Man-made Water Feature Accentuates Natural Landscape

By Stacey Robinson, Land Design, Inc.

The property features a lower reflecting pool and a scenic overlook to south central Montana. Wildflower Sod, Birchleaf Spirea, Soapwort, Vera Jameson Sedum, Pink Creeping Thyme, Quaking Aspen, Granite Boulders, Flatstone, Stone Steps, River Rock were incorporated into the landscape as part of the project.
Photos by Cabel Noteboom Photography

High mountain landscaping is always challenging, and working at over 9,000 feet in the rugged and unpredictable mountains of Montana proved no exception for this residence in the city of Big Sky.

While winter recreation in Big Sky has long been a destination spot for vacationers, the city is now attracting more year-round residences that not only enjoy the snow, but also enjoy the beautiful spring and summer months. Owning a piece of Montana and enjoying the outdoors has broad appeal and creating environments that allow people to fully experience Montana is our goal.

The design of the water feature includes a pool at the top end that looks like a mountain spring not unlike one that would be discovered when hiking in the Madison Range of Montana.

Project Origin
Located in the Madison Mountain Range in south central Montana, the Big Sky residence project began largely as a site reclamation project with the primary goal of stabilizing the steep slopes of the site and re-vegetating areas disturbed by construction. Our client also had a desire to incorporate a water feature as the focal point of the landscape that could be enjoyed both from inside the home as well as the outdoor hot tub and patio areas. An incredibly difficult site, three-month construction window due to weather, remote location and high expectations all contributed to the challenges that we faced on this project.

Our design approach was basic and straightforward. We needed to stabilize the site in a natural way that looks as though it belongs. We also needed to create a focal point with a water feature that mimics a high mountain stream and develop a plant palette that reflects a native landscape providing a natural transition to the surrounding land, doing all of this with as little maintenance as possible.

The slope stabilization was the foundation of the design. This portion of the project utilized more than 500 tons of native granite moss rock boulders (25-semi-truck loads) handpicked in the field, transported and placed without scarring. Much of the stabilization design was executed in the field by locating key boulders that not only serve the function of stabilization but also serve as key features in the mountain stream and ponds.

Native stone was selected to complement the architecture of the home while stabilizing the steep slopes of the site. This design created seating areas interlaced with wildflowers including Birchleaf Spirea, Soapwort, Vera Jameson Sedum, Pink Creeping Thyme.

Water Feature
The water feature embraces two sides of the home and drops over eighteen feet from its beginning to end. The design of the water feature includes a pool at the top end that looks like a mountain spring not unlike one you might discover hiking in the Madison Range. Water from the top pool drops through a stream that looks as though it is eroded from the spring runoff exposing boulders and cobble as it flows in the lower reflecting pond. Native sandstone ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Savio pumps keep over 300-GPM of water moving through the stream and a series of UV filters keep the water crystal clear. The stream and ponds are lined with .45-mil EPDM liners covered with natural cobble and two to three-ton native granite boulders placed over the liner at the stream and pond edges to help make the transition from the water feature to the landscape and appear natural.

The water feature embraces two sides of the home and drops over eighteen feet from beginning to end. Water from the top pool drops through a stream that looks as though it is eroded from the spring runoff, exposing boulders and cobble as it flows in the lower reflecting pond. Savio pumps keep over 300-GPM of water moving through the stream and a series of UV filters keep the water crystal clear.

Water usage by the stream was a major concern, so a water-harvesting plan was implemented in an effort to capture and reuse snow and rain runoff. Runoff from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Native sandstone ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Native Plants
The planting pallet utilizes native and naturalized plants to create a high mountain landscape that strives to seamlessly tie the built environment to the surrounding landscape. The harsh climate and poor soils pose numerous challenges for plant establishment. Wildflower sod together with a native grass seed mix was planted throughout the site in an effort to quickly provide plant establishment on a site that holds snow nearly 10-months a year. Larger trees and shrubs were intentionally kept 40-feet away from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Native granite moss rock was placed over the liner in an effort to ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Wildlife continues to challenge the plantings with deer, elk and moose sharing residence with the home?EUR??,,????'?????< Land Design, Inc. and its principal Stacey Robinson, ASLA has been practicing landscape architecture in the Northern Rocky Mountains for nearly twenty years. A native of Montana, Robinson has a special love and attention for mountain landscape architecture and has focused on developing this unique niche over the past ten years. With his hands-on approach to projects, Robinson started Land Supply, Inc., which builds many of the projects Land Design, Inc., designs, allowing direct involvement from design through construction.

Water usage was a major concern on this project, so a water-harvesting plan was implemented in an effort to capture and reuse snow and rain runoff. Runoff from the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Project Team
Landscape Architect: Land Design, Inc. www.ldinc.net
Architect: Locati Architects www.locatiarchitects.com
Contractor: Land Supply, Inc. Supplier: Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc.

Plant Pallet
TREES
Alnus incana ?EUR??,,????'?????< Pseudotsuga menziesii ?EUR??,,????'?????< Populus tremuloides ?EUR??,,????'?????<

SHRUBS
Amorpha fructicosa ?EUR??,,????'?????< Cornus sericea ?EUR??,,????'?????< Arctostaphylos patula ?EUR??,,????'?????< Rhus glabra ?EUR??,,????'?????< Salix pupurea ?EUR??,,????'?????<

PERENNIALS
Achillea millefolium ?EUR??,,????'?????< Calamagrostis actutiflora ?EUR??,,????'?????< Heuchera sanguinea ?EUR??,,????'?????< Sedum ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Materials
Block Rock Retaining Walls ?EUR??,,????'?????< Boulders ?EUR??,,????'?????< Bridge ?EUR??,,????'?????< Steps ?EUR??,,????'?????< Terraced Patio ?EUR??,,????'?????< Stream Bed ?EUR??,,????'?????<