Going on a Garden-Getaway

Unlike the geometric gardens of old Europe, Boxerwood’s garden in Lexington embraces wild beauty, rambling over 31 acres in the Shenandoah Valley. Its paths wind through six distinct habitats: pioneer forest, established woodlands, meadow, hedgerow, wetlands and pond.

I visited the nature center and woodland garden on a quiet weekday in April. My first stop was the welcome center, Munger Lodge, a geometric wood and glass building inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. There, I picked up a guidebook and set off on a self-guided tour.

Hunter Mohring, the executive steward, pointed out a grassy path leading to the heart of the garden. Her parting words:

“If you get lost, go up the hill, and you’ll either be here or see here.”

I wandered through the lush landscape, far from the roar of car engines and the stink of exhaust. I was greeted by a chorus of chirping birds and the perfume of spring.

The arboretum contains more than 7,000 trees and shrubs, and dozens of genera. There are 96 varieties of magnolia, 115 varieties of dogwood and 167 varieties of dwarf conifers, to name a few.
My walk took me past a stately oriental spruce, a young Canadian hemlock barely 7 feet tall and a cascade of Japanese pieris, blooming with clusters of small white flowers.

It wasn’t long before I reached the great oak, estimated to be 150 years old, at the heart of the garden. Beyond it lies a murky pond, bordered on one side by a line of pink and white cherry trees.

I paused to inspect the garden’s learning stations, which provide information on things like wetland frogs and bio-diversity. The exhibits change based on changes in nature, Mohring says.

My exploration continued through a decaying pine forest and a golden meadow. I passed colorful sculptures and artistic benches as I made my way back to Munger Lodge.

Mohring calls Boxerwood a “horticultural treasure” that has something for everyone.

One of the garden’s most recent additions is a play trail designed for children in first grade and younger. Activities include logs for climbing on, a giant eagle’s nest and pots for making mud pies.

Boxerwood, which opened to the public in 1997, was the home of Dr. Robert S. Munger, who began the garden in 1952 and added to it until his death in 1988.

His wife, Better Munger, who died in March, was instrumental in turning the private garden into a public nature center.

If you’re going
WHAT: Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Gardens
WHERE: 963 Ross Road, Lexington
COST: Free, donations accepted
HOURS: Tuesday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. from March 15 to Nov. 30. Hours extend until dusk during summer. Guided tours and special classes by appointment year-round. (Note: On March 6, Boxerwood will host a memorial walk-about for the late Betty Munger from 2- 5:30 p.m. The Gardens will operate on regular hours in the morning.)
INFO: Visit http://www.boxerwood.org or call (540) 463-2697