Garden Rant’s post on Boxwood

Last year I went on something of a diatribe about boxwood, and how it’s undeniably the most unimaginative, over-used, asinine plant in landscape use, suitable for nothing but bordering something when you don’t want to have to think about it or exude an iota of creativity. Glad that diatribe was past-tense. 🙂

Whee. Frickin’ boxwood.

Ironically, I found myself using it for a couple of clients afterwards. I treated the situation as my penance for my vocal opinion. It does, honestly, have its appropriate uses, after all. And it’s certainly a drought-tolerant plant, and can frame the exciting part of a garden nicely. It also makes for great topiary. Pearl Fryar is the unequivocal master of self-taught topiary and, well, if the Garden Conservancy can stand behind it, who am I to judge?

I’m back-peddling here. All that having been said, I was thoroughly delighted to come across a post today from one of my favorite blogs: Garden Rant. Their post titled, “Boxwoods? Bah!” immediately made me want to read more. I feel vindicated! Well, a little bit, anyway. 🙂 I still think it’s a benign design component, but it’s not the end of the world. I’m glad that there’s at least a little bit of like-mindedness out there. Their post is less about the commonness of the plant, and more about its stench. And they’re much more diplomatic about it than I was.

Anyhoo, it’s a fun, quick read. Check it out.