In the biweekly magazine Kórniczanin, issue no. 3/2026 of 6 February 2026 (pp. 12–13), an article by Maciej Rajek from the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, entitled “Beneath a Snowy Blanket, and Sometimes a Heavy Quilt” was published as part of the series “News from the Kórnik Gardens.”
In the article, the author outlines the adaptive mechanisms that enable trees to cope with winter conditions, explaining the significance of dormancy and the physiological processes that allow plants to survive low temperatures. Particular attention is devoted to the role of snow cover as a natural thermal insulator of soil and root systems, as well as its impact on mycorrhiza, seed germination, and seedling development. The article also discusses the adverse effects of heavy snow and temperature fluctuations, along with the consequences of increasingly mild winters for natural tree regeneration and the functioning of forest ecosystems. The text combines scientific insight with an accessible narrative that highlights the importance of winter conditions for forest resilience and sustainability.
