Jaunrūjas Garden

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We speak: English, Russian, Latvian
Plenty of parking space.
Plants for sale
Restroom available
Picnic/resting place(s) available
Drinks and snacks available. Contact for more info.
Advance booking required
Rain and sun shelter available
Children's playground available
Pets are welcome

Jaunrūjas Farm in Raiskums parish grows ornamental perennial plants, miniature flowering bulbs, peonies and water lilies. When the flowers start to blossom the owners, well-known gardeners Guna and Jānis Rukšāns and Līga Popova, organise open days and excursions here.

Plant breeder Jānis Rukšāns is most proud of his crocuses. They begin to bloom in the greenhouses in mid-March. Jānis owns the world’s largest collection of crocuses and has written two books on this topic – Crocuses: A Complete Guide to the Genus (2011) and its supplemented edition, The World of Crocuses (2017). Both have been published in English. After the crocuses it is the grape hyacinths’, scillas’, eranthis’, tulips’, ornamental bulbs’ and other miniature flowering bulbs’ turn to bloom in the greenhouse. Every year Jānis Rukšāns goes on expeditions and has written a book about what he has experienced and learned on these trips – Buried Treasures (2007). During these expeditions he has discovered and later described over 50 new varieties of bulbs.

Early peony varieties begin to bloom in May in the gardens of Jaunrūjas, and in June other varieties start opening up one by one under the care of Līga Popova. She is responsible for around 250 varieties of peonies.

At the same time as the peonies, the Siberian irises start blooming, and in mid-July the phlox (several hundred varieties and Guna’s hybrids) and the lilies. Throughout the season you can admire the diverse garden of hostas with 250 varieties and the 70 varieties of water lilies that bloom in the ponds and pools. Guna Rukšāne tends to this collection of perennial plants. She has described her experience with horticulture in two books – Dārza maģija (Garden Magic, 2013) and Flokši (Phlox, 2017). Guna also designs the greenery around Jaunrūja and gives lectures together with Jānis.

Open days and excursions take place during flowering season in Jaunrūjas. Anyone who is interested can also buy flower bulbs and seedlings from the catalogue. The catalogue is re-issued every year as the selection changes. Orders are mailed in May and September. Customers can also arrange to arrive in person to collect their plants by calling in advance.