Belgrade’s botanical garden – Jevremovac – is a few minutes’ walk from my flat. I spent some peaceful time there yesterday afternoon. The small urban paradise is bursting with spring buds.
Jevremovac was founded in the 1800s by Josif Pančić, a Serbian botanist. Pančić also created the Institute for the Study of Medicinal Herbs.
The land was a donation made by Serbian King Milan Obrenović who inherited it from his grandfather Jevrem Obrenović, known as a humanist and forward-thinker. The King’s only stipulation was that the garden be named “Jevremovac”.
The herbarium accommodates “plants from the Balkan peninsula and the entire European continent”. The greenhouse has an impressive collection of tropical and subtropical plants.
Jevremovac Arboretum is a “unit of the Botany Department of the University of Belgrade“. The Arboretum includes the greenhouse, herbarium, research laboratories, lecture hall, and one of the oldest libraries in Serbia.
After spending three fantastic months in the Balkans – Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia – I leave Belgrade for Sicily on Monday!
It’s been an interesting exciting time in Belgrade – now a favorite city!! A smile and a few simple expressions have served me well:
- Hvala (Хвала) – thanks
- Dobar Dan (Добар дан) – good day
- Da (да) – yes
