Residential Landscape in Sisters, Oregon. Designed and Built in 2020 and ‘21.

The owners of this property downsized from a big property, house, and outbuildings that required lots of time and energy to maintain to a smaller efficient home with a landscape that is both practical and in touch with nature. Our goal was to design and build a landscape on their new property that is easier to maintain, has places to experience nature especially the client’s love of birds, and create functional outdoor rooms where the clients will spend time during different times during the on the day. To do this we incorporated a paver patio with a basalt columns water feature, native plants planted into the boulder terraces, gravel pathways meandering around the house to destinations to sit and watch the mountains, birds and Aspen trees. The first impression of the front entry is inviting with natural flagstone patio on the northeast side of the house. This is a place where one can escape the sun and cool off from the very sunny western exposure in the backyard. This side of the house has been planted with a microclimate of hardy Vine Maple, Rhododendrons, Alumroot, and Columbines. This is the shady woodland side which contrasts with the sunny native high desert side of the property. The diversity on this 5 acre property packs in lots of interest for the clients to learn about the gorgeous Central Oregon landscape in their own backyard while relaxing and enjoying the beauty that abounds! 

Bend Hillside Patio

We created an outdoor living area that the owners enjoy lounging in, will build a future evening pizza area, and will have a conversation space in their beautiful backyard while listening to the sound of water. The crew started creating the paver patio space, natural stone retaining walls and a beautiful oasis with water feature by removing the entire hillside that was covered in a water thirsty lawn. Access was a bit tricky and the machinery to move rocks and other materials was accessed through a 4’ wide gate that we removed. The plantscape is native enhanced and drought tolerant. We covered the ground with peagravel which is also an easy maintenance material. We incorporated a Thyme lawn for the owners’ dog. Both front and backyard are xeriscape with big contemporary pavers, steel edging, and native basalt rock. All of this provided easy maintenance and low water needs. This project continues to fill in with beautiful textures and colors and the overall balance of hardscape with plantscape is perfect!

Wizard Falls

Or here? Wizard Falls designed fish pond.

Wizard Falls is a fish hatchery located along the Metolius River near Camp Sherman, Oregon. The facility contributes toward the sustainability of naturally-produced native fish populations through the responsible use hatchery-produced fish.

Property Description and Setting

Wizard Falls Hatchery offers a park-like setting, display ponds and interpretive signage, and a platform for viewing fish in the settling pond.

The hatchery is surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest. There are abundant camping, hiking and fishing opportunities in the vicinity.

Project Description

Response To Nature provided an appropriate bio-region riparian habitat to support naturally-produced native fish. It also enhanced the aesthetic surroundings for visitors.

Project Goals

Our job was to provide an educational opportunity by demonstrating the natural habitat for brook and rainbow trout, Kokanee and Atlantic salmon. 

Eaglecrest

Large falls over native boulders.

Eagle Crest® is a full-service destination resort located just outside the city of Redmond, Oregon.

Property Description and Setting

1700 acres in the high desert of Central Oregon near the majestic Cascade Mountains close to Bend and between Sisters and Redmond

Project Description

We have an ongoing relationship with Eagle Crest, and we have completed a variety of projects for the resort over the past few years.

When Eagle Crest acquired the Vista Rim property, they needed a landscape company that could do it all, We quickly designed and installed ponds connected by recirculating streams courses that meandered through the backyards of nearby residential lots. We installed irrigation and lush riparian plantings along the banks to create a natural look and feel.

Response To Nature did the planting at the Sports Center in Vista Rim, in addition to refurbishing the community entrances along the highway.

Project Goals

Our intent for Vista Rim was to enhance the existing community amenities and provide new amenities to assist in the quick sale of the newly acquired properties. 

Brasada Ranch

Brasada Ranch Resort Entrance Pond

Brasada Ranch is a destination resort located near Powell Butte in Central Oregon. It offers all of the amenities – golf course, community buildings, rental properties as well as homes.

Property Description and Setting

900 acres of open space as well as thousands of acres of public land adjacent to the property

Project Description

Response To Nature designed and installed the planting, irrigation, water features, and drainage courses for all of the community spaces. We continue to work with Brasada as the development grows.

Because Brasada Ranch is very focused on green building. We contribute to that effort by ensuring that our plant choices and irrigation components acquire LEED points. Our design team is proficient in documenting and preparing documentation to facilitate this process.

When we are not busy with the community projects, we also install residential projects.

Project Goals Environmental Stewardship

Design landscapes in alignment with green building and Brasada Ranch’s commitment to “walking softly on the land.”

