(essay)

The flowering of chestnuts in Kyiv is a special phenomenon that turns the city into a living postcard every year at the end of spring. Around mid-May, chestnuts are covered with magnificent white or pinkish inflorescences resembling candles. This is not only a natural but also a cultural phenomenon: the chestnut has long become an unofficial symbol of Kyiv; its image was even on the old coat of arms of the city.

The most fascinating flowering can be seen on the central streets, in particular on Khreshchatyk, where chestnuts have been planted since the 1940s. The best place to enjoy this period is in the city center — on Khreshchatyk Street, where chestnuts create a living arch over the main street of the capital. Another picturesque place is Mariinsky Park with its old alleys and a view of the Dnipro. A walk along Volodymyrska Gory or Taras Shevchenko Boulevard will also give vivid impressions: here the chestnut blossom harmoniously combines with the architecture and history of the city. Moreover, in the Fomin Botanical Garden you can see not only the usual Kyiv chestnuts, but also rare species that bloom especially magnificently in spring. These days, the city is filled with a special poetry — people take pictures under the trees, take walks, and the light aroma of fresh blossoms is in the air.

The bloom does not last long — usually about two weeks — so Kyiv residents and visitors try not to miss the moment to see the old streets and parks enveloped in white-pink tenderness. This is the short time when Kyiv is especially beautiful, romantic and recognizable.