Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Brinitzer Garden, a stop on the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

The garden of Scott Brinitzer was a stop on the second day of the Capitol Region Fling last June. As we got off the bus we were greeted by Scott, and listened while he shared stories of his garden, and his (successful) attempt to beautify the street with trees, not just in his space but in the yards of his neighbors. Unfortunately I wasn't able to hear everything Scott said and so my eye wandered. I was completely transfixed by the amazing aggregate wall and urns that bordered the front and part of the side of the property.

The varied pattern of the stones made each one unique.

The rhythm of the small urns interrupted by a large one.

Scott and his partner were oh so very welcoming to us, complete with a lovely spread of snacks and beverages (Pam has great photos of the hospitality table and other vignettes I missed photographing). I am certain they shared a story about trying to repair or maybe continue the stone work but the tedious nature of the project just became to much for them.

Then again maybe I'm just imagining it, since my visit was 4 months ago...

The short blurb on the garden from our Fling materials: "Scott Brinitzer is a landscape designer and owner of Scott Brinitzer Design Associates. His intimate garden uses unique elements such as specimen shrubs and bamboo to create a sense of movement and privacy. Every feature of his organic garden is designed to eliminate runoff and direct all water into the ground, reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. "

Behind the aggregate wall was another of Hydrangea, followed by Liriope and lawn.

Simple perfection.

The sexy bark of several trees was featured perfectly.

Oh to have a nice big porch like this! (note: more aggregate)

Looking down the former driveway, re-imagined as a side garden.

Hosta perfection.

I detest the flowers of my Hosta and cut them before they're allowed to detract from the foliage. These are lovely...

Damn my memory! I think I took this photo because there was talk of an unfortunate winter accident that resulted in extreme pruning?

Love this.

Are they trying to eradicate Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'? (Bishops Weed) Or is it just slow to take hold here? (Oh the horror)

I think this might have been the modern day attempt at covering an urn and wall with small pebbles? Or maybe not...

Fabulous, either way.

Several of my fellow Flingers loved this part of the garden. I think it was my least favorite. While I do appreciate the elements it's just so "formal" — and does nothing for me.

I do love the brown grasses.

And the fountain, and pond beneath it.

Yes, I love this so much!

The side garden seems perfect for entertaining.

And of course the orange chairs and a nice zing.

Where the materials meet.

The D.C. area seems to grow Selaginella quite beautifully, must be the humidity?

Here we are, back at that wall.

This was a special garden that I'm thrilled to have visited.

Weather Diary, Oct 16: Hi 67, Low 39/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

12 comments:

  1. Had to laugh that you did not like the formally planted garden and yet love the fountain. To me it is equally formal.

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    1. It's primarily a space thing. So much space given over to the formal hedge square. Plus the fountain is rather playful with it's asymmetrical plantings, vine and moss.

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  2. Don't know which I admire most, the cool aggregate walls & urns, that large porch, or the fountain. Lots to love here!

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    1. Now just imagine it with your fabulous plantings!

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  3. The whole thing seems rather formal to me, but in a nice way. Not something I aspire to, but do appreciate when done this well.

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    1. I suppose you — and the other commenters — are right. Maybe it's the warmth of the spaces that had me overlooking that. Formal can be so cold.

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  4. In my early gardening days I thought Bishops Weed is lovely till I learned of it's thuggish tendencies, thankfully from reading rather then personal experience. It is a simple and attractive selection of succulents in the urns, I didn't recognize the dark sedum with the blond blooms. A friend has a large urn at home where he collect pennies, so he says: A Penny Saved is a Penny Urned...

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    1. My mom grows Bishops Weed well. It's in a shady spot and can't spread to far. I guess right plant right place truly does apply. In my garden it was in full sun and allowed to take off. A battle I did thankfully win, eventually. Your friend is clever!

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  5. Agree with others about the formalism, which can create a wonderful atmosphere to bask in but is rarely the stuff die-hard plant folk are made of (or can exist in as visitors for long without twitching). The sprinkling of aggregate here seems made for a simpler plant palette, however, and I think they've done some sophisticated work here with foliage. Definitely a landscaper's idea of a residential "garden space," and there's nowt wrong with that. :)

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  6. I loved that wall and the matching planters too. As I recall, the tree was in decline and had been for some time. The pruning done to it a couple of weeks before our arrival was a last-ditch effort to extend its life a little longer. As the garden was built around the shade of that tree, now greatly diminished, Brinitzer said he was dealing with the plants trying to adapt to a much sunnier exposure. I imagine the back garden will become a fundamentally different space within a few years.

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