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History
ŔLilac
has been originated in Balkan Peninsula. Four centuries ago it was
brought to Vienna wherefrom it was rapidly spread across Europe.
Siringa L. variety belongs to oleiferous family (Oleaceae Lindl.)
Siringa name comes from Greek Sirinx (pipe). The other name (Lilac)
comes from the West meaning purple. In Turkey and Iran lilac is called
“the fox tail”, in Poland and Ukraine lilac is called “bez”. Almost
all the well-known lilac species are represented by deciduous bushes
and seldom by small trees. The foliage does not appear yellow until
the leaf fall season. Lilac antiseptisizes the site from disease-producing
germs at the area of 1.5 meters around its plantation. The secret
and special advantage of Lilac amongst any other flowers is that it
does not fade in hot water. Lilac is also used as a medicinal plant
since its flowers contain ethereal oil. The bark, branches and foliage
contain bitter glycoside. Folk medicine uses flowers for kidney diseases.
Lilac flowers mixed with lime flowers are used as the sudatory and
anti-malaria remedy.
Far back in the past the new varieties have been developed in France,
Germany and America.
The wide popularity of lilac is associated with the emergence of the
first varieties originated by Lemoine, the French breeder. His first
varieties Madam Lemoine, Michel Bihner, President Grevi are differentiated
by the flower and inflorescence size, new colors and velvety surface.
The established Soviet breeders who made a valuable contribution to
the new lilac varieties were I. Michurin, L. Kolesnikov, V. Lavrov,
L. Rubtsov, N. Smolsky, A. Melnik, V. Rubanik, M. Sagitova, T. Dzevitsky
and V. Diagilev. In Almaty City the married couple Mariam
Sagitova and Tadeusz Dzevitsky have led their mission of service of
god, people and fellow countrymen. In 1969 the house where they lived
and made their first steps of breeding the new lilac species was demolished.
They made a request of assistance to S. Tolybekov, Rector of the Kazakh
Teachers Training Institute named after Abai, where Maryam Sagitova
was giving lectures at the Chair of Agriculture. Mr. Tolybekov suggested
that they proceed their scientific activities at the agrobiostation
existing on the basis of the Institute. The suggestion was accepted
and some years later the place had a wonderful lilac garden grown
in favorable climate conditions. The Agrobiostation was located between
the two mountain rivers. Lilac was blooming in fragrance and was not
exposed to winter frost.
In soviet times the garden was under the protection of the Central
Environmental Board.
For over 50 years Tadeusz and his spouse spent their free time to
breed about 300 new lilac forms. 12 varieties of their lilac nurslings
have gained the recognition by certificates of authorship. The originators
did not manage to obtain similar certification for the other varieties
as it takes at least 10 years to develop and certify the new plant
form.
From 1976 through 1983 Maryam and Tadeusz have been organizing the
annual personal lilac exhibitions to show their achievements to Almaty
citizens and people coming from other areas. Over 18 000 people have
visited those exhibitions, many of them have made their exultant records
in a special Reference Book. For the exhibitions organized in Almaty
and the propagation of the new lilac varieties in the city the originators
have been awarded a great number of honors and diplomas from the City
and Republican Nature Society.
Owing to Maryam’s and Tadeusz’s aspiration to bring the beauty to
public The Lilac Garden was developed near Eternal Light at Panfilov
Park as a unique peace-time lilac calendar. Every year on May 9 they
planted the new variety of lilac in that garden.
As the gift to the Russian Orthodox Church they have presented lilac
from their personal collection to embellish the Holy Cross area at
Nikolsky Church.
Maryam and Tadeusz have gratuitously provided about 6000 bushes and
2500 cuts of lilac they have bred voluntarily at free time for the
landscaping purposes and to the nurseries developed in Almaty Oblast.
Six kg of hybrid seeds have been sent to amateur florists living in
their native town and lilac lovers from all over the Soviet Union
requesting for seeds after the documentary film “Maryam and Tadeusz”
about the famous lilac breeders.
Along with the large number of TV materials and numerous newspaper
articles, “Maryam and Tadeusz” documentary film is devoted to their
creative and highly spiritual activities.
The Holy Table Mission (Vatican) have sponsored three Lilac Exhibitions
to show Maryam and Tadeusz’s lilac collection (one of the exhibitions
was organized inter vivos of the originators). The Mission have also
made the valuable contributions to the art exhibitions dedicated to
lilac and the lilac nights where the participants have expressed their
words of gratitude to the lilac breeders, recited poems and sang songs
about this wonderful flower. Along with the talented youth, the honored
and people’s artists of Kazakhstan such as Khorlan Kalilambekova,
Yury Lukichev, Natalya Dolmatova took part in lilac nights.
The first lilac exhibition organized after the Soviet Union collapse
has collected about 500 signatures in favor of Alma Mateă of the
lilac collection developed by M. Sagitova and T. Dzevitsky and the
mother garden whose destruction has started from 1996 under laissez
faire position of the local government. For two years and a half
the garden was lost by more than a half. It contained over the plants
aged 30 years and more. Although lilac can reach the age of 150
years it is universally proven that old plants are not transplantable.
Old lilac can be lost one or two years after replanting. Unfortunately
the unique lilac garden has not been enlisted in the cadastre of
specially protected nature assets. Mr. Peart who is heading The
Royal Botanical Garden (RBG) in Ontario, Canada, containing the
world biggest lilac collection, has seen the slides of the newly
bred varieties and noted ruefully that their collection represented
by 1800 forms and varieties does not contain the varieties originated
by our fellow citizens Maryam Sagitova and Tadeusz Dzevitsky. Mr.
Peart has applied to the mayor of Almaty City Mr. Khrapunov through
the Ambassador of Canada to use the best efforts in order to save
the lilac garden. Such correspondence between the mayor and the
scientists (and later their daughter) was maintained before spring
2004 when the lilac was partly cut by Mr. Khrapnov’s order. Part
of the garden was replanted at the newly established Century 21
Park located at the crossroad of Al Farabi and Navoyi streets. Relocation
of the lilac garden ranted Revival was carried out athwart the expert
opinion and the protests of public at large. What example do we
give to the younger generation by this blasphemy action, the generation
that needs to be educated cautious to the flowers, plants and trees
grown by careful hands.
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