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Boxerwood Gardens
In today’s world of multitasking, Boxerwood Gardens is a natural embodiment of the concept. This garden could be labeled a horticultural treasure, an arboretum, a nature center, a birding and wildlife sanctuary, or just a great place to be. Located less than a mile outside of Lexington city limits, Boxerwood grew from the love, interest, and efforts of Robert S. Munger (1911-1988). Dr. Munger began landscaping his new home in 1957 and as a result became entangled in a life-consuming, plant-collecting snowball that has cascaded down the hills of time. Today, forty-seven years into the life of the garden and sixteen years after his death, this garden he thought of as kinetic art continues. No doubt he would appreciate the unique blends of simplicity and complexity found in his gardens and the people who help it on its continuing journey.
The horticultural treasure is the arboretum made up of 7,000 mature trees and shrubs among which are 2,500 labeled cultivars. Although there are dozens of genera, the five most impressive collections are: magnolia (54 varieties), dogwood (81 varieties), dwarf conifers (167 varieties), rhododendrons & azaleas (290 varieties), and Japanese maples (154 varieties).
One of the main contributors to this treasure is time – age. Even professional horticulturists, nurserymen and arborists are awed to see many of these trees and shrubs at this level of maturity. “I had no idea what this looks like when it’s mature.”
Boxerwood is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA). When assisting in an evaluation of Boxerwood, the National Garden Conservancy noted with certainty it would be a garden of regional if not national importance. For years the National Arboretum would visit Boxerwood to study the collections for ideas of what they might collect. Gardeners and non-gardeners from all over the world have visited this quiet, wild, and spirited garden. It is a horticultural treasure.
Boxerwood is located at 963 Ross Road, Lexington, VA. For directions or more information call 540-463-2697 or visit http://www.boxerwood.org.
Phone: 540-463-2697
Website: http://www.boxerwood.org