To celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Skriveri Dendrological Park, 38 new trees and shrubs grown at the Latvijas valsts meži arboretum in Kalsnava were planted during a communal planting event in mid-September. The new plants were situated according to their geographical origins, adhering to the principles established by the park's founder, Maximilian von Sivers.
The new plantings have enriched the sectors representing the Caucasus, Himalayas, Eurasian steppes, Colchis and Talysh regions.
Liene Opincane, Head of Dendrological Parks at AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM), emphasises:
“When planting, it is essential to preserve Maximilian von Sivers' original vision of the park: to bring together trees and shrubs from different regions of the world in one place. For this reason, some of the new plants were grown from seeds collected in their natural regions of origin; for example, the Caucasian maples Quercus macranthera were grown from seeds collected in the Caucasus.”
The bladdernut trees have a special story of continuity as well – their seeds also arrived at the arboretum, where the plants grown from them have now begun to produce their own seeds. The new plants grown from these seeds have now returned to Skriveri and are, in a sense, the “grandchildren” of the historical Skriveri bladdernut trees.”
The trees and shrubs planted in the park are already sufficiently mature and developed, so some species may bloom as early as next season. Each of the new plantings has its own story and a specific time of year when it will look particularly magnificent. For example, the Tatarian maple will stand out in autumn with its vibrant foliage, while the Himalayan lilac will bloom in spring, producing flowers that are more delicate and distinct from the common lilac we are used to in our gardens.
The moment the new plants begin to produce seeds will be particularly important. This will provide an opportunity to collect propagation material again and use it for the ongoing restoration of the park, ensuring the continuity of the collection for future generations.
The planting of the new trees is part of the gradual restoration of the Skriveri Dendrological Park. The goal is to preserve the historical structure of the park and the vision of Maximilian von Sivers by replanting lost species and gradually organising the sectors representing various regions of the world.
This year, there are plans to continue maintaining the sectors already cleaned up and to begin tending to the next significant areas in accordance with the park's developed reconstruction project. An access ramp for park maintenance purposes will also be built, while there are future plans to refurbish the network of visitor paths in stages.
The planting event on 19 September was part of the Skriveri Dendrological Park celebrations. Throughout the day, the park hosted a variety of environmental, educational, and sporting activities offered by the LVM Kalsnava Arboretum, the Vijciems Cone Drying Facility, the Andrejs Upits Skriveri Secondary School Eco-Council, Skriveri youth, and “Visit Aizkraukle”. Zigrida Sprukte invited visitors to explore the park via Nordic walking, while young nature lovers were met with challenges prepared by Cukmens. Visitors also had the opportunity to take an informative guided tour with LVM expert Linda Strode, learning the stories of the park's trees and the regions from which they travelled.