The VNIISPK Arboretum gives a stay in Zhilina a distinctive botanical focus: in spring, different flowering periods follow one another, and guided tours explore the garden along various routes. Endangered plants and the lilac festival are also among the themes that shape a visit. If you want to plan your trip around a tour or a particular flowering period, check the relevant information with the institute in advance.
Spring blossoms at the arboretum
A 2019 institute article describes a sequence that begins with mahonia and forsythia. Almond, quince and deutzia bloom later, followed by lilacs and the spirea collection. Spring, then, is not a single, uniform flowering period: different plants take centre stage at different times. This sequence is a useful guide for planning, but it remains a seasonal description from the article mentioned above.
The arboretum is also home to plants that no longer occur in the wild, as well as plants threatened with extinction. This aspect adds the botanical value of the collection to the enjoyment of the blossoms. Together with the changing seasonal displays, it makes for a garden visit shaped both by the succession of spring blooms and by the variety of plants.
Tours and bookings
VNIISPK offers several tour routes through the arboretum. The route on offer varies according to the season, the participants’ ages and their possible interests. The institute’s service page lists staff-led tours on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Bookings are accepted by phone at +7 (4862) 42-11-39 or by email at info@vniispk.ru. If you are planning a tour, confirm the date and booking directly with the institute before your visit.
The lilac festival: a past programme
The arboretum invited visitors to a traditional lilac festival in 2026; according to a report, it was held for the fifth time. A programme running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. was announced for 17 May 2026. It included a craft fair, food stalls, family games and other activities, as well as a soap bubble show. These details describe the programme for that festival day and do not indicate a current date or a future repeat.
More places to explore in Oryol Oblast
Within the wider destination of Oryol Oblast, Orlovskoye Polesie National Park, established in 1994, offers a different focus on nature. It lies in the northwest of the oblast and covers 77,745 hectares. Visitors will find more than 80 equipped tourist rest and picnic areas there. One visitor report describes water lilies in bloom along an ecological trail in the national park. The enclosures at the zoo are home to more than 30 species of animals and birds. These are attractions in the wider destination, not features of the arboretum in Zhilina.
Another distinct attraction in Oryol Oblast is the Spasskoye-Lutovinovo estate. It was the family estate of Ivan Turgenev’s mother in Mtsensk District; the estate is associated with the creation of several works, including “Rudin” and “Fathers and Sons”. The main house and other buildings stand in an old park laid out by I. I. Lutovinov, the founder of the Spasskoye estate, around the turn of the 19th century. You can take a boat out on Spassky Pond or ride through the park in a horse-drawn carriage. Check local operating arrangements for these activities before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Znamenka, Mokhovoye, Parakhino, Bolkhov, Zhudre, Oryol, Pokrovskoye, Gorodilovo.
Back to the wider travel guide: Oryol Oblast.
