In this section you will find historic gardens, which are open for visitors by many different gardeners and breed collectors. In the summer season everyone is welcome to enjoy the beauty of roses, peonies, dahlias and other decorative plants, as well as receive practical advice about gardening. Also, fruit garden farmers practice visitor welcoming, which they combine with consultations about plant growing, fruit and plant selling. Manor owners renovating historic estates, set up appropriate gardens and parks, to create manor environment not only in the interior and architecture of the buildings, but in the overall manor ensemble.
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Latvia
THE BERGHOF MILK ESTATEThe park at the estate was installed in the 1980s and is currently being restored. There is a rosarium next to the guesthouse. Only a few apple trees have survived, though one of them offers an outstanding healthy variety of apples, "Prinzenapfel." This rare and historical variety can be found in old gardens in Kurzeme. |
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Latvia
Mazmezotnes muizaThe 15 ha park and garden are well maintained, with modern strolling trails, information stands and directions. Some of the 100 fruit trees in the garden date back to the first half of the 20th century and include some 15 historical types, mostly apple trees, including very rare types. |
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Latvia
Herbal teas and honey TURAIDASThe small garden has a large collection of herbs and medicinal plants from which herbal teas are produced. There are also traditional vegetables, flowers, and three ancient varieties of strawberries. The lady of the house offers lectures about life on the countryside, including medicinal teas, bee-keeping and traditional fence building. |
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Latvia
Plant grower "Vilki"The arboretum is in the former home of a forest ranger. The orchard, which covers 0.3 ha, was established in 1933 -1950. Most impressive are the noble ‘Akero’ and 'Signe Tillisch' apple trees, the Good Grey pear trees, and the Durbe Summer pear trees, which produce large and juicy fruits. There are rare types of apple trees, as well as decorative bushes, including lilacs, and old roses with interesting names. There are also fruit roses from which jam is produced. Around the garden is an old stand of trees, including a noble oak tree. You can view the collection of herbs and vegetables. |
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Latvia
Blankenfeldes muizas sulu un sirupu razotneSince late 18th century, the Blankenfelde Estate is surrounded by a large forest park (12 ha). The landscape park of 4 ha, with gravel paths has been renovated. The owners are proud of the old and new plantings of elder. There are young fruit and berry plantations. The harvest is processed into tasty juices, syrups, wine. |
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Latvia
THE MARA ESTATEAlongside the estate is an old fruit orchard from the 18th century, which offers a look at a few interesting trees, including nine old apple trees, one pear tree (the rare "Windsor" variety), two types of plum trees, as well as sweet and sour cherry trees. Of the greatest interest is the ancient apple tree that is known as the Little Barrel. All twisted and gnarly, it continues to produce fruit. A recently planted royal walnut tree is outside the home, and there are also grapes, actinidias and a black elder tree. |
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Latvia
from 33 - 39 EUR / DBL
SAULESKALNIEstablished 1960. Number of species: ~100 species of trees and shrubs, including 25 local species, as well as 16 species of rhododendrons. Unique plants - Latvia’s oldest magnolia (50 y.o.), a Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) that is 45 years old, a Gingko Tree (Ginkgo biloba), and others. |
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Latvia
THE BLANKENFELDE ESTATESince late 18th century, the Blankenfelde Estate is surrounded by a large forest park (12 ha). The landscape park of 4 ha, with gravel paths has been renovated. The owners are proud of the old and new plantings of elder. There are young fruit and berry plantations. The harvest is processed into tasty juices, syrups, wine. |
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Latvia
THE POPE ESTATEThe Pope Estate and its park (1840) are among the best-preserved estates in the area. Since 1940, it has housed a school and other institutions. Most of the trees in the park are common, but there are a few rare ones, including five Crimean oak trees. The largest copper beech in Latvia is in the yard, as is a large bed of traditional phloxes that are red and white. During the Soviet occupation, Pope was proud of a large apple and pear orchard which covered 3.6 ha of land and featured a large variety of fruit trees that were collected by a gardener called Grīnvalds. Today the garden is privately owned and is not available to visitors. The managers of the garden have established a stock company which harvests fruits to be delivered to schools in Latvia. An unexpected find involved ten large sweet cherry trees near the next door Rojnieki homestead. Four of the trees are very old and were large 70 years ago. The trees are covered with moss, but still produce high-quality fruit |
