A Mountain Masterpiece
by Lori Currie
At 22 Eagle Creek north of Ketchum, the landscape teems with life and purpose, thanks to the transformative touch of Native Landscapes. With 35 years of experience and a profound understanding of plant ecology, local materials, and landscape construction, the Native Landscapes team embarked on a journey to create a 36-acre masterpiece that seamlessly integrates with the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Mark Spencer, landscape architect and co-owner of Native Landscapes, took the reins of the project in 2021, working from the clients’ vision of a functional habitat landscape on the site. The challenge was to infuse Native Landscape’s expertise into the blueprint. The property, once planned as a five-lot development, evolved into a single home surrounded by an outdoor oasis. With water rights from nearby Eagle Creek, the project unfolded with a focus on sustainability and the use of local materials.
“The client wanted the finished landscape to look as though it had always been on the site. It needed to blend harmoniously into the surrounding hillsides and landforms in such a way that it even convinces the wildlife of its authenticity. The entire project needed to then work within the architectural template of the structure in a concordant way.”
–Mark Spencer, Landscape Architect, Co-Owner, Native Landscapes
“The client wanted the finished landscape to look as though it had always been on the site,” says Spencer. “It needed to blend harmoniously into the surrounding hillsides and landforms in such a way that it even convinces the wildlife of its authenticity. The entire project needed to then work within the architectural template of the structure in a concordant way.” The team utilized the opportunity presented by having flowing water on the site to sketch out a series of natural ponds and wetlands flowing in and around the main house.
“The homeowners really gave me broad latitude to do what I wanted to do,” says Spencer. “I put a ton of time into this project, placing things and creating things.” The landscape is a testament to Spencer’s dedication, as he meticulously hand-selected boulders from the Blackfoot area of eastern Idaho, transported them to the site, and sliced them for bridges and other hardscape elements. “The bridges were an art project I had in my head that took a lot of work to create, because you had to slice all of the boulders, devise plywood templates, cut steel plates to fit under the boulders and then build all of the structural parts of it,” says Spencer. Basalt, sourced regionally, was chosen for all hardscape materials, as well as for interior and exterior architectural elements, creating a seamless connection between the outdoors and the interiors of the home, which was designed by RLB Architectura and built by Elias Construction.
The Native Landscapes team embraced the challenge of revegetating the hillside with native plants, carefully selecting species like Idaho fescue, Aspen fleabane, and Rocky Mountain penstemon. The goal was to mimic the natural progression of plant communities, creating a visually stunning and ecologically sustainable landscape. “We have colonies of tall bunch grasses sloping down to Nebraska sedge and Meadow sedge, a mixture of upland and wetland materials,” says Spencer, “and then we have communities of wildflowers mixed in, such as Blue Flax, sticky native geraniums, sagebrush, and Fragaria virginiana, or wild strawberries, basically all of the things you would find endemic to this area. The plant selection was like painting a picture for me.”
“The homeowners really gave me broad latitude to do what I wanted to do. I put a ton of time into this project, placing things and creating things.”
–Mark Spencer, Landscape Architect
“The bridges were an art project I had in my head that took a lot of work to create, because you had to slice all of the boulders, devise plywood templates, cut steel plates to fit under the boulders and then build all of the structural parts of it.”
–Mark Spencer, Landscape Architect
Spencer has done other big water features in his career, but says, “In terms of craft, this is probably the project I’ve spent the most time on. This has been my baby.” The project’s water features, including a swimming pond, two beaver dams, and a bio-filtration system, showcase Native Landscapes’ commitment to environmental consciousness. The constructed wetland serves as a biofiltration system, ensuring that the water remains clear and supporting a thriving ecosystem.
The success of the project is not just measured in its beauty but also in its ability to attract wildlife. “We really wanted to create something special, where a moose or an eagle might visit,” says Spencer. “I saw a muskrat in here a couple weeks ago, and thought, ‘Wow, the first actual creature has found it and is moving in.’ It’s really cool and rewarding.”
As soon as the landscape was finished, the homeowners said more wildlife began to take notice and move in. At the start of the 18-month project, the homeowners’ vision was to honor the site’s natural qualities through native revegetation and habitat creation. Native Landscapes’ unique skill set, combining knowledge of local plant communities with project engineering and construction expertise, turned this vision into a stunning reality. The landscape seamlessly blends with the architectural space, creating a remarkable fusion of aesthetics and functionality.
“The thing I love is that we can implement what we envision, and no one else has the ability to do that. Other landscape architects often have to hand their work to someone else and try to manage the outcome. For us, when we envision something, we‘re able to build that vision exactly the way we want it. I love being out in the field with the guys who work for me, building it with them.”
–Mark Spencer, Landscape Architect
Native Landscapes’ commitment to crafting a vision and their follow-through in establishment of the project sets them apart in an industry where many landscape architects must compromise on their ideals. “The thing I love is that we can implement what we envision, and no one else has the ability to do that,” says Spencer. “Other landscape architects often have to hand their work to someone else and try to manage the outcome. For us, when we envision something, we‘re able to build that vision exactly the way we want it. I love being out in the field with the guys who work for me, building it with them.”
As Native Landscapes looks ahead to future projects, the demand for meaningful and unique landscapes continues to grow. The company’s ability to produce a project from inception through realization of the intended vision ensures that their clients receive a finished product that is not only beautiful but is also sustainable and environmentally conscious.
The 36-acre Eagle Creek oasis stands as a testament to the transformative power of landscape architecture, where expertise, passion, and a deep connection to nature come together to create something truly extraordinary.
