Box Borders, Mount Vernon, Virginia, 1932
Today’s unused postcard has a picture of the boxwood borders found at the home of President George Washington in Mt. Vernon, Virginia. The card is dated 1932 at the lower left corner.
Boxwood or Buxus is a slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree. There are several different varieties, some native to Europe, Asia, Africa and America. It has been used as topiary in some gardens and is often trained or clipped into different geometric shapes and animals. Sometimes the shaping is done by employing wire cages as guides keep the plant in the desired shape as it grows.
Mount Vernon is the former home and plantation of George and Martha Washington. It is located on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia. Designed as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original house, built of wood, was built by Washington’s father around 1734. During Washington’s time the house was expanded twice. After he died the home remained in the family for several generations. In 1858 the house was saved from ruin by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. The Association still owns and maintains it as a trust. It is open to the public every day of the year.
The grounds originally covered 8,000 acres but today has 500 acres that includes the property upon which the house stands and the gardens. The boxwoods were planted in 1786 by George Washington and now can be found along all the paths. They have been trimmed into shapes. The gardens also include a grassy bowling green, greenhouse, and vegetable and fruit gardens. A museum on the grounds has exhibits of the surveying equipment George Washington used, weapons and clothing. There is also a library open for scholarship by appointment only.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vernon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topiary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buxus
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