Midwinter Blooms: BelSU’s Lilac Celebration Brightens Students’ Day

Continuing a cherished tradition, Belgorod National Research University (BelSU) has forced lilac bushes to bloom in time for Russian Students’ Day, celebrated annually on January 25th. The meticulous work began in mid-summer 2025, with careful selection of varieties and preparation of specimens. According to Marina Evtukhova, Head of the Landscape Architecture Department at BelSU, this year’s results have been particularly impressive, with 90% of the selected plants blooming – a record achievement in the history of this initiative.

“This season, we introduced several new varieties that had not been tested before,” Evtukhova explained. “We utilized exclusively in-house planting material, which was obtained through micropropagation in our Plant Biotechnology Laboratory and cultivated in our nursery for three to four years.”

In keeping with tradition, the vibrant lilacs have been displayed throughout the university’s foyers and halls, as well as in the Svetlana Khorkina Sports and Training Centre and the university's house church dedicated to Archangel Gabriel.