Garden Dialogues 2025: Washington, D.C.

The exact address is only shared with ticket purchasers for privacy reasons. Please reach out to aileen@tclf.org if you have any questions.

In the quiet residential Capitol Hill neighborhood adjacent to the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress are three characteristic rowhouses with meticulously designed gardens by Moody Graham landscape architects. Join The Cultural Landscape Foundation for an exclusive tour led by firm principal Ryan Moody as he illustrates how he and his team executed three clients’ visions at properties within walking distance of each other. The tour concludes on the terrace of Moody Graham’s office with views of the distinctive Capitol dome. 

The tour will begin at a residence steeped in history, the former home (1871-77) of the famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the first site of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art (1964-1987). The Second Empire-style home has a public-facing front landscape and a private garden behind the house that melds the historic qualities of the site with modern landscape design.

Moody Graham’s design of the front garden artfully honors Douglass and complements the historic fabric of the neighborhood. A custom North Star gate references the quilting patterns used as code during the Underground Railroad. Inside the gate overflowing planters and beds of tulips and grasses brighten the home’s exterior.

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While the front garden pays homage to the site’s heritage, the back garden takes on a contemporary style reflective of a recent remodel. The 975-square-foot garden features spaces for lounging, fireside conversation, and al fresco dining shaded by specimen trees. Reclaimed granite curb stones pave the garden, their rustication subtly tethering an otherwise modern garden to the historic residence. The outer edges of the garden are replete with herb planters, native perennials, and creeping thyme groundcover.

A short walk leads to another row house situated on a corner with connecting front and side gardens. For this project, Moody Graham utilized a layered plant design that preserved the existing large, shade trees and integrated new shrubs, perennials, vines, and spring bulb plantings. The effect is a rich atmosphere of colors and textures with seasonal variation that contributes to the neighborhood’s charm and is appreciated by passersby. A winding footpath signifies the transition from public to private space as it weaves from the side garden through a wooden gate into the backyard.

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Around the corner is the third home, where Moody Graham designed a secluded garden tucked between the row house and its rear garage. Although the space is small, it has been thoughtfully planned to meet the client’s needs. Referencing the home’s interior architecture, a custom arched metal screen infilled with cedar lattice divides the garden into two spaces—one for gathering, and the other for relaxation. Reclaimed antique bluestone pavers and an abundance of plants complete this serene haven.

1.5 LA CES™ professional development hours will be available to attendees, pending approval.