Ritma Kļaviņa
Country:
Latvia
Short biography:
I am 61 years old, I am married, and I work for the municipality.
More information:
Peony hybridizers series
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- Kļaviņa Ritma
Kļaviņa Ritma
How did you first get involved in peony hybridizing?
I read books about peony hybridization. There are 230 peony varieties growing in my garden. I have been building my peony collection for about 20 years, but I only sowed peony seeds for the first time in 2018.
What was the starting material for your hybridizing?
Only varieties from foreign originators grow in my garden. I haven’t pollinated the peonies myself; it is done by the wind, insects, and bees (open pollination). I gather the ripened seeds and sow them in beds. I mark the plantings by recording the mother plant’s variety name, the date, and the year they were sown.
What are your goals in hybridizing peonies?
For now, this is just my hobby. I am happy about every seedling that has bloomed in my garden. And it will take several more years before the true result can be seen.
Do you mostly depend on open pollination or do you mostly make controlled crosses?
| 100% open | 50/50 | 100% controlled |
How large is your hybridizing program?
I collect and sow seeds from fertile varieties (‘Salmon Dream’, ‘Martha W.’, ‘Lemon Chiffon’, ‘Flying Pink Saucer’, ‘Silly Sally’, ‘Blushing Princess’, ‘White Wicker’, ‘Lovebirds’, ‘Mandarins Coat’, ‘Ma Petite Cherie’, ‘Bu-Te’). They germinate very well after two years. I haven’t kept records of the number of seeds sown or seedlings planted. There could be about 80 young seedlings that will bloom this year and the next. It’s not a lot, but it is my hobby, and it makes me happy.
Do you have any plants in the market?
No.
Do you know the American Peony Society (APS)? Are your plants registered there?
None are registered.
Can you describe a few of your plants that you consider the best or most beautiful and which are available now?
🌼 Seedling No. 4, garden name ‘Rīts’ (mother plant ‘Lovebirds’): Beautiful foliage, strong stems, early blooming time, flowers have a delicate lemon-yellow color, and the stigmas are pinkish.
🌼 Seedling No. 3 (mother plant ‘Salmon Dream’): Similar to the mother plant.
🌼 Seedling No. 8, garden name ‘Emīlija K.’ (mother plant ‘Salmon Dream’): Early blooming time, flowers are a bright raspberry pink and do not change color as they fade.
🌼 Seedling No. 14, garden name ‘Mīlas Stāsts’ (mother plant ‘Salmon Dream’): Mid-early blooming time, red, slightly ruffled petals in at least four rows.
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- Rīts
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- Seedling nr 3
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- Emīlija K.
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- Mīlas Stāsts
Within your current seedlings, what are the most promising ones?
Seedling No. 5 (mother plant ‘Salmon Dream’): A bright fuchsia-pink flower with a beautiful rosette of yellow stamens; the flower does not change color as it fades.
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- Seedling nr 5
Are you in contact or working together with other peony hybridizers?
No
Do you have unregistered plants that are not good enough to introduce but have something ‘special’?
Not yet
Would you like to exchange such ‘hybridizers plants’ with other hybridizers?
Not yet
Name a few peony varieties from other hybridizers which you especially like?
The variety ‘Etched Salmon’ is perfect. I really like the flower shapes of ‘Minnie Shaylor’, ‘Rozella’, and ‘Sonoma Halo’. ❤️ I love all peonies, and choosing just a few of the most beautiful ones is impossible.
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