In early April while we were in Lexington, VA, we visited Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens. Established as a private garden in 1952 [see History of Boxerwood below], it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens is a 15-acre arboretum featuring both native and unusual plant specimens. Among the thousands of plants, there are significant collections of Dwarf Conifers, Magnolias, Dogwoods, Rhododendrons & Azaleas, and Japanese Maples. It also has a number of features intended especially for children.
Being run by volunteers as a non-profit, apparently low-budget organization, the gardens are less structured compared to other gardens or arboretums. The suggested donation is $5 per car deposited in a locked box in the entrance kiosk.
History of Boxerwood
Boxerwood came into being through the efforts of Robert S. Munger, MD (1911-1988). After purchasing farm land and building his family’s Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home in the 1950’s, Dr. Munger began landscaping. Over the decades, his landscaping hobby blossomed into a passion for collecting rare and unusual trees and shrubs from around the world. In over 30 years, he estimated that he had planted somewhere between 12,000 – 13,000 trees and shrubs and suggested that he had probably lost about half those to “wrong tree-wrong place” disease, infestation, and short life expectancy, among other reasons. Many of the specimens that survived can still be found in the Garden today alongside their native plant neighbors.
The non-profit Boxerwood Education Association (BEA) purchased the Garden in 1999 and opened the gardens to the public for recreation and learning, with a goal of encouraging in all of us a closer relationship to nature and its care. The gardens today feature many varieties of dogwood, magnolia, rhododendron, azalea, and Japanese maples, as well as more uncommon trees and plants. The fields, woodlands, and ponds with their flourishing flora have, in turn, created habitat for many forms of wildlife.
Additional Images
It was a cloudy day so the colors of some of the flowers were more muted than they might have been on a sunny day. These images are in the order the photos were taken as we wandered through the garden.
Additional Information
Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens
Virginia.gov – Boxerwood Nature Center
Technical Data
Persian Ironwood
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 11:57 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
- Cropped image is 3808 x 5713 px
- GPS: 37°46’36.60″ N 79°27’54.98″ W
Japanese Flowering Crabapple
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:09 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 53 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’35.88″ N 79°27’54.54″ W
Cardinal
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:11 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
- Cropped image is 3884 x 2589 px
- GPS: 37°46’35.17″ N 79°27’54.15″ W
Fairy Forest
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:16 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 37 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/100 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.0″ N 79°27’53.63″ W
Beale’s Barberry 1
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:24 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W
Japanese Maple
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:26 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W
Red Columbine
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:34 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 35 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.85″ N 79°27’51.43″ W
Lenten-rose
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:37 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 52 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
- Cropped image is 5283 x 3522 px
- GPS: 37°46’32.71″ N 79°27’49.54″ W
Apple Blossom 2
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:42 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.79″ N 79°27’49.45″ W
Turtle 2
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:47 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Settings:
- Lens: 250 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
- Cropped image is 3658 x 2439 px
- GPS: 37°46’31.8036″ N 79°27’48.4668″ W
Japanese Red Maple
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’34.896″ N 79°27’52.2288″ W
Double Daffodil
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:15 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’37.56″ N 79°27’55.4688″ W
Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica)
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:17 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
- Cropped image is 3682 x 5524 px
- GPS: 37°46’37.848″ N 79°27’56.5704″ W
Beverly and different color Redbuds
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:19 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 23 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/640 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’38.7948″ N 79°27’55.5264″ W
Redbud 2
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:19 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’38.3124″ N 79°27’56.4588″ W
Ann Magnolia
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 11:58 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 37 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’36.21″ N 79°27’54.75″ W
Wood Sculpture
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:10 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 23 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/100 sec
- Cropped image is 3542 x 5313 px
- GPS: 37°46’34.99″ N 79°27’55.50″ W
Dawn Redwood
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:14 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’34.17″ N 79°27’53.24″ W
Apple Blossom 1
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:22 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.74″ N 79°27’52.78″ W
Beale’s Barberry 2
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:25 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W
Golden Ragwort
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:28 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
- Cropped image is 4959 x 3306 px
- GPS: 37°46’32.16″ N 79°27’50.99″ W
Virginia Bluebells
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:35 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
- Cropped image is 5566 x 3711 px
- GPS: 37°46’33.85″ N 79°27’51.43″ W
(Unknown Tree)
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:40 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
- Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
- GPS: 37°46’32.71″ N 79°27’49.54″ W
Turtle 1
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:46 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- Settings:
- Lens: 250 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
- Cropped image is 4641 x 3091 px
- GPS: 37°46’31.8″ N 79°27’48.47″ W
Fothergilla
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 12:56 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
- Cropped image is 3491 x 5237 px
- GPS: 37°46’34.2336″ N 79°27’51.3792″ W
Bee House
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:02 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 46 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
- Cropped image is 2863 x 4294 px
- GPS: 37°46’35.814″ N 79°27’52.7796″ W
Japanese Red Maple
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’34.896″ N 79°27’52.2288″ W
Tsutsusi Azelea
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:15 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 40 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’38.7948″ N 79°27’55.5264″ W
Redbud 1
- Date: 4/6/2023
- Time: 1:19 PM
- Camera: Canon EOS 77D
- Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
- Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
- Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
- GPS: 37°46’38.3124″ N 79°27’56.4588″ W