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Lithuania
The loud silence homeThe farm is 100 years old and has approximately 113 apple trees, 18 pear trees and eight sweet cherry trees. The lady of the house also grows herbs such as oregano and peppermint, as well as decorative flowers such as roses, peonies and dahlias. Contact the venue in advance to organise various educational activities. |
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Latvia
THE APSITES GARDEN OF PAULS SUKATNIEKSThe museum has an interesting exhibition about the vineyard, and it organises various events and wine tastings. The garden is carefully nurtured by the Dviete parish workers, which has planted beds of flowers and herbs. A rosarium is being established. Perfect grape plants can be seen in the garden, all of them chosen by Sukatnieks and other selectors in Latvia. There are also other plants chosen by Sukatnieks, including black currant, gooseberry and quince bushes. |
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Lithuania
The Giedrikai farmThe farm grows medicinal plants and herbs not just for food, but also to combat diseases and pests, including basil, marigold, lemon balm, peppermint, oregano, coriander, thyme, etc. The farm offers various seminars and educational activities. |
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Latvia
THE TASU ESTATEThe buildings are surrounded by landscaped planting in the area of 10 hectares. Behind the mansion to the South is a planned Baroque garden with historical varieties of apple trees that were characteristic for the Kurzeme region in the 19th century. To the West, there is an English landscape park (1.8 ha) that was planted in early 19th century. It was turned eclectic at the end of the 19th century. The park arrangements in the style of Romanticism included open areas, small architectural constructions, decorative bushes, contrasts of light and shadow, small ponds. The park is being reconstructed. Here groups of majestic ash trees can be seen along with lilac, honeysuckle and laurel bushes that have beautiful and aromatic blossoms in the spring to create a special atmosphere. The estate and its gardens are a cultural monument of national importance therefore only historical cultivars belonging to the particular time and style are preserved and used here. |
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Lithuania
The Lithuanian People's Life MuseumThe farms from Aukštaitija and Žemaitija offer a look at ancient and traditional types of apple trees, with tastings of apples available. The gardens that surround the museum feature typical plants that are traditional in the region. In the largest parts of the gardens, vegetables, medicinal plants and decorative plants grow alongside one another. An "Aroma Garden" in the village of Aukštaitija offers a look at medicinal pants and herbs that are grown on Lithuanian farms, along with a chance to learn all about their medicinal properties. |
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Latvia
THE BRUKNA ESTATEThe Renaissance garden offers a look at the very beginnings of gardening in Eruope. It has no flowers or blooming bushes, instead producing cabbages, beets, carrots and herbs. These create an interesting variety of leaves an colours from the spring until the late autumn. A rosarium with grape plants has been established more recently. There are rare types of plants in there, including chestnuts. The farm sells garlic, dried garlic chips and garlic powder. Tastings are offered to larger groups of tourists. |
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Lithuania
The Rokiski Regional Museum and EstateThe orchard was restored after World War II, presumably to preserve the authenticity of the park. The orchard has various types of ancient apple trees. |
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Lithuania
The birthplace and museum of Stepon DariusOutside the house is a unique and impressive fruit orchards. The father of the aviator planted fruit trees in the late 19th century to produce several types of apples. Old decorative plants in the garden are typical of the region, and a new garden has recently been installed in the territory. |
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Latvia
THE VISKI DENDROLOGICAL PLANTINGSVišķi boasts one of the best collections of traditional apple trees, many of which are found alongside people's homes. There are five types of nut trees in the park, including Juglans regia and Juglans stenocarpa. There are three types of hazelnut trees, three types of hawthorn, five type of rowans, as well as exotic trees such as mulberry, gingko, catalpa and cedar pine trees. |
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Lithuania
