My Boxwood Room

Boxwood, a popular evergreen shrub in garden landscape, is a very ancient plant.  Its ornamental use can be traced back to 4000 BC Egypt, and the early Romans favored it in their courtyards.  The wood itself is harder than oak and its foliage is dense and compact.  Because of its growing habit, boxwood can be sculpted into formal hedges, topiaries, and other fanciful shapes. 

The two most common boxwood for garden use are English boxwood (Buxus sempevirens ‘Suffruticosa’) and American boxwood (Buxus simpevirens ‘Arbvorescens’).  English boxwood grows at a slower pace than American boxwood, and its foliage is tighter and more compact. The leaves of the English are small and rounded, giving a smooth looking surface to the shrub, compared to the leaves of the American, which are elongated and pointed, giving a bit of a wavy effect.

At my farm in Bedford, there are several buildings, including the Summer House and the Winter House.  Mrs. Ruth Sharp, whose family I purchased the property from, moved from one house to the other with the change of seasons, as only one was heated.  With heat now installed, and no need to move back and forth, I think it’s fun to still call those buildings by their original names, which leads me to my boxwood room.

The Summer House is rather formal and I was trying to decide how to design an appropriate formal garden.  I’ve always loved enclosed, secret gardens and I thought boxwood might be a good start.  So, I went to visit my friend, George Bridge, at his boxwood farm in Virginia, and he pointed out an amazingly large grove of American Boxwood planted there 75 years ago.  The reason there were so many was because they were used throughout the years for their greenery clippings at Christmas time.

My new boxwood room measures 60’ by 120’ and contains 60 boxwood, in all.  I have plans to install a faux bois gazebo, a beautiful lawn, a terrace in front of the house, and of course, lovely garden borders. And what’s especially nice is that the Summer House faces a rather busy intersection and this wall of boxwood provides a good deal of privacy.      

Two sides planted. It was really strenuous work

Discussing Measurements

The Boxwoods were trimmed while being planted, and using a horizontal string stretched across the top they were trimmed evenly. The trimmings are awaiting use as holiday decorations.

A wonderful screen providing privacy from the road

Comments

[Robb]

Absolutely lovely. I think we need a video tour in a coming MARTHA episode! Thank you for sharing.

[elledab]

wow, the boxwoods look lovely. A lot of work I can imagine. A nice way to provide privacy but without the feeling of being fenced in. My little boxwoods have a long way to go!
Thank you for sharing pics of the progress.

[Andrew Ritchie]

Wow! It's going to be so beautiful. I can perfectly visualize the finished product.

Please give us a full spread of the completed 'outdoor room' in the magazine sometime!

Best,
Andrew Ritchie
@Ottawa, Canada

[Vivian Price]

I love the boxwood idea...they are
so large I'm sure it was a tough
job...but well worth it.

Vivian/Cleveland, TN

[Alcea Alba]

What a clever idea using classic boxwood! It looks wonderful! Have you ever seen pictures of the garden Prince Charles has designed at his residence High Grove? If not, check out the book The Garden at Highgrove. The house takes on an amazing transformation once a formal garden is installed around it. It acts as an "anchor" to a house that was just "floating" in the middle of it's land. The hedge installed also provides privacy and shelter from the winds. Can't wait to see your boxwood room completed. Thanks for posting!

[Trish]

I hope we will get to see the finished product and the gazebo in particular! I'm impressed so far! I could use a few of those boxwoods in front of my house for my own privacy when I'm out there weeding. Nary a car comes by until I get in the most compromising position! Trish

[Margie]

What a pleasing location. I can just hear the rustle of the branches as the wind stirs them. I am sure you will include some running water to complete the sense of peace.

Yes it is nice to retain names of things such as the summer house.

[Jon Mondrik]

Martha you're a sweetheart!
Thank you very much for sharing the "in progress" photos of your soon to be exquisite boxwood room, as well as some of the wonderful plans for the garden within. A faux bois gazebo, now that will be a spectacular centerpiece! Is it an antique found on one of your fabulous forays?
Martha, I will be waiting in eager anticipation for the photos of the completed garden in all its glory.
All my best,
Jon

[kathleen]

wow those plants are 75 years old I live in a development established 25 years ago you would think that there would be beautiful hedges and shrubs but the landscraping crews the homeowners association hired during the past decades has systematically improperly pruned the plants to inches of their demise it is a sad commentary that sure ignorant people can enter the so called landscape business

[Claudine]

The Boxwoods look great, a nice private little hideaway. A great place for a summer al fresco dinner on big long tables. can't wait to see more through the years of this space
Claudine

[deezie]

So Beautiful!!!
dee lotz

[Larry]

Very nice, very pretty!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, et al, Thanks for another beautiful blog. How great it is to use Mother Nature to get some much needed privacy and a beautiful, useful outdoor room to boot. I can't wait to see the finished project. Have a great weekend, one and all. Jan

[Kelly]

Beautiful! I think boxwoods look lovely in any type of landscaping. Please keep us updated on the project!

[Amy Garner]

It's lovely. This puts me very much in mind of one of my favorite places--have you ever toured George Mason's home, Gunston Hall, near Washington DC? The house is modest and a beautifully preserved relic of life in the late 1700s. One exits the rear of the house and into a parterre garden walled by boxwood. It's immaculately maintained, and at the back of this walled garden there is a sheer dropoff and a cascade down to the Potomac. I know it's coming every time, but it never fails to take my breath away. If you haven't, I hope you get to see it one day!

[Joseph]

That looks great!! I have seen pictures and wondered how you could mind being so near a road.This will solve it wonderfully!Off subject;I was looking at your blog and noticed an ad for a credit card on the bottom of the page.It reminded me of the television commercial you did for the small business card years ago.You should post that video,it was great!Resurfacing your pool using cut up old cards.

[Judy Kubick]

Another beautiful privacy shrub is the cranberry bush. We had them planted around the perimeter of our property and they were lovely.

[Judy Kubick]

Another beautiful privacy shrub is the cranberry bush. We had them planted around the perimeter of our property and they were lovely.

[Renee M. Kohler]

Wow! That is breath taking, it is good to be you Martha...I so enjoy watching what you are doing with your new property. Im looking forward to more, ciao, Renee aka Whirlygal from Idaho

[Randall Parrish]

You planted at the perfect time of year. I assume this year's flush will complement the look even further. Are you considering using English Boxwood to make further borders or partitions? If so, please update the BLOG with photos.

[Randall Parrish]

If you plan to use English boxwood, please consider me as a source. www.englishboxwood.com I am located in central Va.