SAMARA BOTANICAL GARDENS.
It is impossible to imagine Russia without our Volga river. We also can't think about the Volga river without thinking about one of its brightest lighthouses - our wonderful city Samara. It is proudly lying near the steep bend, in the place where the great Russian river has opened the way through the rocky Zhiguli mountains for itself.
I think, those people who can admire the power of our Volga River, bathe in it's clean water, dive in it's coolness, who can delight the beauty of it's embankments from their childhood are happy. Nobody stays indifferent to our magnificent forests, meadows, parks and squares. How wonderful it is to walk on the embankments of the Volga River. The sight of the sunset is especially beautiful there. It seams that the sun goes down to sleep somewhere behind the Volga river, behind the Zhiguli mountains.
I have been admiring the sight of such sunsets, the powerful river and many other beauties of Samara from my first days.
About Samara Botanical gardens
Not long ago I've made a wonderful discovery for myself - the Botanical Gardens of Samara.
When we come through the stone gates of the Gardens, we enter the magic world of Nature. The clue of this magic is quite simple. Here, in the small part of our city of mighty Nature of north comes along with exotic plants of south. I was delighted with the sight of emerald fir-trees, branchy oaks. The trunks of some of such oaks were so large that two of my friends together with me weren't able to ring them round. 
How funny it is when a little and smart squirrel comes down from such a giant tree and looks at you with her trustful eyes begging for food. Some of the bushes cut in the forms of animals look really like in a fairy tale.
This pearl of my native city is beautiful all the year round.
Crimson autumn brings here special charm. Even the best painter can't use the colours so wonderfully, like Nature does. Every September invisible arms of Nature weave a beautiful deep soft carpet of many coloured leaves.
In winter the Botanical Gardens become brightly-white and the life here comes to a standstill pending spring's return.
Gardens in spring
Spring! It is the beginning of a new life. Everybody is glad to spring. More and more smiles appear on the people's faces. Nature awakens from it's long winter sleep. Our great Volga river put into it's white ice chains becomes happy for the return of warm sunshine and takes the ice coverlet off.
But as for me, I feel the coming of spring in my favourite Botanical Gardens best of all.
The snow melts on the trees. The drops of spring water fall down from the trees like tears of happiness. When the ice is melted on the lakes of the Botanical Gardens beautiful ducks find a good home here. To my mind it is one of the most wonderful sights of these Gardens. Many people come here and can't take their look of this sight. These ducks always have a straight and proud carriage. They proudly slip on the smooth surface of the lake, pretending, that they don't pay attention to pieces of bread thrown to them, suddenly take them and go on swimming as if nothing has happened.
My happiness for my discovery can't be over, but I hope that it is not the last one in my life.
I am sure, that there is never time enough to see all the interesting and exciting sights of my native city. Everyone visits famous Shiraevo village, known as Russian Switzerland, willingly. The beauty of this place was even once able to attract attention of the greatest artist of Russia Ilya Repin. Many people are eager to visit our Lysaya Hill, to climb the nice Zhiguli Mountains.
Samara is a really wonderful city. It is my native place. And I am proud of it.
Denis Lutsev, 7A grade,
* 1997 * Gymnasium N11
