The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia is the oldest botanical garden in Latvia. Founded in 1922 for studies, research and public education, it is a great place to both learn about the diverse plant life around the world and relax in a beautiful and lush environment. The garden is open to visitors year-round and is located in the former Volfšmits estate a 10-minute drive from the centre of Riga. Its 15ha-large grounds contain both greenhouses and open-air collections of about 5,500 different plants from various regions of the world – from the dunes of the Baltic Sea to the forests of Australia; from the Amazon jungle to the Caucasus Mountains; from the Mexican deserts to the Far East. In addition to varieties found in the wild, the collections also include several bred varieties and hybrids. Visitors can see over 1,500 tropical and subtropical plants year-round in the greenhouses. In the exotic environment of the Tropical Butterfly House visitors can feel the gentle wafting of butterfly wings and experience the climate of the jungle. Each year, the drabness of February and March is dispelled by the flowering abundance of the colourful azalea collection, which is the largest in the Baltic region, and as April comes to a close, the magnolias open their large, magnificent flowers. This is followed by a flourish of blossoming in the rest of the arboretum – the rhododendrons bloom at the end of May, the roses in summer, and the trees and shrubs change colours in autumn. In the central section of the garden you can see various ornamental perennial plants, dahlias and lilies. You can get an insight into the local flora in the small Marsh and Grassland exhibition. Those who are interested in the amazing diversity of plant life can learn more in the Plant Systematics exhibition, whereas you can learn about plant distribution, reproduction and adaptation to different conditions in the Biological and Morphological Plant Group exhibition. The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia was created for garden lovers and people wanting to learn, but is also a great place for peaceful walks, for families with young children, and for various cultural and social events.