Izabela Krzeptowska-Moszkowicz’s research while affiliated with Cracow University of Technology and other places

Today, urban greenery is at the center of attention, especially in the context of climate change. Shaped in large part by natural factors, the herb layer of public parks is a part of urban greenery that is the most sensitive to climate and soil condition changes. In this paper, we present a study intended to answer how resilient is the species composition and herb layer structure against the soil and climate condition changes in parks. To this end, we analyzed Ellenberg and Zarzycki’s ecological index numbers for species recorded in different groups in terms of historical-geographical, life forms, prevalence within the flora of Poland, and relationships with different vegetation types (phytoassociation classes) in comparison to the conditions present in parks. It was found that a large part of various species groups showed an optima and ecological tolerance spectra that went beyond the park conditions, indicating that at least some park vegetation can be expected to show resilience to changing conditions. However, changes in temperature and humidity will alter the composition and structure of the park herb layer. The direction of changes in climate and soil conditions can be decisive for herb layer transformation directions. With rising temperatures, humidity can be crucial. Poor soil moisture conditions will promote an increased share of foreign, synanthropic species, while local natural and semi-natural species will disappear. When climate change that leads to a decrease in temperatures is concerned, it is temperature and not humidity that will be the key factor in the transformation of park herb layer species compositions. The herb layer of Krakow’s parks will have the least resilience to changes in conditions within local non-synanthropic species, rare species and geophytes and to some extent also forest and meadow species.

A human being comes into contact with the environment through the senses. That is why in the space of cities, where various intense stimuli negatively affect the living of people, there is important greenery that has a positive impact. Significant types of gardens within urban green areas are sensory gardens. In our article, we intended to answer the question of what specifically affects the formation of deeper human–garden relations in urban, publicly accessible gardens designed to have a sensory impact. Our research was conducted mainly in Poland. We used a method of assessing the behavior of garden visitors, using a five-point scale. We found that the existence of specific interiors in gardens that have been designed in such a way as to stimulate two to three selected senses, which we call the leading senses, can create an environment that allows for deeper relationships with the garden. We also concluded that when designing a public sensory garden, adaptation to specific user groups is one of the most important guidelines. A deeper contact with the sensory garden for people visiting a city, e.g., tourists, may occur especially when there is a positive surprise or when an additional need of this group is met in the garden. Sensory gardens, although they are a relatively new type of urban greenery, can become a permanent element of cities if they are carefully designed and meet the expectations of their recipients.

The aim of this study was to analyze urban sensory gardens containing aromatic herbs in terms of the plants used in them. The analysis considered the impact of climate change, particularly of higher temperatures, which may affect the character of contemporary urban gardens. The study was planned primarily in the context of the gardens’ therapeutic significance to their users. An important part of the work was to analyze how particular aromatic plants are perceived and received by the inhabitants, using the example of one of Poland's largest cities, Kraków, to assess whether they can have an impact on the inhabitants’ positive memories and thus improve their well-being. Initially, the plant composition of gardens located in Poland that feature aromatic herbs was analyzed. This was followed by a survey and an analysis of therapeutic gardens using the Trojanowska method as modified by Krzeptowska-Moszkowicz et al. The plant composition analysis of sensory gardens featuring herbs demonstrated that vulnerable plants in the Central European climate are being introduced to urban sensory gardens. In terms of major aromatic plants, it was found that almost every respondent reported the existence of scents that had some form of essential significance associated with personal memories. Considering the important sensory impact of water elements in therapeutic gardens, as well as problems related to the acquisition of drinking water or water used in agriculture or horticulture, the paper also addresses this topic. It was found that the city dwellers who filled in the questionnaire strongly preferred the introduction of more ecological solutions in the gardens related to water use—to collect and use rainwater, e.g., for watering, instead of piped water.

Greenery is a natural value in urban space. To maintain the richness and diversity of greenery, it is necessary to understand the factors and mechanisms that influence vegetation. The purpose of this paper was to determine the impact of selected features of public parks and factors on the richness and diversity of herbaceous plants. In Krakow public parks, this richness and diversity is greater in parks with a larger area and habitat heterogeneity, the presence of migration corridors, and natural elements. Full stand coverage negatively affects diversity. Biologically inactive surface affects richness and diversity as well as a number of different groups of plant species. The presence of rare and non-synanthropic species is related to the park’s surface, natural elements, and its heterogeneity.

This paper presents a study on public gardens with sensory features located in Kraków (Poland). Data for the analysis of the facilities were obtained during site visits using observations. The paper uses a research method for the analysis of therapeutic outdoor areas in cities based on the evaluation of their attributes. This method makes it possible to characterise features of objects as well as their value. It is a practical tool, which enables an in-depth analysis of public spaces. The study showed that public gardens with sensory features located in Kraków have significant deficiencies, which make it impossible to fully exploit the potential of the sensory space.

Celem pracy jest przedstawienie sylwetki Seweryna Józefa Krzemieniewskiego, jednego z pionierów polskiej mikrobiologii, jako uczonego o zainteresowaniach humanistycznych i interdyscyplinarnych. Jego twórczość w tym obszarze objęła przede wszystkim historię botaniki wniosła ważny wkład w rozwój tej dyscypliny w Polsce, w okresie międzywojennym. Krzemieniewski jest autorem prac analizujących badania przyrodnicze misjonarza Michała Boyma, a także artykułu przedstawiającego historię botaniki w ośrodku lwowskim. Opracował również biogramy botaników polskich, nie wszystkie jednak zostały wydane drukiem. Ponadto uczony przez kilka lat angażował się w intensywne prace na rzecz ochrony przyrody, co pozwala zaliczyć go w tym okresie do grupy czołowych działaczy na tym polu w Polsce i wpisuje na karty historii ochrony przyrody. U podstaw humanistycznej działalności Krzemieniewskiego wydaje się leżeć jego przekonanie o podstawowym znaczeniu edukacji dla rozwoju świadomego i wrażliwego przyrodniczo społeczeństwa, co znajduje wyraźne odbicie w opublikowanych przez niego pracach. Ta idea ma również odzwierciedlenie w działaniach uczonego jako popularyzatora wiedzy przyrodniczej oraz wykładowcy.