The business acumen and malign character of Prokofi Akinfiyevich Demidov had changed little from his father and grandfather, but he did not follow in his forefathers' footsteps. His passion was botany. Having become a joint owner of Neskuchny Sad, he established an exotic park here. Work on the garden took two years, and involved 700 people! Around 8,000 plants were grown in the botanical garden, which were all entered into a special catalogue.
However, even Demidov the botanist was true to the family name when it came to entertaining himself and the Moscow public with his crude, but very effective jokes. For example, wardens were deployed around the garden covered in whitewash and disguised as statues, whose job it was to frighten passers-by half to death who had stopped to pick a beautiful flower or a rare plant. It is unsurprising then that it is sometimes believed that Neskuchy Sad, or 'Merry Garden' got its name from this period. People came from all around, both to look at the exotic plants, and at Demidov's living statues.
Demidov's garden was the first botanical garden in Moscow. The garden survived for 93 years, but then fell to neglect long before the beginning of the Soviet era. These days, as Muscovites freeze in winters reaching 20 degrees below zero, it's impossible not to be impressed by the achievements of these horticulturists of the 18th–19th centuries. They grew pineapples, orchids, and kept exotic birds and butterflies. They had no synthetic insulation, no electricity, and no large Russian energy companies like Gazprom. Perhaps the achievement had less to do with climate and technology, and more with love for their work, just like Prokofi Demidov.
However, even Demidov the botanist was true to the family name when it came to entertaining himself and the Moscow public with his crude, but very effective jokes. For example, wardens were deployed around the garden covered in whitewash and disguised as statues, whose job it was to frighten passers-by half to death who had stopped to pick a beautiful flower or a rare plant. It is unsurprising then that it is sometimes believed that Neskuchy Sad, or 'Merry Garden' got its name from this period. People came from all around, both to look at the exotic plants, and at Demidov's living statues.
Demidov's garden was the first botanical garden in Moscow. The garden survived for 93 years, but then fell to neglect long before the beginning of the Soviet era. These days, as Muscovites freeze in winters reaching 20 degrees below zero, it's impossible not to be impressed by the achievements of these horticulturists of the 18th–19th centuries. They grew pineapples, orchids, and kept exotic birds and butterflies. They had no synthetic insulation, no electricity, and no large Russian energy companies like Gazprom. Perhaps the achievement had less to do with climate and technology, and more with love for their work, just like Prokofi Demidov.
