Washington -- Rackley Garden

A small formal urban garden extends the living area of a 1930's colonial style house with comfortable seating on the sunnier side and outdoor dining furniture on the shadier side, directly behind the house. French doors and flanking full-length windows also connect the outdoor room with the living room inside. The walled garden that was planted in the late 1990's is bisected by a wide brick path with a diamond-shaped lozenge centered by a small stone fish pond. There are patches of lawn bordered by miniature boxwood hedges and behind them are flowering shrubs and trees, including climbing roses, wisteria and clematis that all flower together. More flower beds at the rear of the garden feature the color blue which is cooling and seems to extend the space. Planted here are a vitex tree, hosta, scabiosa, speedwell, columbine, creeping phlox, catmint and ajuga. Pairs of antique and classically styled planted containers are placed throughout the garden, and a crate in the alley outside the garden wall holds surplus annuals. The formal design features were inspired by the Federal style of nearby Tudor Place and the gothic style of the National Cathedral garden close while the dense plantings were designed to soften the straight edges.

Persons associated with the garden include: William Brockman Bankhead and family (former owners, 1939-1969); Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sager Keck (former owners, 1969-1994); Susan Boasberg (garden co-designer, late 1990's).