'Vidzeme Sky'

The lilac of blue flowers is a tribute to Pēteris Upītis' native Vidzeme.

Gardener-breeder Pēteris Upītis was born in 1896 in Vidzeme, in the “Kalna Rūsiņi” home of Jumurda parish, Cēsis district, as the eldest son in a family of five children. Both of his brothers Augusts and Valdemārs were professional photographers, but Pēteris, as was customary in Latvian families, inherited the house, land and became a farmer. Pēteris Upītis also loved photography, but gardening became his passion. After several years of education abroad, Pēteris returned to “Jaunrūsiņi” and planted his first orchard, which became the most famous model farm in Vidzeme.

Unfortunately, during World War II, Pēteris lost his parents' house and moved to Zemgale. Since 1948, his life has been connected with the Dobele area. Upītis has dedicated the almost fifty years spent in Vidzeme to the bluish lilac variety - 'Vidzemes Debesis'!

The flowers of this lilac are medium-sized and pinkish-purple at the beginning of flowering, but later acquire a bluish tint. The lilac blooms medium-early with large, irregularly shaped inflorescences.