In 2022 Magyar Posta is launching a new series called Arboreta and Botanic Gardens in Hungary, which aims to present different locations annually over a number of years. On the occasion of the 2022 issue, an additional stamp marking the 9th European Botanic Gardens Congress is linked to the series. The set of five stamps was designed by the graphic artist Tibor Z. Petényi and produced by ANY Security Printing Company. The new issue is available from Filaposta, philately specialist services, post offices and www.posta.hu.
Arboreta and botanic gardens are of vital importance in preserving biological diversity and in particular protected, endangered species. As well as indigenous species, innumerable plants from around the world are displayed in their outdoor and greenhouse collections. Many gardens with plant collections have a history dating back several centuries and, while conserving and enriching natural heritage, they also protect and preserve built heritage, historic gardens and the period buildings within them. Many of Hungary’s arboreta andbotanic gardens enjoy protection as historic monuments as well as from the aspect of nature conservation.
The four stamps of the strip show the National Botanic Garden and Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, founded in 1952, with its well-known mature swamp cypresses attracting interest for their aerating roots (outgrowths known as cypress knees); the Botanical Garden of Szeged University, founded in 1922, whose special attraction is the blooming from mid-summer onwards of the lotuses almost entirely covering a lake fed by a thermal spring; Hungary’s first botanic garden, the Eötvös Loránd University Botanic Garden, Budapest, founded in 1771, whose most treasured plant is the giant Amazonian Victoria waterlily; and the Jeli Arboretum, Kám, founded in 1922, which has an extraordinary abundance of mature rhododendrons with a rich variety of colours and scents.
The Association of Hungarian Arboreta and Botanic Gardens – on the 30th anniversary of its foundation – is organising the 9th European Botanic Gardens Congress (EuroGard IX) in Budapest between 16 and 20 May 2022, where, in addition to biodiversity conservation, research, education and maintenance, the main theme will be the relationship and collaboration of botanic gardens and thematic gardens.
The stamps of the set feature an illustration of each garden, while the stamp marking the Congress features the logo of the event, the work of graphic artist Krisztián Gál. The design of the first day cover depicts a stylised garden, while the logo of the Association of Hungarian Arboreta and Botanic Gardens appears in the postmark.
