LEE WICK DENNISON GARDEN

Who was Lee Wick Dennison? 

 

Lee Wick Dennison was a Town of Chevy Chase resident and consummate volunteer.  She was a director at the National Endowment of the Arts helping to bring arts programming to communities all across the United States, a trustee at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, a supporter of the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, a member of the Town's Traffic Committee, and a champion of sustainable growth. 

 

An avid gardener, Lee gladly opened up the joyful gardens of her Victorian cottage on Leland Street for the Town's early garden tours.  An eager walker, Lee often could be seen on our Town streets and in our parks with her dog, Quantum.

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How did the Dennison Garden come about?

 

For Lee, arts and nature fused to enrich the body and mind as well as helped to create vibrant communities.  Reflecting this belief, she left several legacy gifts reflecting her core values:

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• Her gift to Interlochen Center for the Arts created a year-round recreation and wellness 

• Her contribution to the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail helped build the Neal Potter Plaza along the Trail at River Road

• Her extraordinarily generous $100,000 bequest to our Town to support "the beautification and/or maintenance of public space within the Town" has resulted in the Town creating this native plant garden that uses ecological techniques to promote a healthy environment and human wellness.

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On October 10, 2018, the Town Council formally approved the use of Lee’s bequest for a garden for individual and community enjoyment and the opportunity to learn more about sustainable landscaping practices.  After receiving bids in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP), Backyard Bounty was selected for its expertise in garden design, deep commitment to the environment, and creative ideas. They worked closely with a committee of volunteers to develop and implement the concept.  

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The intent is for residents to enjoy, learn from, and adapt these sustainable landscaping practices for their own gardens.

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Why is the Dennison Garden Located in Zimmerman Park?   

 

The Dennison Garden Working Group (under the direction of the Town Climate & Environment Committee) sought to find a site in the Town that would mirror the planting challenges many Town residents face on their own property and would be convenient and accessible to residents.

 

The area along Maple Avenue from Lynn Drive to Aspen Street in Zimmerman Park proved to be an excellent location because it offers a variety of growing conditions – from full sun to full shade, from dry areas to damp depressions, from hillside erosion to flat open lawns.

 

It is large enough to include a path to traverse the garden and a gathering area for staging events and activities. The area has the additional advantage of attracting considerable Town resident foot traffic.

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What is the "room" concept behind Dennison Garden?

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As you walk through the garden, you will see signs for four "rooms" that represent the varied local planting conditions.  Each room features native plants adapted to specific conditions - from sun to shade and wet to dry.  The four "rooms" are:

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• Shaded Woodland Edge

• Formal Patio Garden

• Sunlit Pollinator Habitat

• Sloped Stream Bank

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