The Liudvika and Stanislovas Didziuliai memorial house and museumMuseum employees tend to the garden, which is an inviolable part of the farm. The garden was planted by the first employee of the museum around 1970 and has a variety of ancient apple trees. The apples are stored for nearly one year and obtain a specific taste. They are also perfect for drying. The farm grows traditional flowers and medicinal plants. There is no shortage of modern plants, because museum employees think that the lady of the house loved flowers and was forever planting new ones. |
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Latvia
THE NAUJENE REGIONAL RESEARCH MUSEUM AND THE JUZEFOVA PARKThere is also a modern museum with interactive elements and guide services. The school garden was presumably planted in the 1950s, and it has some 40 types of traditional apple trees, as well as an older type of tree. The Juzefova Park was planted around the estate in the 18th century and late 19th century. The estate is gone, but the park has more than 100 types of old and beautiful trees, including oak trees, linden trees, coniferous trees and two cedar pines. Nearby is a wild pear tree, as well as many wild hazelnut trees. The park often hosts weddings, and one tradition is to plant trees during the ceremony. |
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Lithuania
The Vytautas the Great University's Kaunas Botanical GardenThe garden has unique plants and Lithuania's largest orangery. It offers exhibitions, meetings, flower weeks and educational programmes. Ancient flowers are demonstrated in various flowerbeds in accordance with botanical classification. There are more than 20 traditional and old types of vegetables that are grown in the educational garden. Visitors to the garden can look at very rare types of apple trees. |
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Lithuania
Jadvygos Balvociutės farmThe owner grows various medicinal plants and herbs for teas and other purposes. You can buy biological sprouts, herbal teas and mixtures of teas, and the owner will be happy to take you on a tour. Alongside the house is an exhibition of plants which people who arrive during the growing season can taste and smell, looking at various rare and endangered local plants and decorative plants. The owner will tell you all about aromatic and food plants and how to use them. |
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Lithuania
The Zagare Regional ParkTo preserve the cultural and historical heritage, a cherry orchard was planted on the banks of the Švete River. The cherry trees bloom during the first and second week of May, and guests and residents can go to an observation are and sink into the sea of blossoms with their eyes. The cherries ripen in July, and a festival is organised at that time. |
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Latvia
THE EDVARTS VIRZA MEMORIAL HOUSE BILLITESInteresting objects at the farm include an Italian-style kitchen garden and flower garden that were restored by Elza Stērste. The wisteria that are at the home may be the only one in Latvia that blooms outside during warm years. A very old and large apple tree may represent the Avenarius type of trees. Dating back to the 1930s is a Manchurian walnut tree, which has produced many shoots, ancient lilacs, a rare Kazdanga cherry three and hazelnut trees. The willows are 400 years old, and Latvia's largest horse chestnut tree (circumference of 4.4 m) dates back to the 1870s. |
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Latvia
THE RUDZISI WINE HILL IN VARNAVAThe largest outdoor collection of some 700 grape plants was established by Ēvalds Pūpols, who offers tours and talks about grape growing traditions in Latvia and at his vineyard. You can purchase berries and plants. |
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Latvia
Association "Watermarks", The Meadow Museum in KaldabruṇaThe apple orchard of the school hosts hay days, which involve a plenary session related to hay sculptures. The Pļava Museum has a garden of medicinal plants, examples of endangered plants, a trail that encourages barefoot walkers, as well as an environmental classroom that is based on the gifts of nature. Six vertical video productions are available in four different languages. |
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Latvia
THE KAZDANGA PARKThe Kazdanga Castle park is huge (196 ha), and until recently it was owned by an agricultural school. Kazdanga is the birthplace of once-famous sour cherries. This variety has all but disappeared, but the park still features a few old apple trees, one of them with two grafted varieties of apples. There are old hazelnut and other nut trees, including a Manchurian walnut tree and a hybrid with a royal walnut tree. Recently, two royal walnut tree plants were gifted to the garden by selectionist Gunvaldis Vēsmiņš. Other rarities in the park include bristly roses, a rare variety of mountain-ash (a new tree), a gingko tree, a katsura tree, a bladdernut tree, a birthwort plant, wild tulips, and a wild maple tree that is depicted in the herald of Kazdanga. The aromatic garden of Baroness Lieven is being restored with lilacs, bird-cherries, magnolias, roses and others. An old "rose hill" has been restored with varieties of roses from Salaspils. |
