Adjacent to the Vydubytskyi Monastery, Hryshko National Botanical Gardens displays over 13,000 varieties of plants, flowers and trees used for horticultural research by the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Construction began in 1944 with prisoner of war labour, but the gardens were not completed until 1964. One of the most spectacular natural sights in Kyiv is the blooming of the lilacs here in May, which brings tourists, artists and photographers from all over to enjoy the variety of colours and types on display. Throughout the summer and into autumn, the roses are in bloom and from July through August there is a striking display of lilies.
