November 16, 2021

Late Bloomers


Late Bloomers
Yucca plants in full bloom.  Photo via PXfuel

Warm weather in the Krasnodar region has awakened plants that are usually, by this time of the year, done growing for the season. Staff at the Sochi Arboretum are surprised by the number of trees that are still in bloom and warn that, if the warm weather continues, there could be other ecological impacts. 

The deputy director for scientific work at the Arboretum, Boris Tuniev, explains that, usually by October, leaves in the park will begin to fall, but this year everything was late by about a month. Many plants, such as the yucca, are still continuing to blossom. Other autumn plants still maintain their vibrant colors. 

Tuniev worries that if the warm weather continues, spring flowers like snowdrops and primroses could blossom. This also has impacts on the wildlife; it seems that many snakes have still not found the need to leave for hibernation yet either. 

Indeed, it has been a very strange year weather-wise, both in Sochi and elsewhere

You Might Also Like

Sochi +5
  • March 01, 2019

Sochi +5

Views of Sochi, five years after the close of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in that southern city.
Assessing the Damage
  • January 01, 2014

Assessing the Damage

Olympic host countries typically garner many more medals than their average take at a games. We look at Russia's prospects and what their victory could "cost" Russia. The story includes a two-page guide to the games, with a schedule of events and maps of the venues.
Cloudy With a Chance of Milkshakes
  • July 07, 2021

Cloudy With a Chance of Milkshakes

A usual weather phenomenon called "Milky Rain" occurred recently in the Moscow region, but it wasn't nearly as delicious as it sounds. 
Flooded with Fun
  • June 07, 2021

Flooded with Fun

Citizens of Krasnoyarsk are figuring out how to make the best out of a pretty water-logged situation. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955