Rendering of Landscape Design
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| Scale: 1" = 10" |
Horticulturist Jim Adams describes the garden design:
The theme of Kim’s Garden is beauty and simplicity, resulting in a space for all to enjoy. The plan preserves some existing site elements, augmented with a contemporary landscape design and new garden enhancements.
The blueprint includes tree maintenance as well. The existing linden and cornelian cherry dogwood trees were pruned and preserved by a professional arborist in May 2011. The hedge of euonymus behind the west-side sitting area was removed in October 2011 to visually open up the site and reveal the beautiful granite bench.
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| Cornelian cherry dogwood |
The remaining space are filled with masses of hardy perennials blooming in patterns that echo the mosaic centerpiece designed by professional artist Deirdre Saunder (see below). The plants in the landscape have been chosen for their hardiness and beauty with something in bloom for at least 10 months each year. Most vegetation is native and will serve as host plants for a variety of birds and insects. The selected flora requires minimal maintenance, as these plants only need to be cut back once a year.
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Lenten rose
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The east bed of the garden is inhabited by shade- and drought-tolerant perennials that grow low to the ground, providing an easy view of the mosaic centerpiece around which they are planted. The flowering here begins with Lenten roses in the winter months and continues through autumn when the white wood aster blooms. Even with the year-round flowering, this side of the garden will provide more subtle color than the opposite side of the garden.
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White wood aster
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The west bed is much more colorful so that people on Independence Avenue and 8th Street can experience the garden’s beauty as they pass. It is filled with clumps of daffodil cultivars that bloom from late winter through late spring. A large planting of thread-leaf blue star 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.
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Daffodils
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Thread-leaf blue star
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During summer, a large raft of black-eyed Susans enlivens the garden and brightens the street. The flowering ends with turtle heads and sedums in late fall. Feather reed grass and the foliage of the thread-leaf blue star create a beautiful backdrop for all the plants that are in bloom. A three-foot historic reproduction iron fence encircles around the beds to help prevent the plants from being trampled and to allow them to thrive throughout the seasons.
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Black-eyed Susan
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| Turtlehead |
We have also installed historic reproduction street lights on both sides of the garden to illuminate the space during the evening hours.
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| Sedum “Autumn Fire” |
Renderings of Mosaic Centerpiece
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A. Mosaic Centerpiece with color scheme
B. Mosaic Centerpiece with “found objects”
Deirdre Saunder is a well-known D.C. area artist whose public installations include the Hopscotch Bridge mosaic figures in Washington, D.C., Glenmont Metro Station “Swallows and Stars” frieze in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Silver Plaza Fountain mosaic in Silver Spring, Maryland. She describes the above mosaic centerpiece design:
The circular mosaic, installed in the center circle of the garden courtyard in August 2013, comprises stones, pebbles, broken porcelain, tiles, glass pieces, and other recycled materials.
In addition, Design B shows a watering can, garden hose, spade, and gardening gloves as examples of “found objects” that have been placed among the stones and shards.
The organic shapes of the design and the idea to use recycled materials are in tribute to Kim and her love for conservation. Through this mosaic, passersby will be able to honor her philosophy of life, love of nature, and belief in sustainability. We also hope that it will speak to her sense of humor and whimsy, as both children and adults search for the hidden objects in a “Where's Waldo?”-like game.
Materials
1. For 15-foot diameter x 4-inch deep footer:
2. For 15-foot diameter mosaic:
Installation
If you have questions about the sculpture, please e-mail Deirdre Saunder at FriendsofKimBrenegar@gmail.com.
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