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Lithuania
Oldest apple tree in LithuaniaIt is approximately 360 years old, and although it is growing on private land, there is an information stand alongside it. The tree is 8 m high, with a trunk that has a diameter of 1.3 metres at the height of 285 cm. Only a few of the tree's branches are still alive, but there are many leaves, and the tree produces fruit that is sour, but very aromatic. |
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Latvia
"Riekstini"The garden of the old farm is typical, with traditional flowers, medicinal plants and herbs in the style of the 19th century. The 100-year-old apple tree has been grafted to produce four types of apples. The only one that remains is the Antonovka apple. |
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Latvia
JumariIm Garten des Hofes, dessen Fläche 13,9 ha beträgt, sind Apfelbäume alter Sorten erhalten (etwa 30 Bäume) und Rote Johannisbeeren. Im Garten steht zudem ein echter Holzapfel und der 8,5 m hohe Jumari-Wacholder. Im Hof werden Kulturheidelbeeren angebaut, Die Wirte können interessant über ihren Hof erzählen und bewirten Gäste mit Leckereien aus eigener Erzeugung. |
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Lithuania
The home of poet Jonas Maculis-Maironis and his fatherThere are two gardens in the territory, one planted by the poet's father and another by his sister. There are old types of apple and pear trees, as well as decorative plants that are typical of gardens in Central Lithuania. The poet was particularly fond of nasturtiums |
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Lithuania
The Berzora country tourism farmThe owner grows various medicinal plants, flowers, herbs and teas. She also grows carrots, onions, garlic, etc. The assortment of medicinal plants and herbs is extensive, and the owners offer education about them. Traditions include pre-wedding parties, as well as an educational programme called "Granny's Teas." |
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Latvia
The Rundale CastleThe Rundāle place garden is remarkable as a fully completed project by the architect Rastrelli. The laying out the Rundāle Palace Garden took place by 1740 alongside the construction of the palace. The original planning was preserved to enable renovation in 1975. The Baroque garden in Rundāle Palace Park with its ornamental parterre, the Green Theatre, the labyrinth and 19 bosquets occupies 10 hectares. In front of the garden, there is a rose garden covering an area of 1 hectare and presenting a collection of ca 2230 historical and modern rose cultivars. The grounds of Rundāle Palace ensemble amount to 85 hectares, of which 3.4 hectares is a forest park. It is also planned to create orchards to both sides of the palace with a collection of historical cultivars of trees and shrubs. The West side orchard is being developed under an EU Interreg project. Today, the palace building complex enjoys an invaluable advantage of being situated in an untouched rural landscape. |
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Latvia
Herbal teas at KurmisiVisitors will learn all about medicinal plants and herbal teas from Latvia, Amercia and Asia. |
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Lithuania
The University of Klaipeda Botanical GardenMore than 250 types of plants grow in the garden. An ethnographic garden has been planted to typify such gardens in the coastal area of Lithuania, with various flowers that are characteristic of the region. The garden has 14 different types of plants, including herbs. The venue offers educational programmes and room for picnics. |
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Latvia
THE SAULESKALNI DENDROLOGICAL GARDENThe author Voldemārs Sauleskalns began to establish the Sauleskalni arboretum in 1945, and he spent his whole life collecting new plants. They were planted in a documented way, and some of the markings are in Latvian. The collection mostly features decorative plants, but there are also fruit trees and herbs. Of interest are eight types of mountain-ash, five types of apples trees, including a few well-known types, as well as sour cherry trees. Visitors can tour a grape veranda where they can inspect cornelian cherries, a true quince, an old stand of shadbushes, a red-leaf plum tree, three types of hawthorn, a Manchurian nut tree, roses, red-leaf linden trees, decorative raspberry plants and asparagus. There are also a number of very uncommon plants. The stand of red oaks trees was planted in honour of the 90th birthday of actor Ēvalds Valters. There are also beds of winter plants, and at the gates is a noble willow tree that has bent to the ground. |
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Lithuania
