May 19 – 125th anniversary of breeder Pēteris Upītis
On May 19, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the breeder P. Upītis. In the archives of the P. Upītis Horticultural Museum, we have found a letter from Pēteris Upītis, addressed to Pēteris Upītis' brother's wife, Alvīne Upītis, who lived in America.
Excerpt from the letter:
"On my birthday, a worker gave me a Rosy Wings tulip. She probably has flowers as tall and large as the Empire State variety. Then I realized I was behind the times." (08.06.1973.)
Legend has it that lilacs begin to bloom exactly on P. Upītis' birthday. This year, spring is unhurried and, compared to previous years, the beginning of flowering has been delayed by about two weeks. Even the earliest Upītis lilacs 'Esības Prieks' and 'Rudīte Ruško', which greeted the breeder with magnificent flowering in warm springs, are just starting to open their first flowers.
The lilacs are expected to be in full bloom only at the end of May. Currently, the garden is filled with cherry and plum blossoms. The apple trees have just begun to bloom.
More information about the life and work of P. Upītis can be found at this link .