Grand Opening of the Renovated Rock Garden at the University Botanical Garden – Balchik

On October 14 (Tuesday), the official opening of the renovated Rock Garden took place at the University Botanical Garden – Balchik. The event gathered numerous citizens of Balchik, representatives of local institutions, and guests of the garden. Among the attendees were the team of the Historical Museum – Balchik, Chief Inspector Stelian Stoychev, Head of the Fire Service in Balchik, as well as directors of local schools and kindergartens, accompanied by some of their students.

After the brief welcoming speeches, visitors had the opportunity to take part in an educational workshop organized by the specialists of the University Botanical Garden – Balchik. During the activity, participants planted some of the most characteristic alpine species in various rocky corners, as part of the garden’s efforts to preserve and promote mountain flora.

The Rock Garden at the University Botanical Garden – Balchik was originally created in 1955–1956 as part of a renovation project led by Nikola Minchev, who served as the garden’s chief until 1969. Over the past year, with the support of OMV Petrom, the plant collection of the Rock Garden was enriched, and the terrain was renewed to ensure better accessibility and overall presentation of the area.

This type of garden is characterized by the distinct combination of landscape elements, aiming to recreate the natural environment of high mountain regions. Rock gardens can vary in size from just a few square meters to over a decare and allow for the cultivation and conservation of rare, endangered, and remarkable plant species.

Alpine species represent a large group of subshrubs and herbaceous plants whose natural habitats are found in the high mountain areas of the Alps, Carpathians, Rila, and Pirin. Among the species represented in the Rock Garden of the University Botanical Garden – Balchik are Mountain Pine or Dwarf Pine (Pinus mugo Turra), Common Juniper (Juniperus communis L.), Spring Heath (Erica carnea L.), and Saxifrage (Saxifraga magellanica Poir.), as well as other species naturally found above 3,000 meters altitude. The collection also includes perennial hybrids and cultivars created by humans (Buddleja davidii Franch. ‘Li'l Ruby Butterfly Candy’; Rhododendron japonicum (A.Gray) Suringar ‘Hachschnee Schneeperle’), bulbous plants (Allium schoenoprasum L. and Allium senescens L. ‘Select’), and succulents (Sempervivum calcareum Jord.).

The renovated Rock Garden stands as yet another testimony to the long-term commitment of the University Botanical Garden – Balchik to the conservation of plant diversity and the enrichment of its botanical collections.

Откриха впечатляващия обновен алпинеум в Ботаническата градина в Балчик