The garden
The Boxerwood Education Association (BEA), manages the Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden as part of its mission: to educate and inspire people of all ages to be environmentally responsible stewards of the earth. In 2019, Boxerwood acquired and donated to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources a preservation and open-space easement on its Nature Center and Woodland Garden. This easement protects in perpetuity the 15.46 acres of Boxerwood property and allows the BEA to continue promoting environmental stewardship.
Boxerwood pursues its mission and manages the property through the following major strategies:
- Protect the local and regional watersheds to which we belong, from Woods Creek to the Chesapeake.
- Ensure a resilient and healthy biotic community (flora and fauna) on our property.
- Implement pollution elimination strategies to protect our land, air, and water.
- Promote human-nature connections through inspirational and recreational activities outdoors.
- Facilitate stewardship actions in our local communities that pursue the same strategies above.
Five Ecosystems at Boxerwood
pioneer forest
The Pioneer Forest
A wonderful area to view forest succession: the quick growth of pioneer species like quick-growing grasses, weeds, followed by steady advance of slower growing plants. This is the location of the Fairy Forest.
Fairy House, by Jay Sullivan, for the opening of the Boxerwood Fairy Forest, 2016
web.43-Fairy-Forest
Devan Fairy Forest Art
boxerwood fairy forest snow
wetlands
The Wetland
Dr. Munger had the Old Pond built in the early 50’s before building his home. When built, the pond was deep enough for swimming. There was even a pier for diving. However, its location at the confluence of two ravines made the pond the inevitable recipient of silt, erosion, and anything else riding the waters on their way downhill. Over time, the pond has gone from 8 - 10 feet deep to less than 2 feet in most areas. It also receives and filters a high level of nitrates from the golf course next door.
The new pond if for runoff. Its water level is always fluctuating based on the weather. It can go from being completely dry during a drought to overflowing in a relatively short period of time. We presume the turtles and frogs that live here have learned to adjust.
wetlands
KIDS WETLANDS_right
Wetland-kids
frog in wetlands
wetlands
pond
Yellow Flag Iris (invasive in VA)
field
The Field
Grasses, wildflowers, and other herbaceous material make this area attractive to birds, small mammals, and deer. The small mammals make it attractive to owls and hawks.
field
chair_winter
october_field_30
Boxerwood_histori_empty field
The Big Chair, by Jay Sullivan
hedgerow
Hedgerow
A transition zone between open field and forest. Sun loving trees and shrubs form a dense edge habitat preferred by many birds and small mammals. The hedgerow is a natural cover & travel corridor for wildlife.
field
established woods
Established Woods
Here, you will find several layers of plant material. A higher canopy of mature trees, such as our Great Oak. Under that, you’ll find small to medium trees & shrubs, such as dogwoods, redbuds, and Japanese maples. Among and below the middle story, you’ll find even smaller trees, shrubs, and herbaceous materials.
stick city kids walking into woods
oak tree
understory
Garden Updates
A Better Boxerwood
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl sept 2022We recently completed two much-needed Garden restoration projects: we rebuilt the beloved Wetland Walk, and also re-resurfaced our 70 year old driveway....
Look What We Found Under The Tree
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl jan 2022Boxerwood is now the proud owner of a pre-loved Ford F-150. We’ve been looking for a pickup for some years, but have had a hard time finding one we could afford. Just before Christmas we received our wonderful present....
The Great Oak Transitions Again
Garden, Latest News, NewsLeaf, nl aug 2021If only the Great Oak could talk, what stories it would tell! This Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) has been around for at least a century. Although one of its large limbs came down in a storm on July 17th, 2021, it still stands tall...
The Boxerwood Nursery Fills Up
Garden, NewsLeaf, Programs, nl may 2021This month Boxerwood opened its nursery to 300+ babies -- not human babies, but native trees. The tiny oaks, maples, sycamores, and dogwoods arrived over a 10-day period, unloaded by the van-full by our Boxerwood educators after trips...
From the Garden: Farewell Fossil Fuels. Hello Bright Future.
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl march 2021Boxerwood has always relied on energy generated from fossil fuels for heat, power, and light, but no longer. We have reached the end of that era. We’ve found our green path....
Boxerwood Goes Solar
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl february 2021A long-term dream is now a reality: Boxerwood has just installed an 11.05 kW solar array, which will supply all of our electricity needs for the Lodge....
Garden Art: Stealthy Reflections
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl december 2020People often ask, “Are you the guy who makes the art?” Suppose I am. Scattered around Boxerwood and other places are mostly wood art projects usually made from found, salvaged, scrap, gifted materials. I started making abstract art...
Slowing the Flow
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl november 2020Boxerwood endures mini-floods when it rains hard, sending sediment into our waterways and the Bay. New slow-the-flow measures are working! With the help of the Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners, we recently planted about two dozen new...
Atlas cedar
Garden, storiesAtlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria, yet it also thrives here at Boxerwood. Also of note, ancient Egyptians used oils extracted from Atlas cedar wood for embalming, cosmetics, and...
Bottlebrush for pollinators
Garden, storiesBottlebrush buckeye is not common in American gardens, but it is a very popular ornamental plant in Great Britain (and was even awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit). In the wild, it grows in the shady forest...
A Native Tree Comes Home
Garden, storiesThis week, a story about dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), a species that vanished from this part of the world, was found growing in a secluded valley on the other side of the earth millions of years later, and now...
Common Mullein: should it stay or should it go?
Garden, NewsLeaf, nl june 2020Common mullein is a non-native plant in Virginia, and as with many non-natives, we’ve had to make a decision at Boxerwood: should it stay or should it go?...
spring blooms 2020
Garden, newsleaf april 2020As nature carries on its merry way these days, with spring bursting in all directions, we wanted to share with you a particular woodland treasure each week to entice you out into the Gardens....
Re-introducing The American Chestnut Tree
Garden, Latest NewsOvercoming “Functionally Extinct” If you, your children, or your grandchildren visit Boxerwood in 50 years, you will find two towering American chestnut trees in the field. We planted them there… Continue reading Re-introducing The Ameri...
FREE Native Plant Propagation Workshop Saturday, June 16, 2018 1-3 PM
GardenNative Plant Propagation Workshop, Saturday, June 16, 2018 , 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Free to the public Join the experts from the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen for this hands-on… Continue reading FREE Native Plant Propagation Workshop Sat...
Recommended Reading
GardenAs many of you know, my first career was as a reference librarian and books, along with plants, are my passion. I am going to use this space to periodically… Continue reading Recommended Reading
Winter Months and Gardening
GardenLots to Learn! Not much gardening gets done in January and February, unless you count taking care of houseplants as gardening. The winter months are a time to pour through… Continue reading Winter Months and Gardening