island of Big Pond in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 3, 2016
Wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum, Russian name Chabrets) in a forest north from Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 11, 2010
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 7, 2011
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 25, 2015
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 12, 2009
Flower spike of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Lembolovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 7, 2011
Wild rose (Russian name Shipovnik) in Sablino, south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 13, 2009
Fruits of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 19, 2013
Flower of wild strawberry (Russian name Zemlianika) east from Kuzmolovo, 7 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 22, 2011
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) fruits in swamp of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 15, 2012
Wild duck (mallard) on Karasiovoe Lake in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 21, 2016
Flower of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 10, 2011
Fruits of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 15, 2013
Edible wild berries in a birch grove near Korkino in southern Ural. South from Cheliabinsk, Russia, August 12, 2001
Wild blueberries in a forest near Oselki, 20 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 22, 2004
Wild pig on tapestry in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 19, 2015
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park in Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 24, 2010
Wild cherry in a birch grove near Korkino in southern Ural. South from Cheliabinsk, Russia, August 12, 2001
Fruits of wild strawberry (Zemlianika, Fragaria) north from Vyritsa, 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 18, 2012
Ripening fruits of wild raspberry (Rubus, Russian name Malina) west from Kuzmolovo, 10 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 23, 2012
Fruits of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in swamp of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 15, 2012
Deacomposing fruits with emerging seeds of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 19, 2013
Fruits of Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in moss in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 19, 2013
Wild grape in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 30, 2013
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) near Valkialampi Lake in Orekhovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 5, 2014
Wild Calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 13, 2014
Fruits of wild calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) near a forest path in swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 24, 2015
Fruit of wild calla (Water Arum, Calla palustris) taken from a swampy area of Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 24, 2015
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) south-west from Dibuny - Pesochnyi, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 14, 2016
Wild grape in Nikolskoe Cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 18, 2016
Wild ginger (Asarum europaeum, Russian name Kopyten) near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 29, 2017
Blooming wild strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, June 1, 2017
Wild strawberry (Fragaria, Russian name Zemlianika) in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 25, 2017
Wild rose and grasses in Gulf of Finland in Morskaya near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 18, 2017
Flowers of a wild apple tree on a beach near Sestroretsk, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 29, 2021
Blooming wild apple tree on a beach near Sestroretsk, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 29, 2021
Presence of a dead gull on a beach in the Gulf of Finland near Solnechnoe, that is most likely linked to the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, specifically the H5N1 strain, which has devastated wild bird populations in the Baltic region throughout 2023-2025. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 9, 2025
Italian Pergola located in the Private Garden (Sobstvenny Sadik) of Catherine Park. The pergola is spectacularly draped in wild grapes (likely Parthenocissus quinquefolia or Virginia Creeper). In October, these vines turn a brilliant crimson and burgundy, creating a stunning contrast with the golden yellow leaves of the nearby trees and the cool grey stone of the columns and the obelisk. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Romantic melancholy of the Russian "Golden Autumn," a recurring theme in both landscape design and literature. The dark, still water acts as a "black mirror," doubling the impact of the golden foliage while adding a somber, contemplative depth to the scene. The contrast between the fading green aquatic grasses, the rusty-red dogwood underbrush, and the bright yellow canopy creates a rich, painterly texture reminiscent of Levitan s landscapes. The framing of the water by dense, encroaching vegetation emphasizes the "wild" nature of this park section, moving away from the formal geometry of the canals toward an intimate, secluded atmosphere. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park 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
