Kornik Arboretum.

Today, the weather was absolutely exceptional—one of those rare, perfect spring days that seem tailor-made for being outdoors. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze in the air, it felt like the ideal opportunity to visit the arboretum next to the historic Kórnik Castle.

Once we crossed to the other side of Poznań, it was a short 15-minute drive to the quaint town of Kórnik. Over the years, we’ve made this trip several times, usually when we’re playing host to visitors. That doesn’t happen too often, so each visit to the castle and its grounds feels a bit special, even familiar in a comforting way.

To our surprise and good fortune, we found one parking spot available—right in front of the castle gates. Though the castle itself is a marvel, we decided to skip touring the interior this time. We’ve seen it on several past visits, and without an elevator, only the ground floor is accessible to Joan, which limits the experience for her.

I helped Joan into her wheelchair, paid the 20 PLN (around $5) entrance fee, and we set off on our walk. We made our way around the castle to one of the highlights of the arboretum: the magnolia trees. They were in full, glorious bloom—large, fragrant blossoms in delicate shades of pink and white, glowing in the sunlight. Naturally, I couldn’t resist taking dozens of photos. There’s something fleeting and magical about the magnolia season that always compels you to capture it before it slips away.

After soaking in the beauty of the magnolias, we continued our stroll through the rest of the arboretum, winding along peaceful paths lined with a stunning variety of trees and plants. On the west side of the grounds, the proximity to the road made things a bit noisier, which somewhat interrupted the tranquility. But the east side was much quieter, enveloped in a gentle hush that made it feel like a secret garden tucked away from the world. That side is my personal favorite, even though it’s less colorful—there’s something deeply soothing about it.

As we wandered through the shaded trails and admired the old trees, I found myself thinking about the castle’s past. I can only imagine how magnificent this place must have been when the original owner lived here, surrounded by such beauty and serenity every day. Even now, with time having added its own layers of history, the arboretum holds a kind of timeless charm—one that draws us back, again and again.