Near Boyce in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Blandy Experimental Farm

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

1. Blandy Experimental Farm Marker

Inscription. In 1926, Graham F. Blandy bequeathed a 712-acre portion of his estate, The Tuleyries, to the University of Virginia to educate “boys farming in the various branches.” Beginning late in the 1920s, the two-story, century-old brick slave quarters was enlarged and converted into laboratories and housing, and 172 acres were developed into an arboretum. Containing one of the most diverse collections of trees and woody shrubs in the eastern United States, Blandy Experimental Farm was designated the State Arboretum of Virginia in 1986. The University of Virginia uses Blandy Farm for environmental research and education.

Erected 1999 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number B-37.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Horticulture & Forestry • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.

Location. 39° 4.157′ N, 78° 3.745′ W. Marker is near Boyce, Virginia, in Clarke County. Marker is at the intersection of John Mosby Highway (U.S. 17 / 50) and Blandy Farm Lane, on the right when traveling east on John Mosby Highway. At

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the entrance to the Virginia State Arboretum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce VA 22620, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Millwood (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Burwell-Morgan Mill (approx. 1.3 miles away); Greenway Historic District (approx. 1.3 miles away); Greenway Court (approx. 1½ miles away); Carter Hall (approx. 1½ miles away); Long Branch (approx. 1.6 miles away); Saratoga (approx. 1.6 miles away); Town of Boyce (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boyce.

Also see . . .
1. Blandy Experimental Farm. (Submitted on July 22, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Article featuring a trail stop at Blandy. (Submitted on July 22, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Entrance to the State Arboretum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

2. Entrance to the State Arboretum

Entrance to the Quarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

3. Entrance to the Quarters

Originally a slave quarters for the Tuleyries, portions of the building date to the 1820s or 1830s. Dr. Orland E. White, who directed the farm from 1927 to 1955, added more dormitory, office, library, and administrative spaces starting in the 1940s.

Interior Courtyard of the Quaters image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

4. Interior Courtyard of the Quaters

Conifer Collection image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

5. Conifer Collection

A walking tour starting behind the quarters features one of the most diverse conifer collections in the United States.

Cedars of Lebanon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

6. Cedars of Lebanon

The driving tour through the grounds takes a visitor down old country lanes lined with Cedars of Lebanon. Planted in 1932, these are in a grove also including Norway Spruce, native oak and chestunts.

Ginkgo Grove image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

7. Ginkgo Grove

With 340 trees, this is one of the largest collections of Ginkgo trees outside of China. The grove started in the 1930s from seedlings brought from the Charlottsville campus of University of Virginia.

Native Meadows image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

8. Native Meadows

Blandy also conducts experiments with the species native to the Shenandoah Valley. In particular the warm season grasses and wildflowers. The meadow also blooms in April with quince, crabapple, and plum.

Walking the Grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

9. Walking the Grounds

Not only does Blandy offer exhibits of native and non-native species, but additionally some exceptional views of the surrounding landscape, to include the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east.

Blandy Experimental Farm is on the National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 15, 2007

10. Blandy Experimental Farm is on the National Register of Historic Places

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,885 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on July 22, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.