Wild, impressionistic beauty of Alexander Park s naturalistic sections. The image is dominated by the rough, dark bark of mature oaks (likely Quercus robur) in the foreground, which contrasts sharply with the soft, hazy backdrop of golden maples and underbrush. The dense layering of vegetation--from the grassy forest floor to the tangled mid-story shrubs (like hazel or dogwood) and the towering canopy--creates a sense of enclosure and depth, reminiscent of a Levitan landscape painting. The scene captures the full richness of the "Golden Autumn," where the vibrant yellows and russets of the foliage seem to glow from within the forest, creating a warm, immersive atmosphere despite the overcast sky. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025
Autumn in Upper Park. The large glacial boulder (erratic block) on the side of the path is a typical element of 19th-century romantic park design, intended to add a sense of antiquity and natural wildness. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Dynamic display of autumn color and texture in Upper Park. The image highlights a grove of white-barked trees--likely birch or aspen--whose bright trunks are textured with patches of green moss and lichen. These vertical lines contrast beautifully with the chaotic, horizontal spread of the crimson undergrowth (likely wild shrubs like dogwood). Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
scenery near the Chinese Palace in the Upper Park. The foreground features a massive, aged oak tree with a prominent hollow in its trunk. This "veteran tree" adds a sense of history and wildness, characteristic of 19th-century English landscape gardens that prized such picturesque imperfections. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Statue of Ilioneus (also known as the Kneeling Youth) located in the Oranienbaum Park (Lomonosov, near St. Petersburg). The sculpture depicts Ilioneus, the youngest son of Niobe from Greek mythology, kneeling and raising his arms in a plea for mercy before being struck by Apollo s arrows. It stands beneath a stone pergola near the Chinese Palace in the Upper Park. The pergola is famously covered in the vibrant red leaves of wild grapes (Parthenocissus), creating a striking contrast with the dark bronze figure. Russia, October 13, 2025
Scenery around the Chinese Pond (Upper Park Pond) in Oranienbaum Park. The stone pergola, draped in vivid red wild grapes (Parthenocissus), serves as a striking architectural centerpiece across the water. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Winding gravel path in the Upper Park of Oranienbaum. This area was called "Russian Switzerland" because of its rugged, hilly terrain, steep river banks, and the winding Karasta River valley, which landscape architects designed to resemble a wild, mountainous alpine landscape on a miniature scale. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Rustic, three-arched stone bridge (often referred to as the Ruin Bridge or simply the stone arch bridge) in the "Russian Switzerland" area in Oranienbaum s Upper Park. Built from rough-hewn boulders to mimic a natural or ancient ruin, it harmonizes perfectly with the wild, rugged aesthetic of the Karasta River valley. The bridge spans a small ravine or tributary, surrounded by a golden forest of birch and maple trees that soften the stone s heavy appearance with delicate autumn foliage. Oranienbaum palace-and-park ensemble in Lomonosov (a suburb of St. Petersburg), Russia, October 13, 2025
Rustic stone arch bridge, nestled deep within the Sergievka Park ravine. Built from rough-hewn granite blocks, the bridge was designed to look ancient and weather-beaten even when new, fitting the 19th-century romantic preference for melding architecture with wild nature. The bridge spans a small cascade of the Kristatelka River, where water tumbles over mossy stone steps, creating a soothing auditory backdrop to the visual serenity. The scene is framed by golden maples and fallen leaves that carpet the banks and settle into the stream s rocky bed, enhancing the secluded, fairy-tale atmosphere. Sergievka Park, Old Peterhof, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2025
Weathered stone steps, covered in moss and fallen leaves, are a charming example of the "romantic ruin" aesthetic that defines Sergievka Park. The granite blocks are softened by thick green moss and scattered with yellow maple leaves, emphasizing the passage of time and the park s intentionally wild, "abandoned" atmosphere. Set within a dense grove of maples and hardwoods, the steps are illuminated by the soft, filtered light of the "Golden Autumn" canopy, creating a quiet, contemplative spot for visitors. Old Peterhof, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2025
This sequence of disjointed stone steps, winding up the leaf-covered slope, exemplifies the "landscape surprise" element typical of the Sergievka Park design. Unlike the straight, formal staircases of the nearby Peterhof Grand Palace, these steps are scattered and uneven, inviting visitors to meander through the forest rather than march directly to a destination. The steps are almost camouflaged by a vibrant mosaic of fallen yellow and brown leaves, making them appear as natural rock formations emerging from the hillside. The staircase sequence gently ascends the steep ravine bank, integrating perfectly with the surrounding old-growth trees and emphasizing the park s wild, preserved character. Old Peterhof, west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2025
