The Property

The estate was originally over 11 acres, but acreage has subsequently been

reduced by more than half. The greenhouses and the impressive katsura allée to the

west are no longer owned by the estate. Large mature trees in lawns have been the

characteristic of the site, with significant trees such as a large gingko and beech trees

probably predating the current house on the site, which in 1929 was built on the

foundation of a prior house. Charles Platt, landscape architect and architect of the

current house, specified the linden allée leading to the front door, and the wisteria,

which is on the outside of the ballroom, both of which are being actively maintained. If

Platt designed a formal garden, no trace of it exists today.

The current owners, Anne Fairfax & Richard Sammons, recognize that there is a

decline in biodiversity, an increase in severe weather events, and that established

gardening practices may not be sustainable or successful in a changing future. The goal

is to encourage the proliferation of wildlife on the site through the replacement of some

lawn space with wildflower meadows. In addition, planting beds of native plants have

been established and allowing the grass to grow, rather than being kept mowed, has

been introduced to create an understory of growth for wildlife. The use of pesticides has

been forbidden and leaf blowers are strictly prohibited. The trees on site are being

tended to through pruning when necessary, and the beech trees are being treated for

BLD. Keeping the setting healthy and supporting the entire ecosystem should create a

garden where the trees will thrive. In the case that trees are lost, they will be replaced

with American White Oak (Quercus alba) a tree that provides a variety of benefits and is

currently under no threat of disease.

The Collections

The general design of the arboretum is centered around several mature trees

situated in the expansive lawn. The tree types follow the pattern of Newport planting in

the 19 th and early 20 th century, with exotic specimen trees aimed to impress the

observer. Extant specimens include copper beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’),

weeping beech (F. sylvatica ‘Pendula’), and weeping cherry (Prunus subhirtella

‘Pendula’), as well as formally managed pollarded lindens. A mix of conifers and

broadleaf evergreens line the borders of the property to create a screen, including

interesting shrubs such as False Holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus) and two Dexter

rhododendron hybrids. Other notable trees include a large European hornbeam

(Carpinus betulus), sourwood (Oxydendron arboreum), and the uncommon harlequin

glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum). An orchard with pears, quince, and apples

was installed in spring of 2023. Formally pruned Japanese yews (Taxus cuspidata)

serve as foundation plants, greeting visitors in the front of the house.

Bois Dore Plant Inventory

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The Mission

The mission of Bois Doré Arboretum is to encourage the proliferation ofwildlife on the site through the replacement of some lawn space with wildflower meadows. In addition, planting beds of native woody and herbaceous plants have been established and allowing the grass to grow, rather than being kept mowed, has been introduced to create an understory of growth for wildlife. The trees on site are being stewarded through regular pruning, and the beech trees are being treated for BLD. Keeping the setting healthy and supporting the entire ecosystem should create a garden where the trees will thrive. In the case that trees are lost, they will be replaced with American White Oak (Quercus alba) a tree that provides a variety of benefits and is currently under no threat of disease.

Bois Dore Tree Map - Google Maps

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