A Walk to Work – Plants, People, and Small Joys in Rustavi

When I walk out of our apartment in the morning, I always hope that our neighbor’s dog is outside. He’s very friendly, loves cuddles, and often walks with me for the first few minutes of my commute.

I usually take Maiakovski Street—it’s a quiet road, but there’s always something to see. About 50 meters down the street, I pass an apricot tree.

Apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) have deep roots in Georgian culture, cuisine, and agriculture. Known as "gargari" (გარგარი) in Georgian, they thrive in many parts of the country thanks to the varied microclimates and fertile soil.

Doggo

A few weeks ago, this tree was still in bloom, and I’m already looking forward to picking an apricot from it in June, when the fruit is ripe.

Further down the road is Rustavi Public School No. 16. Almost every week, buses are parked in front—it seems they go on lots of excursions. I enjoy walking past and seeing kids playing, parents saying goodbye, or picking up their children.

In the schoolyard, there’s a young field elm, which brings a touch of green to the otherwise barren yard. Field elms can grow up to 30 meters tall, with a broad, rounded crown and rough, serrated leaves. In early spring, they flower before the leaves appear—small, wind-pollinated blossoms that often go unnoticed.

Maiakovski Street leads to Davit Gareji Street, where I turn left toward the Scout Center. At the crossroads with Rustaveli Street, you’ll find my favorite bakery in Rustavi. Unless I’ve meal-prepped, I usually grab something to eat there. The prices are fair, everything is handmade, and the bakers are always warm and welcoming.

About 200 meters further, the street opens up. On the left, there's a field with a great view of Rustavi’s skyline—and of course the mountain with the cross. When the sun sets, it’s definitely one of the best spots in Rustavi to watch the sunset. But even in the morning, the view is beautiful.

Right before the field, there’s a front yard lined with blackthorn bushes. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is often used as a natural fence, but here the bushes are regularly trimmed, giving them a neat and elegant shape. In summer, local dogs rest in their shade, escaping the heat.

The last 400 meters along the field are my favorite part of the walk. I enjoy the view until I reach the most dangerous part of the journey: crossing the road!

But once I’ve made it across, nothing can stop me from having a great day at the Scout Center.