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3769-01. Ancient oak tree trunk. Many oaks in the park are over 200 years old, some dating back to the park s initial landscaping in the 18th and 19th centuries. The gnarled, textured bark and massive girth signify its age and resilience. Northern part of Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025Similar picturesLarge thumbnails | Use small thumbnails | View as slideshow |
 Ancient oak trunk in Alexander Park showcases the sculptural quality of the park s veteran trees. The trunk features a massive, gnarled root flare and deep, craggy bark fissures, indicators of its significant age (likely over 200 years). These "veteran trees" are living monuments from the imperial era. Northern part of Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Big Lamsky Pond (Bolshoy Lamskoy Prud), part of a system of ponds originally dug in the early 19th century to drain the park s marshy terrain. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Mushrooms Plicaturopsis crispa on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Caps of mushrooms Plicaturopsis crispa on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Young mushrooms Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Naturalistic path winding through a dense grove of mature trees, including oaks and maples, which display a vibrant palette of ochre, rust, and lime green. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Mushrooms Plicaturopsis crispa together with Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Underside of caps of mushrooms Plicaturopsis crispa on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Texture of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Close-up of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Corticioid mushrooms Plicatura nivea on logs in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Growth of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Fall colors of maples along Krestovy Canal. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Oak mazegill mushrooms (Daedalea quercina) on a stump in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Corticioid mushrooms Plicatura nivea on a cut surface of a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Round patch of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Soft edge of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Corticioid mushrooms Plicatura nivea with a slug on a cut surface of a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Maple alley near Chinese Bridges of Krestovy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Trunk of a larch tree in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2016  Close-up of soft edge of corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Large area covered by corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Fall colors at Big Lamsky Pond (Bolshoy Lamskoy Prud). Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Ancient linden alley near the Feodorovsky Gorodok (Fyodorovsky Town) which is a remnant of the park s imperial landscape design. The gnarled, dark trunks of the linden trees (Tilia) create a solemn, cathedral-like atmosphere. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  The path, leading northeast from the Big Lamsky Pond, illustrating the transition into the more secluded "wilderness" areas of the park. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Texture of large area covered by corticioid fungus Plicatura nivea on a log in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Mixed forest texture, highlighting the interplay between deciduous and coniferous species. 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  Bark of a larch tree in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 13, 2016  Lower Lamsky Bridge (Nizhny Lamskoy Bridge). It acts as a dam between the ponds and the Kuzminka River. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Layered complexity of the mixed deciduous forest in Alexander Park. The image is a study in yellow, dominated by the luminous canopy of Norway maples and silver birches. The rough, dark bark of the oaks and maples provides a strong vertical rhythm that cuts through the delicate, hazy texture of the foliage. The white, paper-like bark of the birch trees adds a secondary visual accent typical of the Russian landscape. The composition includes a rich understory of turning shrubs--likely hazel or young rowan--which adds density and depth, grounding the soaring trunks in a thicket of earthy reds and browns. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Oaks near Small Chineese Bridge of Krestovy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park of Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 25, 2017  A view to northwest along the Krestovy Canal. The canal leads away from the Cross Bridge towards the northwest, deeper into the park s wooded areas. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  A tree near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Old tree near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Small Lamsky Bridge (Maly Lamskoy Bridge), built in the early 20th century (around 1900) to replace an earlier wooden crossing. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Bolshoy Lamskoy Bridge (Large Lamskoy Bridge) area, which connects the Big and Upper Lamskoy Ponds. 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  Northern honey mushrooms (Armillaria borealis) on a lawn in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 21, 2025  Fall colors of oaks in Catherine Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Northern honey mushrooms (Armillaria borealis) on a lawn near Arsenal in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 21, 2025  Caps of northern honey mushrooms (Armillaria borealis) on a lawn in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 21, 2025  Caps of northern honey mushrooms (Armillaria borealis) on a lawn in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 21, 2025  Oaks in Aleksandrovsky Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 30, 2011  Oaks in Aleksandrovsky Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 30, 2011  Krestovy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Krestovy Bridge in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Vittslovsliy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Lamsky Bridge in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Lamsky Pavilion in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  A birch grove in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. The composition is defined by the striking, repeating vertical lines of the white birch trunks. This "bar code" pattern creates a strong visual rhythm that cuts through the soft, chaotic texture of the foliage. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  This view from the Small Chinese Bridge captures the northwestern stretch of the Krestovy Canal. The canal creates a straight, reflective corridor lined with golden maples, emphasizing the transition from the formal "New Garden" to the more naturalistic landscape park areas. Looking northwest, the canal leads toward the Alexander Palace and its kitchen buildings, which are situated to the right of this axis, hidden behind the dense tree line. The scene highlights the park s quiet, wooded character, contrasting with the architectural focus of the opposite view towards the Cross Bridge. Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 2025  Oaks on a bend of Vittolovsky Shapel Pond in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 3, 2016  Park fence east from a dam of Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Chapelle (Shapel) Tower in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Chinese and Krestovy Bridges in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Forest near Vittslovsliy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Bend of Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Trees at Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Krestovy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park of Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 25, 2017  Underside of Sarcodon mushroom in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2024  Porcini mushroom (Boletus edulis) in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2024  Birch grove near Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Sarcodon mushrooms under spruce trees in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2024  Road near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Fall colors of Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Phaeocollybia(?) mushrooms under spruce trees in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2024  Meadow near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Road near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Approach to Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Shores near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Birch stand near Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Rotunda of Chineese Village in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park of Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), a suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 25, 2017  Red leaves of maple near Lamsky Bridge in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Shores of Verkhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Aspens at Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  North end of Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Bend of Verkhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Small (Upper) Lamsky Bridge in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Birch trees near Lamsky Pavilion in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Alley north-west from Arsenal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Forest near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Chinese Bridges of Krestovy Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Road to Chapelle (Shapel) Tower in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Maple leaves near Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Granite Grotto near Chapelle (Shapel) in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Red maple leaves near Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Road west from Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  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  Chromatic diversity of the understory, where native and introduced species create a vibrant tapestry, with complementary contrast between the brilliant, flat yellow of the maple foliage (likely Acer platanoides) and the deep, rosy-pink to burgundy hues of the Siberian dogwood (Cornus alba). Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 10, 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  Maple leaves near Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Close-up of Phaeocollybia(?) mushrooms under spruce trees in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 18, 2024  Fall foliage north from Vittslovsky Canal in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Fall colors of Verkhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  Road east from Nizhne Lamsky Pond in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013  View from Small (Upper) Lamsky Bridge in Aleksandrovsky (Alexander) Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 19, 2013 |