To the north of the center of the Russian capital lies a small but very popular area among locals and visitors alike - the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University known as "The Apothecary Garden." I was in Moscow in early June, so without hesitation, I added this place to my city itinerary. Here's my account of exploring the garden.
How to Get There by Metro
The address of "The Apothecary Garden" is Prospekt Mira, 26, building 1. The cost of an adult admission ticket without discounts varies from 300 to 400 rubles depending on the day of the week. You can stroll around the grounds from 10 am to 9 pm, with the last entry at 8:30 pm.
The vestibule of the Prospekt Mira metro station is located a couple of hundred meters from the garden.
A Bit of History
The history of "The Apothecary Garden" dates back to 1706 when, by the decree of the future Russian Emperor Peter I, a garden for the cultivation of medicinal herbs and plants was laid out on the northern outskirts of Moscow.
According to legend, Peter himself planted three trees in the garden, and one of them still grows here. Besides this larch, the map of "The Apothecary Garden" shows several other ancient trees: two oaks planted in the early and late 19th century, and a pre-Petrine willow. The latter is considered the oldest tree in the center of Moscow.
In the early 19th century, "The Apothecary Garden" was transferred to the ownership of Moscow University, which belongs to MSU today, serving as a branch of the botanical garden on the Sparrow Hills. Interestingly, after the revolution, the territory of "The Apothecary Garden" was closed to visitors, and only children from nearby areas could occasionally enter.
A walk in the garden is a real journey into the realm of greenery. If we look at the map of "The Apothecary Garden" again, we will see that there are many diverse zones here: Heather Hill, Lilac Garden, Coniferous Hills, Medicinal Herb Garden, Hydrangea Promenade, Sensory Garden, and this is only a small part of "The Apothecary Garden" objects. In the spring of 2022, the Far Eastern Garden was supposed to open here, but at the time of my visit, this area was closed to guests.
In the southeast part of the garden is the greenhouse complex. Here you can see many thermophilic plants and take some interesting photographs. Nearby is the Exhibition Greenhouse, which hosts temporary exhibitions. For example, when I was here for the first time, there was a lilac exhibition, and during this visit, I saw a collection of rhododendrons.
On the website of "The Apothecary Garden," it is stated that as part of the excursion group, garden guests can see the Fund Tropical Greenhouse with a collection of ferns, hidden from the view of other guests.
Have a nice trip!
