Head of the Department of Flowering and Ornamental Plants at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Biological Sciences Yuriy Buydin has been caring for a unique collection of irises for over 20 years, which includes about 500 varieties. He is the curator of this collection, which impresses visitors not only with the variety of forms and colors but also with its historical depth – the collection preserves varieties bred as far back as the 19th century.
Despite this year's delayed blooming due to unfavorable spring weather, the iris garden in the botanical garden impresses with the luxury of bearded and beardless forms, among which are varieties of American, French, Ukrainian, and proprietary breeding. A significant part of the collection is adapted to the conditions of the Ukrainian climate, which is the result of many years of scientific work at the botanical garden.
Yuriy Buydin notes that the preservation and development of the iris collection is not only an aesthetic matter but also a scientific mission, which involves quality control of planting material, studying the biological characteristics of plants, and promoting Ukraine's floral heritage.