{"id":17265,"date":"2025-12-19T13:48:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/?post_type=book&p=17265"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:48:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:48:35","slug":"i-buxus-a-cultural-history-of-the-tree-of-afterlife","status":"publish","type":"book","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/book\/i-buxus-a-cultural-history-of-the-tree-of-afterlife\/","title":{"rendered":"I, Buxus: A Cultural History of the Tree of Afterlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

I, Buxus<\/em> tells the story of common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens<\/em>) written from a most interesting perspective: a first-person narrative by the plant itself!\u00a0 She (her chosen pronoun dating to Roman times) laments that \u201cfew people know about me much more than the fact that I make a fine garden ornament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buxus, assisted by author Tomasz Ani\u015bko, describes her book in the sub-title as A Cultural History of the Tree of Afterlife<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 It is an engaging story.<\/p>\n

\"\"She is very proud of the order she brings to a garden, \u201cacculturating the unruly flowers\u201d and is often found edging gardens of all types.\u00a0 Because of slow growth, she rarely outgrows her intended size.\u00a0 The use of boxwood for topiary dates back to antiquity and has been especially popular in European cultures since the Renaissance.<\/p>\n

Groves of boxwood planted in cemeteries or surrounding sacred shrines is common in both Christian and Muslim traditions.\u00a0 While trees in the surrounding countryside might be harvested, those in these spaces are considered holy, and are let be.<\/p>\n

The very dense quality of her wood has made boxwood very useful for small tools, especially those associated with spinning and weaving.\u00a0 Throughout the 19th<\/sup> century, engraved boxwood plates of plant illustrations, cut across the grain, were considered by book printers the equal, and for some purposes better, than the more common copper plates.<\/p>\n

While Buxus is sharing her cultural history, she does not address the several threats \u2013 alas \u2013 to her well-being.\u00a0 Especially worrisome are the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis<\/em>) and the boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata<\/em>) that have devastated many of her sisters, especially in Europe.<\/p>\n

How \u201cI, Buxus\u201d came to the Miller Library is an interesting story in itself.\u00a0 Sold only through a source in Poland, our initial inquiry asked for our patience while \u201cour government resolves the temporary stop in shipping to the USA.\u201d\u00a0 Fortunately, that stop was resolved and we received the book in about six weeks.<\/p>\n

Because this book is scarce, it is not available to check out.\u00a0 However, I\u2019m sure Buxus would appreciate you exploring her story in the comfort of the Miller Library on a dreary winter\u2019s day.<\/p>\n

Reviewed by: Brian Thompson on November 18, 2025<\/p>\n

Published in\u00a0Garden Notes: Northwest Horticultural Society<\/em>, Winter 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I, Buxus tells the story of common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) written from a most interesting perspective: a first-person narrative by the plant itself!\u00a0 She (her chosen pronoun dating to Roman times) laments that \u201cfew people know about me much more than the fact that I make a fine garden ornament.\u201d Buxus, assisted by author Tomasz Ani\u015bko, describes her book in the sub-title as A Cultural History of the Tree of Afterlife.\u201d\u00a0 It is an engaging story. She is very proud…<\/p>\n

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