By British standards, this is a large topiary, with box-cut trees as well as hedges short and tall. Its size, geometry and greenery reminds me of the ivy-clad walls of the All-England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon or the Admiralty Citadel by Horse Guards Parade.
Entrance is free, although ul. Bugaj is gated and open until 8pm during the summer (see Royal Castle website).This time last year:
Raymond's treasure - a short story
The real marvel is how, given the vagaries of the Polish winter the gardeners are able to keep the topiaries alive. The last winters hot spell in November caused plants, shrubs and trees to come into leaf and they were then unable in spring to repeat the process. I would estimate that I lost one quarter of plants in my garden in Wilanow, many of which would normally have survived a much harsher winter. Apart from village pubs, pork pies, real taramasalta etc the one thing I reaaly miss is the ability to garden for all 12 months and to always have something in flower. Poland turns totally grey in November and stays that way till spring when we get the absurd situation of snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and tulips flowering within days of each other.
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