Bethesda Family Garden Retreat

A modern landscape reimagined for family life and sophisticated entertaining

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In this contemporary Bethesda residence, Rossen Landscape was tasked with an ambitious transformation: to take a stark, overbuilt space and craft a living landscape that would balance beauty with joyful function.

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The property originally featured dramatic poured-in-place gunite walls, rising up to 13 feet, which created a cold, stone-heavy environment. Rossen softened this visual with thoughtfully layered plantings:

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• Espalier Euonymus Manhattan now screens and greens the vertical planes.
• Cascading Winter Jasmine brings movement and seasonal color, its bright yellow blooms appearing in late winter and early spring.

Together, these elements transform the once-imposing space into a welcoming garden that nurtures the senses and invites exploration.

The Entertaining Terrace

A refined space for gathering, dining, and relaxation

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At the heart of the property lies a curated entertaining zone designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living:

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• A sleek bluestone patio laid in large-format slabs, accented with polished river rock.
• A custom water feature—an architectural statement—featuring a copper backdrop and powder-coated stainless channels that create mesmerizing water movement and sound.
• An outdoor kitchen and expansive dining area, framed by a striking tiered Norstone wall.
• A pavilion with automatic Phantom screens allows gatherings to flow effortlessly from day to evening, shielded from the elements.
• A sculptural copper firepit anchors the space for relaxed conversation.

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Throughout this zone, modern materials are balanced by soft planting textures, ensuring that even this architectural terrace feels connected to nature.

The Children’s Play Garden

A landscape of whimsy, movement, and exploration

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For this family, the garden was also intended as a place of joy and discovery for their young children. Rossen designed an imaginative play area that allows for endless adventure:

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• A rope-climbing teepee that encourages physical play and curiosity.
• A slide that winds through lush plantings, creating a sense of secret movement through the landscape. ‍
• Monkey bars and a tree swing, thoughtfully positioned to preserve sightlines and garden flow.
• An arched climbing igloo for both play and aesthetic charm.
• A whimsical crushed bluestone pathway meandering to a secluded zen garden—inviting moments of calm amid the activity.

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