Lilac blooming season begins
There is a long-standing belief in Dobele that, regardless of the weather conditions, the lilac blooming season in the largest lilac garden in the Baltics begins on the birthday of its creator, Pēteris Upītis – May 19. The lilac festival has also become a tradition, which this time will bring together lilac lovers at various events throughout the month.
The true spring warmth is delayed this year, but in the garden created by horticulturist Pēteris Upītis in Dobele, the lilacs have already turned white and various shades of purple. Inese Šinta, head of the Pēteris Upītis Horticultural Museum, led us further along the paths, because in the vast 4.5-hectare lilac garden there must have been at least one lilac flower that had bloomed a little.
Inese Šinta explained: "We have a belief in Dobele that lilacs begin to bloom on Pēteris Upītis' birthday - May 19. This year, spring is slow. Spring comes slowly, and lilacs bloom slowly, but Upītis' earlier variety "Esības prieks" is already blooming. So you can say that the belief has come true."
The heir to the Peter Upitis Garden is the Horticultural Institute, which continues what Upitis started. Currently, the garden has 245 varieties of lilacs, but 72 Peter Upitis lilac varieties or hybrids still remain.
Listen and read the full recording by Sandra Leitāne, ReTV recording here .
More information about prices and offers for visiting the Lilac Garden can be found at this link .
Pictured: P. Upītis's selected variety 'Esības prieks'
Text: reprinted from LSM.lv