Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sun Valley garden grows gold

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The American Society of Landscape Architecture recently gave its 2008 Residence Design Award of Excellence to Lutsko Associates in San Francisco for a native landscape garden on Spur Lane in Sun Valley.

The xeriscape garden was created as a kind of deliberate chaparral, with the addition of Siberian and camas lilies, Russian sage, lupines, rye grass and some non-natives to extend the flowering season. Kelly Weston of Native Landscape in Hailey installed it. Completed in 2005, it was featured in Dwell magazine that year, and in Landscape Architecture magazine.

"The garden was installed in 2003 and we're still working on it because some of the native plants weren't available," said project manager Laura Jerrard.

When Jerrard and Ron Lutsko first visited Sun Valley, the client took them on one of her favorite hikes where wild and native plants were at the height of their spring bloom. She told them she wanted her garden to have that feel and look.

"The sense is that the hill sweeps down around the house," Jerrard said. "It's right there. No fence or shrubs. I think it's why the ASLA liked this project. It's in a suburban context and the other houses aren't taking advantage of this beautiful natural setting."

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Dana DuGan: ddugan@mtexpress.com