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The silence of winter has also fallen upon the park of LVM Jaunmokas Palace. In the period when the plants and animals of this park are having a rest before the new blossoming, blooming, bird nesting, singing and collecting of seeds, it is the best time to talk about this essential part of the Palace’s complex.

The first news in documents about Jaunmokas dates back to the middle of 16th century, however, rapid development of the manor happened only three centuries later. The park was created in the middle of 19th century. Shortly afterwards, the manor complex was bought by the George Armitstead (1847-1912), who was a town councillor of Rīga then, but later became the most notable Mayor of Rīga. It is hard to tell now – for better or worse, but at the end of the century the master’s house burnt down, but it was clear that it would not do without master's house; therefore, in 1901 according to the project of Wilhelm Bokslaf (1858-1945) the Jaunmokas Palace was built.

It might appear that parks have a secondary meaning, however, its calm atmosphere and refreshing shade in summer heat has always been an important part of the palace complex. The period of Manor boom was also a period when many exotic plant species were imported and introduced in Latvia, many of them have successfully adapted to our cold and unstable weather conditions. For example, lilac and jasmine nowadays seems an essential part of our landscape, however, these shrubs were brought from countries with warmer weather. Though, very little written and photographic evidence about the park has survived, it seems that the oaks and ashes have seen how our maroon palace has been built, but the fruits of some of the apple and cherry trees, which are still blooming and bearing fruit every year, have been harvested by residents of the palace already in the early 20th century. And the lawns in springs are coloured with bright yellow wild tulips. The alley of centenarian lime trees is a special pride of the park, in mid-June they hum with life and in sunny days are so deliciously fragrant. Today, the palace is surrounded with blooming rose beds, twining vines; apples, peaches, plums, cherries and berries ripping in the sun; herbs spreading their fragrance and in spring bright blossoms are covering the rhododendron greenery, each of them has been planted by people important to the palace and Latvia, and also by newly-weds who have celebrated their wedding in Jaunmokas Palace.

After few months the park will wake up from the winter sleep – with owls hooting, grass snakes hissing, frogs croaking in multiple tones, hedgehogs huffing and puffing, scrapping of squirrel nails against tree bark, twittering, chirping and a sudden coo-coo, and quiet mornings will be interrupted with energetic clicking of long, orange beaks.

We are in the middle of nature – come and enjoy it all in quietness of winter, or in blooming and blossoming delight of spring and summer!