The Antanas Baranauskas and Antanas Zukauskas-Vienuolis memorial museumThere are two apple trees that are historically liked to Zukauskas-Vienuolis, and one of them is very rare and only found in the oldest orchards. Outside the museum is an authentic flowerbed that recalls the era of author, as well as an exhibition of medicinal plants. |
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Lithuania
The Izidoras Navidanskas Zemaitija Botanical ParkThe park has some 120 types of trees and bushes, including 34 local ones. In the southern part of the park, among ponds and birch trees, is an apple orchard that was planted during World War II and covers 3 ha of land. Each year the orchard produces various types of apples that are much beloved in Lithuania. The botanical park covers 57 ha, and the wide areas of grass are handled not by lawnmowers, but instead by sheep. |
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Latvia
Peteris Upitis’ lilac gardenThe institute is proud of its vast collection of fruit trees and berry bushes, as well as of the research work. There are over 1000 different types of apples trees, 400 types of pear trees, 300 types of plum trees, 200 types of cherry trees, as well as vines, apricots, peaches and berry bushes. The research work is devoted for improvement of vegetable cultivation methods and expansion of the range of varieties. In spring, the visitors enjoy walks in the institute’s Lilac Park, one of the largest in Europe that offers a look at 240 different kinds of lilacs. In May/June the garden is beautiful with blossoming apricot, cherry, plum, apple, pear trees and quince bushes. |
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Lithuania
PakalnėThe apple trees in the garden were planted during the interwar period in Lithuania. There are also ancient plum trees, as well as a wealth of medicinal plants. The owners offer training sessions focused on grasses, medicinal plants and their utility. |
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Lithuania
The Traupis botanical gardenYou will find a range of perennial flowers here and enjoy a decorative pond with water plants. The botanical garden has a large collection of protected plants, herbs and medicinal plants. Obelevičus often guides tours through the park. |
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Lithuania
The Japanese GardenThe garden features a collection of traditional and aromatic plants, along with gardens in which ancient types of plants are grown. The owners grow carrots, beets, cabbages, etc., particularly focusing on a large variety of tomatoes. There are also important onion and garlic collections with various types. Aromatic and medicinal plants include various ones that are used in traditional folk medicine. |
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Lithuania
The Lithuanian Agriculture and Forestry Science Centre's Pomiculture and Gardening InstituteThe institute conducts agro-biological and ecological research, creates various technologies related to these processes, develops the biological and biotechnological foundations of the plants, selects plants, studies their genetics, protects and enriches them, examines the quality of fruits, berries and vegetables, seeks to optimise their storage and processing, and offers biologically valuable products from the biological diversity of the plants that are in the garden. Visitors can purchase various fruit tree and bush plants, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. |
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Lithuania
The Burbiske EstateFragments of fruit orchards can still be found at three places in the park. The largest and most valuable one is further away from the buildings of the estate. There were seven rows of fruit trees with 14 trees in each one. Most of these have died, but there are a few apple trees that are still in good shape. |
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Latvia
KurzemniekiThe farm produces rhubarb, pumpkin and quince candies, apple chips, juices and jams, and tourists can purchase all of these. It welcomes groups of children who can tour the orchard and taste the products. The farm has several types of sweet cherry trees, and it is integrated on 24 hectares of land. 2.5 ha of this is devoted to the apple orchard, which produces 30 tonnes of fruit each year to produce apple chips, dried apples, apple juice, etc. The owners will teach you to produce a crown from fruit tree branches. |
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Lithuania
The Tado Ivanausko farm and parkIvanausko was a well known environmental researcher and professor, and the garden is one of the wealthiest sources of genetic resources for apple trees. One of the types in the garden was developed by Ivanausko himself, and there are other types of apple and pear trees, as well. The park features a collection of 250-300 types of trees and bushes, including 59 types of coniferous trees. The apple garden also has one of the most ancient trees in the world -- a biennial gingko tree. |
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Lithuania
