Анна Грибанова, resident of Chechersk, has a deep love for her city and desires it to be beautiful, green, and flourishing.
In this year, she gifted a few saplings of Paulownia – a tree renowned for its large, lush leaves and stunning crown.
Anna Vladimirovna discovered information about this plant online and acquired seeds from a Brest-based botanical blogger who was giving them away for free to gardeners. She nurtured the tiny «seeds» in pots on her windowsill for two years. Once the saplings were robust enough for transplanting, she handed them over to the chief ecologist, Nina Avseyeva.
Nina Borisovna designated the area near the memorial for the burnt villages in Chechersk as the permanent home for these rare plantings in our region. This place attracts visitors who come with deep respect and sorrow for the innocent victims of fascism. When the trees grow, their shade will offer relief from the scorching sun during the hot afternoons. Additionally, Anna Griabanova donated two saplings for the greenery around the district hospital where she works.
A little background information:
Plaunonia is named after Franz von Siebold in honor of Anna Pavlovna, a highly revered daughter of Tsar Paul I. This fast-growing and hardy giant plant is an excellent honey producer and has always been considered sacred. It symbolizes luck and fertility. Besides enhancing the landscape with its vibrant purple blooms, it strengthens the soil, capturing carbon dioxide, dust, and noise four times more effectively than other deciduous trees. Paulownia is completely safe for humans and boasts a pleasant floral fragrance. Thanks to Anna Vladimirovna, our city has gained several bright, attractive, and beneficial plantings.
Valentina PRANKEVICH
PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR
