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The Warsaw University Library gardens

The Warsaw University Library garden, designed by Irena Bajerska, was opened on June 12, 2002. It is one of the largest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe with an area of more than 10,000 m², and plants covering 5,111 m².

As the university garden it is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m (from November 1 - March 31, from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m.). It is a perfect resting place not only for Warsaw University students and employees but for all other people.

The garden consists of two parts: an upper garden (2,000 m²) and a lower one (15,000 m²). Both are connected by a stream and cascade of water. Visitors may admire a multipicity of plant species and varieties, planted in different parts.

In the lower garden, next to the Library are planted covering and flowering shrubs (including Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa' - lace shrub) as well as climbers. The two greatest attractions of the open space - the fish pond and the artificial stone with a small fountain - are connected by the stream. The visitors may often see ducks swimming in, or walking around the pond. Trees, shrubs, and perennials are found in shades of blue and pinkish-white. The Library plans to plant more trees: oak (Quercus), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), rowan (Sorbus), and linden (Tilia).

In the lower garden you can find granite sculptures by Ryszard Stryjecki. His series "Szkic sytuacyjny" ("Situational Sketch") refers to cosmological motifs.

entrance	White Villa	view of the Library	pergola with the fountain
path by the stream	resting	ducks	ducks

The upper garden consists of plants in a layer of soil (30 cm. deep) on the Library roof. It is divided into four parts, differentiated according to form, color, and character.

The golden garden (North part) is composed of yellow and orange flowering shrubs - including forsythia 'Maluch', shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) 'Goldfinger' and 'Goldteppich', Japanese spirea (Spirea japonica) 'Goldmound' - and climbers such as golden virginsbower (Clematis tangutica). In the background are creeping varieties of common juniper (Juniperus communis) 'Green Carpet' and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) 'Green Carpet', and small trees of Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens) 'Pendula'.

In the silver garden (East part) are the white-flowering shrubby cinquefoil "Abbotswood', spirea 'Grefsheind', and bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri var. radicans). Heightening the display of color are the silverish willows - Swiss willow (Salix helvetica), dappled willow (S. integra) 'Hakura Nishiki', netleaf willow (S. reticulata), and purple osier willow (S. purpurea) 'Pendula' and 'Gracilis' add special values. The basic composition is formed by dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo var. mugo), Pfitzer juniper (Juniperus x pfitzeriana) 'Mint Julep', and ornamental grasses: Wallis fescue (Festuca vallesiaca) 'Glauca', tufted fescue (F. amethystina), perennial quakinggrass (Briza media), and blue hairgrass (Koeleria glauca).

In the purple garden (South part) one may find a composition of purple Japanese barberry 'Atropurpurea Nana' and flowering weigela (Weigela florida) 'Foliis Purpureis', dwarf Korean lilac (Syringa meyeri), alpine virginsbower (Clematis alpina) 'Francis Rivis', bearberry cotoneaster 'Skogholm', and the rose 'Rugodita'. In addition there are perennials - the ice plant (Sedum spectabile) and the wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum). The composition is framed by dwarf Sargent's apple (Malus sargentii), Pfitzer juniper 'Mint Julep', and bearberry cotoneaster var. radicans.

The green garden (West) is placed on the Dobra Street side of the Library. It contains ornamental grasses, shrubby cinquefoil 'Abbotswood', thrift seapink (Armeria maritima), and bearberry cotoneaster 'Major'.

In addition there is an entrance garden on the ramp which connects lower and upper gardens. On the ramp are planted periwinkle (Vinca major) and ivy (Hedera helix). It ends with steel pergola-antenna covered with Chinese fleecevine (Polygonum aubertii). All segments of the garden are interconnected with paths, bridges, and pergolas. All along these grow climbers - golden virginsbower, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), crimson glory vine (Vitis coignetiae), and climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris). From the bridges and the view terrace on the roof one may see a panorama of Warsaw and the Vistula river. Visitors may also look into the Library through both the special windows and glass roof.

purple garden	technical instalation	golden garden	roof over the catalogue hall
golden virginsbower (Clematis tangutica)		bridge over the catalogue hall

By: mgr Anna Rutkowska
Botanical consultation & photos: mgr Małgorzata Kaczarowska