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Replacing Famous "Blue" Pine Trees Along the Kremlin Wall Necropolis

Yesterday, when I arrived with my current clients at the Red Square, I was shocked when I saw the bare wall of the Moscow Kremlin. They had removed all of the majestic pine trees from the left side of Lenin's Mausoleum (between Spasskaya Tower and Lenin's Tomb) and I had a thought: were they going to remove even the Necropolis and Lenin's Mausoleum to restore the architectural style of Red Square to how it looked before the revolution?

No, I was wrong with my almost fantastic thoughts. It was reported on TV that they are not removing the pine trees forever, but want to replace the old trees with new ones and will keep everything as it was before. The old trees are going to be moved into the Kremlin grounds and they will be replaced with new ones, young 2 meters high pine trees, which will be planted in the same spots (counting the range of every centimeter) by very professional grounds keepers. To deliver the new pine trees to Red Square, they use special covers for their roots and workers will plant them very carefully. Not a single branch will be broken.

The last time the trees were replaced in 1974. They decided to replace the trees because they are in poor condition. We call these trees: "Blue" Pine Trees along Kremlin Wall Necropolis. They were planted in Stalin times and the horticulturist Kovtunenko, who developed the method of planting this type of pine trees (Name: ?. Pungens Engelm, their motherland is Canada) in Russia from seeds gained Stalin's Award (Prize) (later it was called the "State Award"). In normal weather conditions these trees can grow up and be in good health for 100 years, but in Moscow - not more than 50 years…

There are a lot of poems about Moscow, Red Square and the Kremlin in which people mention these famous trees on the main square of Russia. They will deliver new pine trees from nurseries in North Caucasus.

With BEST Regards,
Arthur Lookyanov
Private Guide & Personal Driver in Moscow
News from Moscow
Last Edited: August 27th, 2007

Random customer's Responses & Recommendations.

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Jared & Evie Rein
From: Alameda, California, U.S.A.
Date: 2006-09-19 04:22:33

My wife and I as well as two of my friends just visited Moscow for 2 days. Arthur is truly a great guide to have on your trip to Moscow. He is a very friendly and fun guy that will have you remember your trip that much more. Arthur is also very generous and helpful, as on many occasions he got us through situations we would have no idea how to get through. He shows you his city which he is very proud of, and should be, I have been to 30 countries myself, and would easily choose Russia as the one with the most spectacular and beautiful things to see. May I recommend going along on the night tour of Moscow, it is a spectacular look at the sights under moonlight (and artificial light). Perhaps mention the route we took: St.Basil's, The Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, night tour, Novodsky Convent during Day 2... Arthur doesn't let you feel out of place in Moscow, he truly is a friend in a far away place. He lets you go where you want to go. He is very informative, and just very fun to hang out with. I wish him only the best in his endeavors, and if I ever visit Russia again, we will definetly call our friend Arthur again!!! Thanks for everything man, we'll keep in touch ;)
-Jared & Evie