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A wonderful century-old Arts and Crafts house that was originally a school in Chevy Chase, MD, features organic gardens that are just as rich as the house’s history.
“The most important thing for me was that the garden reflect the history of the house and be an extension of the house,” the homeowner says. “It was originally a boarding school, so they were feeding students, and they might have had a vegetable garden. The yard was divided, so if the school were in existence, they might have had a play area, and a quiet area to hold classes outside.”
“The garden project began four years ago with the play structure, and each year an area of the garden has come under wing,” says Leslie Gignoux, who with her husband, Scott Fritz, principals of Fritz & Gignoux Landscape Architects Inc., designed every detail of the landscaping. “For this historic property and house, we designed a traditional garden with old-fashioned and heirloom plant materials, which are hallmarks of organic gardens,” Gignoux says.
Healthy and Plentiful
The property features masses of hydrangea, hundreds of irises, and sweeps of lythrum that Fritz & Gignoux saved from the original garden and transplanted. English boxwoods, clematis, and Sweetbay magnolias are other highlights. Fine Earth Landscape Inc., the landscape contractor, also maintains the entire garden. One focal point is an organic vegetable garden the owner’s teenage son is growing. He’s planted various vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers, including figs, heirloom grapes, French chard, lemon verbena, and strawberries. Marigolds act as a natural border to deter insects.
Fritz & Gignoux designed raised beds for the vegetable garden. These beds allow the soil to heat faster so seeds will germinate faster. They’re also easier to tend, good for seating, and drain naturally through weep holes in the stone walls, Gignoux says. The landscape architects also designed iron obelisks and pyramids, built by Manuel Bartolo of Bartolo Custom Ironworks, for espaliered apples and pears, and climbing vines for tomatoes, sweet peas, and beans.
“Our client’s heirloom apple and pear trees are hardier and will have more flavor than other varietals,” Gignoux says. “All of our gardens are organic. We use plant materials that do well in this area and use irrigation systems that control over-watering.”
Naturally, the family composts, creating rich soil without the need for chemical fertilizers. “The owner is conscious of the threats posed by fertilizer and chemical runoff traveling into our streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay,” Gignoux says.