The Kleboniski Village Life MuseumThese date back to the 19th and early 20th century, including homes, granaries, saunas, grain siloes and hay barns, 28 buildings in all. Part of an apple orchard that reminds us of the interwar period has survived alongside one of the buildings. The museum features local decorative plants, particularly focusing on dahlias. |
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Latvia
Rainis’ home at BerkeneleThe orchard represents various periods in Latvian history. The most interesting period of time to visit is when the fruit is being harvested, enjoying the route "The Route of Apple Tastes." The route begins at a local tree farm, where owner Alfrēds Mendriķis will tell you all about apples from the planting of seeds to the harvesting of apples. He will offer a tour of the orchard, the warehouses and the processing facilities. Children will enjoy apple juice, while adults can drink apple wine. The owner will talk about the secrets of growing apple trees, as well as stories about the lives of winemakers. After the tour of the orchard and the home, museum employees will invite you to a traditional Lettigalian table, where you will enjoy apple dishes and beverages, including apple pies, puddings, roast apples and apple juice. You will love the taste of apples by drinking apple juice and wine and tasting delicious and aromatic apple cakes, puddings or roast apples. The route continues through the homestead where Rainis spent his childhood. The apple orchard dates back to that period, and the site still has many apple trees |
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Lithuania
Vilnius University Siauliai Academy Botanical GardenThe park was established in 1958 and has more than 4,000 types if plants. The gardens in the park correspond to the pre-war interwar and post-war era. The garden offers various events, including educational games and lectures. |
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Lithuania
The Baltu Plant MuseumThe museum has some 30 different types of plants, with sacral, household and cultural plants growing in flowerbeds. There are ceremonial plants that are used for holy events, involving various rituals. These grow in the sacral part of the territory. There are medicinal plants and herbs that are used for medical treatment, health enhancement and enrichment of the taste of various foods. The plants represent Lithuania's cultural and historical heritage and offers an understanding of selected Lithuanian plants. The plants can be viewed during the spring and the autumn. |
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Latvia
THE MALNAVA ESTATEThe park (c 1830) covers 18 ha and has preserved its web of pathways. At the front of the house is a large nut tree, and behind the building are old trees, including oak trees and several types of mulberry trees, one of them originating in North America. A hybrid apple tree is near the paved road. There is also a collection of flowers, vegetables and fruits, including an ancient type of rhubarb. |
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Lithuania
The Brone Buivydaite memorial museumThe garden has flowers which the author loved, as well as various types of ancient apple trees. The garden has a particularly large range of decorative plants, mostly perennial and popular wild plants. |
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Latvia
Environmental and health farm UPMALIUpmaļi is a biological farm that specialises in medicinal plants that are used to produce teas, hydrolats, infusions, substances with glycerine, etc. The garden covers eight hectares, including various uncommon useful plants such as the broad whitetop, various herbs, rhubarb plants that date back to the age of aristocrats, as well as old orchards, including a rare apple cultivar that is not found anywhere else in Latvia. Four types of colourful wild apple trees have grown on the farm since the 1930s, and three of them still produce fruits. Old gooseberry plants may also date back to the aristocratic era, as is the case with three types of lilac and some ten types of cherries. The farm also has local types of apple trees, most of them planted by the owner of the farm in the 1930s. More recent are Greek nut trees. |
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Latvia
DurbeThe local museum has a collection that features the heritage of Klevers, and some of the garden in the town centre (some 25 trees) is open to the public. The garden at Kalna Street 4 in particular offers a great look at an old countryside farm garden (planted in 1933, 3.5 ha) with many traditional and several rare varieties. Durbes Veltes is a small company which offers products that are made from local fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. |
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Latvia
Rukisi TeaYou will learn about how the medicinal plants are grown and processed. The farm covers more than 30 ha and produces more than 15,000 kg of medicinal plants each year that are offered as teas and mixtures. A sample garden offers medicinal plants and a bit of information about how they are used. |