Graceful spikes of Feather Reed Grass, swaying gently in a
Capitol Hill breeze; the buzzing of dozens of bees among fragrant clumps of Calamint and Mountain Mint; dramatic yellow and green striped sword-like leaves
of the robust Adam’s Needle, echoed
by delicate tussocks of Variegated Dwarf
Sweet Flag; children exclaiming as they explore the colorful shards of
tile, glass and pottery, beads, metal critters, pebbles, shells and garden
implements in the mosaic sculpture; fat rain drops splattering on permeable concrete
pavers, then draining away quickly into the D.C. aquifer; vibrant yellow-orange
swaths of Brown-eyed Susans bursting
forth in late summer – these are the sights, sounds and smells of Kim’s Garden today.
Now
a District of Columbia public park administered by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, Kim’s Garden was created
as Reservation 232 on July 1, 1898, as part of the federal park system. The National Park Service
described it as a "trapezoid (area,
7,837 square feet; highly improved): Between Eighth and Ninth streets east and
at the intersection of North Carolina Avenue and B Street South. Inclosed [sic]
with post-and-chain fence, a flower bed in the center, and water
introduced." Pursuant to the National Capital
Planning Act of 1952, the National Park Service transferred Reservation 232 to
the District of Columbia government on December
18, 1973, so that "limited use of a portion or portions
of such area or areas" could be used for minor street improvements.
More recently, landscaper Kim Brenegar, proprietor of Capitol
Hill-based business The Ornamental Garden, often donated her time and resources
to help maintain the park. Whether it was trimming the bushes, mulching, carrying
buckets of water, raking or adding a shrub, Kim’s love of nature and her
devotion to preserving beauty were a gift to the park, to the neighborhood, and
to the city. After Kim died in a car accident in 2009 at age 49, a group of her friends, neighbors, fiancé and
co-workers formed
the Friends of Kim Brenegar in 2010, with a resolve to create a living
legacy in honor of Kim’s love of community and the environment. In partnership
with D.C. Dept. of Parks and Recreation, we chose to restore Reservation 232, steps
from Kim’s home and long the object of her attention and care.
Horticulturist Jim Adams created the design of Kim’s Garden, with masses of perennials blooming in patterns that echo the
mosaic centerpiece conceived by artist Deirdre
Saunder. Plants in the landscape were chosen for both their hardiness and
beauty, with something in bloom at least 10 months out of the year, yet
requiring minimal maintenance and water. Most are native species and serve as
hosts to a variety of birds and insects.
In 2011,
the existing Littleleaf Linden and Cornelian Cherry Dogwood trees were
pruned by Capitol Tree Care, the broken concrete curb along 8th
Street was repaired by FMS Construction, and an overgrown hedge of Euonymus
was removed to open up the site and reveal the beautiful granite bench. In 2012, Robbie Massey’s Eagle Scout
Project replaced broken bricks and graded the pathway between the park and
Christ Our Shepherd Church, and Friends of
Kim Brenegar achieved a long-sought goal of Kim’s: a permanent water supply was
re-established in the park. Also in 2012,
an historic reproduction iron fence was erected by Craftsman Iron to protect the plantings, and crumbling bricks were
replaced by gravel trenches covered with ECO
Cobble permeable pavers.
Then planting of the garden began: the east bed is
inhabited by shade- and drought-tolerant perennials that grow low to the
ground, providing an easy view of the mosaic. The flowering here begins with Lenten Rose in the winter months, Hairy Alumroot in spring, Mountain
Mint and the striking bi-color Indian
Pink in summer, and continues through autumn with
the White Wood Aster. The west bed is much more colorful so that passersby
can experience the garden’s beauty while going to and from Eastern Market. It
is filled with clumps of Daffodil
cultivars and a large planting of Thread-leaf
Blue Star that flowers in late spring and grows tall enough to veil the
bench and the space beyond, giving those inside the garden a sense of
tranquility from busy 8th Street. During summer, large rafts of Brown-eyed Susan and Calamint enliven the garden. Flowering culminates
with purple Turtlehead and finally “Autumn Fire” Sedum in late fall. Feather Reed Grass and the orange-tinged
foliage of Thread-leaf Blue Star
create a beautiful backdrop into winter.
The organic shapes of the mosaic
design and the idea to use recycled materials are in tribute to Kim and her
love for conservation. Through this mosaic, installed in 2013, viewers may honor her philosophy of life, love of nature, and
belief in sustainability. We also hope that it will speak to Kim’s sense of
humor and whimsy, as both children and adults search for hidden objects throughout
the sculpture.
In
2014, electric service was run to
the park, and historic reproduction street lights were placed on both sides of
the garden to enhance safety at night. Kim’s Garden was formally dedicated in July 2014. Please visit our website for
more information or to make a tax-deductible donation: http://kimsgardendc.blogspot.com/
