Big House on the Prairie

Ask any of our designers about their favorite project, and this one almost always comes up: the restoration of a breathtaking native meadow in Cherry Hills Farms. In 2019, a client envisioned a sweeping prairie outside their home, complete with 20,000 grasses planted to create the look of an existing pastoral landscape. The goal was to make the property feel as though it had always been part of the original farmstead, where alfalfa once grew historically.

The scale of the installation required multiple crews working in perfect coordination. Assembly lines formed to unpack thousands of plants from trucks and lay them out for installation. The challenge wasn’t just the size — it was timing. We began nearly two years earlier than typical, working around an active home construction site. This unconventional schedule led to overlapping phases and out-of-order installations, but it also created a unique advantage: by the time the clients moved in, the meadow had years of establishment behind it and was in its prime.

Our work started at the property’s periphery and moved inward as the home progressed. Collaboration with the general contractor was critical, and the teamwork was exceptional. Many plants were sourced from out of state, requiring meticulous planning. At one point, our president even flew on a three-seater plane to remote Colorado to personally review plant materials before ordering.

This project remains a staff favorite and is often referenced by new clients who remember the scale and beauty of this installation. It stands as a testament to creativity, collaboration, and the power of thoughtful design to restore the essence of a historic landscape.