Exhibitions

January 26 – February 3, Plants of the Ancient Times: from Sigillaria to Willow

We take a look on the evolutionary story of the plant kingdom from the ancient times when the land hadn’t born yet the human footprint to nowadays when the human activity has caused the extinction of many plant species or has put their existence in danger. We present singular species like sigillaria, scale tree, Pleuromeia columnar tree and others that existed already before the peak of the age of dinosaurs, and we also exhibit plants that survived ice ages and are still keeping their continuance on Earth. We observe more closely ostentatious and abundant flora of the Carboniferous period, its replacement with conifers and cycads and the appearance of the first flowering plants.

March 2 – 10, Exhibition of Orchids

Extraordinarily beautiful and demanding orchids have crazed flower admirers hundreds of years. However, orchids with the beauty of their flowers dazzling already from distance form only an insignificant part of this huge plant family. Usually the singularity of orchid flowers can only be seen if examined closely, sometimes with the help of a magnifying glass.

Fortunately, growers have learnt how to manage with the demanding nature of the orchids. There have been cultivated new durable breeds also some of the species have surprisingly turned out to be less demanding and more long-lasting.

The traditional orchid exhibition held in Tallinn Botanical Garden presents boasters of effects and filigree-like miniature plants as well as capricious species and tough survivors. All of them are equally beautiful.

April 13 – 21, Weirdoes of the Plant Kingdom

In the plant kingdom there are lots of funny and bizarre specimens. Some plants seem to be bats or turtles; others look like spiders or butterflies. After eating a certain fruit all the tastes become sweet and after eating some particular leaves the sweet taste will be neutralized. At the exhibition we take a look on how plants communicate and compete between themselves, how they adapt to different situations and conditions and what are the clever tricks they use in those circumstances. The exhibition reveals ways and advantages of the friendship between plants and animals. Nevertheless, plants have a bunch of enemies against whom they have to fight with several methods. How exactly? Come and see!

May 16 – 19, Exhibition of Saintpaulias

The variety of saintpaulias, blooming in spring, is incredibly wide. They are popularly called African violets, although they have no relation with the real violets. Saintpaulias belong to the family Gesneriaceae. The family contains 2900 species and 139 genera of trees, bushes, herbaceous plants, lianas and epiphytes. Beside saintpaulia, the most known are Sinningia, Codonanthe, widow’s tears, lipstick plant, Streptocarpus, Episcia, goldfish plant, Chirita and others. There are 200 species of Gesneriaceae on display. The exhibition is arranged in association with private collectors. At the weekend rare species of saintpaulia, appropriate potting soil and special fertilizers are on sale. It is possible to receive consultation on houseplant growing.

May 26 – July 28, Edible Flowers and Daylilies

The flowers offer mostly the visual pleasure but quite a few of them could be used as snack, salad dressing or enrichment of soup taste – for getting better, healthier and more attractive food. The number of edible flowers is unexpectedly large. Popular ornamental plants as daylilies, roses, cloves, gladioli, peonies and many other known and less known plants have tasty flowers. Flowers have been used for preparing food in Europe and Asia hundreds of years. They can be applied fresh, dry or frozen, for making marinades, jams, wines etc. We present fresh edible flowers and also the methods of using them in food preparation. We also put on display the cultivars of daylily (Hemerocallis), one of the favourites of our home gardens. The exhibition is arranged in association with the Nõrga Farm (Viljandi County).

August 16 – 18, Phloxes, Clematises and Grapes

Clematises and phloxes are the beloved beauties of our ornamental gardens. Clematises attract us with their miraculously colourful flowers. They are irreplaceable in the vertical gardening. In the world there have been cultivated over 5000 varieties of clematises, out of which 150 varieties have been bred by Aili and Uno Kivistik from Roogoja Farm. Beside clematises, phloxes are exhibited, enchanting us with their vivid colours and adorably smelling blossoms. The scientific name of the genus Phlox comes from Greek and signifies flame, indicating the flaming colour of the phlox blossoms. Due to that, the alternative name of phlox is flame flower. In addition to clematise and phloxes there are on display grapes grown in Estonia. The interest in growing grapes has notably increased in recent years. There is a good opportunity to get to know the varieties grown outdoors as well as in greenhouses. At the exhibition there is a possibility to ask advice from experienced plant growers and buy the plants of clematises and grapes. The exhibited clematises and grapes come from Roogoja Farm, phloxes belong to the collection of Tallinn Botanical Garden.

September 6 – 8, Watermelons, Melons, Pumpkins and Grapes from Saare-Tõrvaaugu Market Garden

At the exhibition a well-known gardener and plant-collector Harri Poom presents grapes and Cucurbitaceae species cultivated in his farm. About 60 varieties of grapes and the same amount of Cucurbitaceae are on display. There are exhibited the famous Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin which giant fruits can weight up to 900 kg, and Carolina Gross, the breed of watermelon that also offers massive fruits weighting up to 200 kg. The visitors can admire white fruits of Snow Leopard melon, yellow-fruited watermelons and other remarkable products. It is possible to buy plants of grapes and apple trees.

October 5 – 13, Edible Things on the Earth’s Surface and beneath It

At the exhibition we present fabulous local and foreign fruits, bulbs, tubers and seeds, out of which many are suitable for preparing food or drink. We present the fruits of quite rare species as balsa tree, golden shower tree, barringtonia, mountain ebony, flamboyant, various palm trees and other exotic plants, we also introduce the methods how to use them. The new and old, local and foreign varieties of potato are on display, the excitement is added by tricky potato breeds. Beside potatoes there are exhibited apples, cereals, tomatoes, carrots, cabbages, onions, peas, beans and other species. The exhibition is arranged in association with Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnological Research Centre EVIKA, Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute and Polli Horticultural Research Centre of Estonian University of Life Sciences.
November 9 – 17, Herbs for Drinks and Seasoning

The preparation of the most known drinks of the world includes usually the usage of herbs. It is also hard to imagine the seasoning of dishes without using our „green friends“. The visitors get acquainted with the herbs from which rum, tarkhun, mate, Benedictine, claret wine, calvados and other beverages are made. What are pu-erh, oolong, rooibos, muira puama and ayahuasca? There is a possibility to get to know various love drinks, magical beverages, drinks that help to fall asleep and healing beverages. We exhibit also different seasoning herbs from all over the world and different usages of them. The exhibition is arranged in association with the limited company Meira Eesti OÜ and non profit organization MTÜ Complete World.
Lichens, mosses and bracket fungi

The permanent exhibition is open all year round.