In the Verkhnedvinsk district, a tree is grown from which an Indian canoe can be made

This kind of forest exotic can be seen in the local arboretum.

The indigenous peoples of the American continent chose the giant thuja (also known as red cedar) as material for their watercraft; its wood is soft and easy to work with. No one expected that a plant native to North America would take root so well in the conditions of the Vitebsk region. In 1982, several trees of this species, exotic for our latitudes, along with over 250 other rare tree and shrub species brought from all over the world – from different corners of Asia, Europe, and America – became the foundation of the arboretum of the State Forestry Institution "Verkhnedvinskoye Forestry".

– We owe the appearance of such an extensive collection in our region to the forestry engineer Vasily Pavlyuchkov; thanks to his passion, a kingdom of rare plants was created near the northern border of the country on an area of seven hectares, – says the current arboretum keeper, head of the nursery of the Verkhnedvinskoye Forestry, Viktor Simanovich.

Today, the arboretum covers an area of 18.7 hectares, with 312 species growing there, including 67 coniferous species. It also features the republic's only unique plantation of Siberian pine (Siberian stone pine). However, as Viktor Ivanovich admitted, in all his time working here, he has only managed to taste the tree's signature delicacy – pine nuts – once. Even if they don't produce seeds (incidentally, seeds from this plantation germinate 10–20% better in Belarus than those brought from Siberia), local squirrels don't wait for the nuts in the cones to fully ripen; they eat them quickly. Visitors, on the other hand, are advised against trying the fruits and berries of many trees and shrubs growing in the arboretum, as it is not always safe. While the Actinidia kolomikta vines (a plant closely related to kiwi) bear useful, vitamin-rich, sweet-and-sour fruits that taste like gooseberries, the yew berry is extremely poisonous. All parts of the plant – leaves, branches, bark – are dangerous, yet it possesses powerful antimicrobial properties, releasing phytoncides.

– Our ancestors believed that if a yew grew near a house, its inhabitants would be safe from any diseases; even the plague would pass them by. I personally tested its healing properties: when I felt the first signs of a cold, I breathed the air near the bush, and the illness always receded, – says Viktor Ivanovich.

He also mentioned that yew used to grow widely in our forests, but due to its valuable wood, which is resistant to aging and decay, it was exterminated. The largest and oldest specimen of the species today grows in Poland; the tree is four and a half thousand years old. Now, this plant is being cultivated again in our country, and quite successfully, so in the near future, this old acquaintance may be found in ordinary forests.

An exclusive feature of the Verkhnedvinsk Arboretum is the tulip tree, or Liriodendron tulipifera. There are only a few specimens of this tree throughout Belarus. There are two subspecies: the more delicate Chinese one and the American one, which has acclimatized well in the region and has beautiful yellowish-green flowers that resemble tulips in shape (hence its name). The tulip tree is also useful, as it is an excellent honey plant, even better than linden trees.

Viktor Simanovich can tell a lot of interesting things about each of the "residents" of the Verkhnedvinsk Arboretum, both about the trees familiar to us and exotic ones. The arboretum receives excursions almost every week, but even if the owner and main guide are not present, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, and if you wish, you can read the names of the plants from the "cheat sheets" – special signs. The arboretum is a great place for recreation; you can walk along the alleys and then sit in gazebos, including those on the bank of a small pond. The picturesque landscapes become an excellent backdrop for wedding photos, so newlyweds are frequent guests here.

– There are no restrictions on visits, except that when visiting nature, one should treat it with care, — Viktor Simanovich concludes our meeting.

Natalia Kamlyova. Photos by Anton Stepanishchev, "Vitebskiye Vesti".