I’ve known about the Palm House at Wilsona Park for some time. We finally paid a visit, and I’m wondering why we waiting so long. It’s the perfect outing for a winter day, a balmy 70 – 75 degrees inside while we’re experiencing the low 40s.
I’d like to return in the spring to see if there are more plants in bloom. The massive greenhouse, the largest in Poland, is divided into 9 rooms with different types of plants.
There is also an aquarium room with dozens of aquariums and some of the largest fish I have ever seen up close and personal. Besides the fish, the Palm House is home to a few exotic animals, some statuary, and a few benches on which you can linger in the beauty. I’m sure it’s good for the health.
The admission is very reasonable, 7 zl or about $2.25. It’s suggested that you allow an hour for your visit. We were there much longer, but we did stop mid-way in the coffee shop for a while.
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When you’re from the desert, you tend to linger in awe of so much greenery. I don’t know if it happens every Saturday, but there was someone in one of the rooms doing face painting for the kids.
The Palm House struck me as a real treasure. Take a look at some of the photos and see if you don’t agree.
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| Recently celebrating their 100th anniversary, the Palm House has been expanded, destroyed, and rebuilt. The original structure was much smaller – the size of one of the rooms we visited today. |
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| At this point, I said to Ed, “maybe they’ll have orchids. I’m sure my mom has already spotted them in this shot. He pointed some out to me. They just weren’t in bloom. |
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| Around the next bend, we found orchids in bloom |
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| The greenhouse theme continues into the coffee shop. So nice to see a place for refreshments and a gift shop – things that are often missing at Polish museums. |
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| I had read about aquariums, and yet I was surprised by them. I thought they meant the koi ponds we’d seen. |
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| A little touch of home – I don’t know that I’ve seen cacti in a greenhouse before. It’s amazing how big, perfect, and healthy these plants look when they’re not stressed by the extremes of the desert climate. |
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| This looks like the famous night blooming cereus. Its flower was featured prominently on the pages of the coffee shop menu. |
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she connects readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the USF. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Pikinini
Yes, it's a very nice place especially in such "wet" winter days.
We haven't been there for a quite long time. Thanks for reminding me of Palmiarnia:)
Lois B
Pikinini – there's a really nice botanical garden in Tucson and I just made it there for the first time last September. Life just gets in the way! 🙂
tralf
What a beautiful place. I didn't know a staghorn fern could get that big. If I lived in Poznan I'd want to spend the entire winter in there.
Kasia
I have not been to the new Palmiarnia. I hear that it gets very busy on the weekends. Maybe next time we are in Poznan, we will go there. Thank you for the post and great pictures.
Marilyn
Hi…
This is the first time I am reading your blog…and I can easily see why you were selected for the "blog award"! I totally enjoyed reading it and will continue to read it. I read David's blog (POLAND-OUR FUTURE) almost daily and enjoy his also!! Thanks for sharing…I LOVE POLAND!
Lois B
Marilyn – thanks for stopping by and your kind words. We also love Poland, and found David's blog before we moved here. It was a great introduction to the city.
First name - Wiesław
It is really great to read these comments about palmiarnia. I was there with your bother Brendan in July 2001. I don’t remember why he was here at that date. . He was also interested to see president Wilson’s bust on the column at the other end of the park – the main entrance at Głogowska street. Greetings Wiesław
polishhousewife
Yes, it’s a nice monument to President Wilson. Isn’t there also a plaque or something on ul. Polwiejska, near the C&A for an American President, is it Hoover?