The Tiszakurt Arboretum – 22 miles (36 km) east of Kecskemet and 37 miles (60 km) south of Szolnok – has a colorful array of programs running through the year. Please see a sampler below, and register for periodic updates.

Open:

• 01 December - 28 February: 8 AM - 2 PM
  
• March: 8 AM - 5 PM
  
• 01 April - 30 September: 8 AM - 6 PM
  
• Oktober: 8 AM - 5 PM
  
• November: 8 AM - 4 PM
  

Regular entrance fees



June 19-20: “Tisza Blooming” (tiszaviragzas)

Hungary is said to be the only place in the world where you can observe the spectacular swarms of long-tailed mayflies, Tisza mayflies (Palingenia longicauda). The Tisza mayfly is the largest mayfly species in Europe, males measuring up to five inches (12 cm) from head to tail. Once fully matured, mayflies have roughly three hours to mate and then die.

The annual summer emergence of the insects on the Tisza River is known as the Tisza Blooming. In 2007, the Tiszakurt Arboretum established a tradition to capture this amazing moment. Because it is difficult to predict when exactly in June will the Tisza Blooming occur, staff of the Arboretum and local rangers set up a watch for the place and time of the first swarms of the insect. Interested parties can pre-register for the event, and when the mayflies appear, they will be notified to come to the given location.

“Tisza Blooming” lasts roughly for a week from the time when the first insects appear, and its intensity varies. In 2007, nature enthusiasts who signed up for the event met at the Tiszakurt Arboretum, and after a brief orientation about the insects and the biological background of the phenomenon, they walked over to the river to observe the swarming mayflies, and learn more about their habitat.

Some people watched from the shore; others took a small boat, and documented this “explosion to life” from the river. As evening came, visitors gathered around the fire for a bacon roast, and discussed their experiences of the day.

The same program is scheduled for 2008, and you can sign up for an email notification about its exact time at the following site: www.tiszaviragzas.hu (Click on REGISZTRACIO, which will take you to another page, where you will be given the following email address to write to: tiszavirag@tiszaviragzas.hu. You could just click on the email address directly here, but then you would miss out on the pictures of the Tisza Blooming site.)


And don’t miss this article on National Geographic about the Tisza mayfly!



June 21: Midsummer night in the Arboretum


This activity in the Arboretum is connected to the traditions and celebrations of June 23, Ivan’s Day (Ivan Kupala was the old Russian name for John the Baptist). The purpose of the celebration is

• To rekindle nearly forgotten traditions such as rhymes, music, and dance, and jumping over the flames of bonfires on midsummer night, AND

• To revitalize man’s connection to nature. When was the last time you wondered in the woods at night, with only the stars and the moon as your light, and listened to nature’s symphony played by the wind and the nocturnal animals?

At the Ivan’s Day celebration held at the Tiszakurt Arboretum in June 2008, children and adults alike will have a chance to show their creative skills in traditional crafts as well. The exact date and program details will be announced in the future. Register for periodic updates.

Photos courtesy of the Tiszakurt Arboretum


Address:
Tiszakurt Arboretum
5471 Tiszakurt
Bolza grof ut 5

Phone: +36-56-568-020
Web: www.arboreta.hu
E-mail: arboreta@t-online.hu