CAPITOL HILL GARDEN PROFILE
An Estate Garden Endures the Hill’s Rapid Changes

During the last decade many homes in Capitol Hill’s historic district have changed hands and undergone huge transformations both inside and out. The home of Vincent “Cap” and Christina Mona, located at 616 North Carolina Ave. SE, is an exception to this trend of rapid changes in homeowners – it’s been in Vincent’s family for over 70 years. In fact, theirs is only the second family to live in the house.

In 1931, Vincent’s grandparents Fritz and Eva Hoffmann purchased the wooden, A-frame farmhouse. Fritz, one of the original comptrollers of live theater in Washington, and Eva, a piano player for Washington’s silent movie theaters, raised their family at 616, and Vincent remembers Washington life with his grandparents as a boy and young man. So when his grandparents decided to sell the property, Vincent didn’t think twice about making the house his home.

The Monas had many changes in store for the one bathroom farmhouse and spared no cost while making historically accurate renovations. The rooms were restored to their original splendor and the residence updated to include five bathtooms. Upon completion of interior renovations, which included the addition of a spectacular back wing, the couple began restoring the garden to Victorian splendor.

The wraparound garden begins in the front yard that lies on North Carolina Avenue and circles the house to the footpath that leads to Independence Avenue. The footpath is the most unique aspect of the gardens. Now paved with cobblestones, the path was originally used by horses bringing ice and coal to the estate. The couple now uses the home’s Independence Avenue entrance when hosting a major function or party. Throughout the garden there are things that bring us back to a time gone by. The pathways and patio areas are all done in contrasting flagstone.

When the Monas decided to redo the hardscape, originally done in brick and in bad need of replacement, they had no idea of the troubles they would unearth. The terracotta sewer pipes compromised by many tree roots had literally collapsed, so the entire sewer system to the house had to be replaced. This major setback would have discouraged many folks, yet the Monas rose above the challenge and created a fabulous garden sanctuary. Throughout the entire garden renovation – one that is four times the size of most Capitol Hill gardens – the couple had only one disagreement. “We could not decide what to put below the weeping cherry that was given to us by our office as a wedding gift,” says Christina, “so we finally compromised on the Stella Daylilies.”

From the weeping cherry, the garden flows in every direction. To the northeast there is a large raised formal patio area with a brick wall that has the remnants of an elaborate garden mural done by Vincent’s grandmother. The north side of the rear garden has an ornate 6-foot iron gate. The footpath beyond the gate leads to Independence Avenue. There are lush Leylands and hollies on either side of the path. The custom iron fence wraps around the property and is interrupted every 8 feet by 5-foot-tall brick columns. The columns and fence flow to the front and are transitioned to a 4-foot fence with stone columns that match the stone columns of the house’s front porch. The flagstone flows from the front gate through the sides of the house to the rear and is seamlessly joined by the pavers of the back path. The front garden flows from a formal lawn area and is flanked on three sides with plant material chosen by the homeowners and installed by Dennison Landscaping. The Heritage Birch, Nellie Stevens Holly and Crape Myrtle add interest and impact to the front garden.

The formal border garden has Japanese holly and Knock Out roses, Crape Myrtle and flowering annuals, assorted ground covers and trellises for the flowering vines. A garden bench with children dates, circa 1931 (the year Vincent’s family acquired the house), sits under the 10-foot-tall Crape Myrtle and was added by Vincent as a tribute to his family. While strolling down the flagstone path to the rear, the lush plants and evergreens overflow the pathways and create a stunning display. Nandina and holly, laurel and Rose of Sharon, annual flowers and hardy Phlox have been installed together harmoniously.

Once in the rear garden the sensory overload continues as plant after plant commingle and conspire to return you to a simpler time. While seated in the rear patio area or on the antique stone bench, it is easy to imagine a time when the gates would be flung open to give access to the horse-drawn carriage as it arrived to deliver ice for a summer function or coal for a cold winter’s night. Simply, elegantly, historically, charming.