Written By: Katie Thomas
Notes from the field looks beyond the polished final image to reveal the experimentation, problem-solving, and meticulous work behind exceptional projects. In this issue, NVS uses orientation and simplicity to shape a residential-style clubhouse, while Blanchford Landscape Group creates an evolving ranch landscape consisting of native plants, regional materials, and years of thoughtful care.
Entry No. 2: Palatial Palette
“WE CONFER WITH OUR CLIENTS THROUGHOUT, DISCUSSING THEIR COLOR PALETTE, IF THEY WANT MORE GRASSES VERSUS FLOWERS, OR SHRUBS, FLOWERING- OR NON-FLOWERING VERSUS TREES.”
The outdoor space surrounding a home should be a sanctuary. Montana’s singular beauty takes care of much of this on its own, but thoughtful design, horticulture, and construction can elevate these spaces even further. Blanchford Landscape Group does just that, creating sanctuaries by crafting landscape design that fuses the natural environment with luxury architecture.
Since the company’s founding in 1997, Blanch-ford has followed a creative design-build process that reflects the triangulation of what the client wants, what the landscape wants, and the firm’s unique vision. Every project begins with a site visit, when the team photographs the property and gathers client objectives. Once the final objectives are approved, they’re handed off to a landscape architect. The plan then moves through revisions and cost estimates until the budget is signed off, materials are ordered, and construction begins.
“We confer with our clients throughout, discussing their color palette, if they want more grasses versus flowers, or shrubs, flowering- or non-flowering versus trees,” Erin Young, Blanchford’s sales and marketing director, says. Of particular importance to Blanchford is how a property speaks to the local landscape and its history, and choosing native plants that have long thrived in southwest Montana as much as possible.
One such distinctive project is an upscale ranch property outside Manhattan, Montana. Surrounded by acres of hayfields with horses and plenty of deer, the area inspires grasses like prairie June Grass and perennials like Russian Sage and Terracotta Yarrow. Blanchford has cared for the property since 2019, implementing a series of thoughtful enhancement projects along the way. Over time, changes have been made to preserve the property’s localized integrity, incorporating features such as Medicine Mountain Red rock mulch and Snowberry shrubs.
“WE’VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF THIS PROPERTY FOR A LONG TIME, ENJOYING ITS UNFOLDING AS THE YEARS PASS. IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.”
Blanchford recently revamped the landscaping around the home, keeping in tune with the same plant palette from the original installation. New perennials and shrubs were added, as were a game lawn, a putting green, and a small beach along the property’s pond with an adjacent pergola, flagstone patio, and rock wall. New landscaping was installed around the pickleball court, and updates were completed on all planting beds.
“We’ve been taking care of this property for a long time, enjoying its unfolding as the years pass,” Young says. “It keeps getting better and better.”
DESIGN. BUILD. SUSTAIN. : The best landscapes are not just installed; they are thoughtfully integrated into the natural environment and sustained for generations. As a dedicated partner for high-end design, construction, and organic care, Blanchford Landscape Group blurs the lines between luxury homes and the rugged wilderness around them.
www.blanchfordlandscape.com
whj NOTES FROM THE FIELD