  • The community encourages residents to use sustainable energy resources like passive solar and “Earth Advantage” certified products.
  • All commercial buildings are built to the highest standards in compliance with Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” specifications — the most widely-recognized accreditation body for sustainable building and design in the country, and the benchmark for high-performance green buildings.
  • Brasada Ranch became the first-ever destination resort in the state of Oregon (and just the fourth nationally) to earn the prestigious U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification rating. The LEED “Gold” certification was bestowed on Brasada Ranch’s Discovery Center, an 8,300-square-foot building. In addition, Brasada Ranch became the first-ever resort in the U.S. to achieve the LEED Gold rating specifically for “New Construction,” which is one of several categories under which projects can be submitted for application.

Historic Preservation

Select a plant palette that captures the feel of rural farmsteads and helps preserve Crook County’s ranching heritage.

  • In support of historic preservation, some of Brasada Ranch’s building projects re-use timber salvaged from Ochoco Mill, which was recently demolished.

Brasada Information taken from Brasada Resort Fact Sheet, November 2007www.brasada.com.

Native Landscape in Bend

Native, mossy boulders create natural planting terraces as a solution for 9 feet of elevation change.

Native Landscaping Bend – Relocated from the tropics of Florida, this couple wanted a landscape that blended with the native surroundings while being very low maintenance. Starting with a severe elevation change from the road to the garage, our team built rock retaining walls of native moss boulders that flanked either side of the driveway. The boulders not only retained the topographic cut but created a natural amenity upon entering the property. Other key landscape elements include: ornamental and native grasses planted in the courtyard entry and industrial concrete planters. Our team also created drainage solutions to direct storm-water from the rooftops and hardscape such as pavers. Native Aspens, Desert Sweet, Sage, Penstemon, Oregon Sunshine, Kinnikinnick, and many more add diversity as well as blend with the native Central Oregon landscape.

Tumalo Residence

Recreational pond, swim pond, kayak pond with white sandy beach for sunbathing, mossy boulders line the pond edge.

This property was designed and constructed as a recreational retreat. The heart of the property is the pond. Our construction team excavated and built the pond with a deep and shallow end and a diving rock similar to a pool. Everyone enjoys this big pond in every way from swimming, diving, kayaking, and sunbathing on the white sandy beach. Added amenities include: two beautifully composed water features-one a bubbling spring with re-circulating stream that flows into the pond and the riparian fish pond emerging next to the breezeway. Pavers, designed to look like natural stone, connect the house to the shop and create a patio that looks onto the pond. Planting integrates into the surrounding landscape and frames the majestic jaw dropping mountain views. There is no need to leave this property where you will feel like you are on vacation everyday!

Desert Oasis

Desert Oasis with a bear.

This lovely home is in Sisters. The designer, Chris Henderson of Heartsprings Design, hired us to build this project to her and the client specifications. The site includes a water feature, paver patio, native enhanced drought plants, natural stone pathways, and other native materials to integrate the design with the site.

The clients of this property wanted a drought tolerant, low maintenance, entertainment friendly and native enhancing landscape. Heart Springs Design created a plan that addressed all of the client’s needs. With Heart Springs Design blueprint in hand, the Response to Nature crew installed this unique landscape. Big, natural stone slab steps and natural earth tone stepping stones are used to create the impressive entry. Native mossy boulders are used to retain earth to provide multiple planting and outdoor living levels. Flowing out of native rock is a waterfeature that blends with nature and provides sound that soothes. The water feature looks like it has been on this property for many years and meanders through mossy boulders that our crew meticulously installed. Inspired by nature our foreman and owner Bob directed the mechanics and aesthetics of this stand alone beauty. The paver patio adjacent to the house was built with a flagstone look and functional product. Pavers were scribed with peripheral boulders so the end result was “one with nature”. The planting palette blends with the native scape that the crew also restored. We cannot wait to see the owners entertain their guests at dinner on the natural stone terraces while listening to the waterfall with amazing mountain views!

Vacation Retreat

Rural, rustic outdoor living room vacation space.

Located in in the pine forests of Sisters, this weekend get-away was designed with low-maintenance, native deer tolerant plants focusing on outdoor living space and the natural environment. The original outdoor space consisted of a small rectalinear deck which limited useability. Our designer and team created an organically shaped paver patio with a rock firepit of indigenous natural rock. This allowed the client room for their outdoor furniture and barbecue, to spend their weekends away from the city, relaxing in their outdoor livingroom.

English Garden Retreat

Joe Pye Weed, Sweet Woodruff, Jupiter’s Beard, Brunneria , and Astilbe all make a beautiful shade garden.

Response To Nature’s Sandy Melchiori has worked closely with this client over the last couple years to create a this riot of color at their home along side the Aspen Lakes Golf Course. Something is always in bloom and drawing your eye to its vividness.

The design process began while the residence was being constructed in 2009. The bones of the garden were installed early in 2010. Since then we continue to finesse and add to this vibrant landscape.