A comprehensive design incorporated the clients' wish for an alpine style landscape that would be low maintenance, complement the home's modern architecture with accents of rustic natural materials, address the site's significant grade changes, and maintain the spectacular views.  Retaining walls with stone stair cases and terraced plantings created outdoor living spaces.  The retaining walls were constructed of the same fieldstone and granite blend as the home's facade. Native boulders were also incorporated to produce a rustic 3-dimensional appearance to the wall's face, and give the proper scale of stone for the large walls.  For the upper formal terrace we selected random pattern bluestone because of its clean lines.  Irregular bluestone for the walkways and patio enhanced the organic form of the patio and rustic paths.  The informal patio creates a gathering space that includes a fire pit and integrates boulders placed to give seating options.  Due to the tremendous amount of roof water runoff, a splash garden was created between the corner of the house and the lower patio.  Strategically placed boulders and rocks of varying sizes dissipate the falling water and directs it away from the house.  Sedum is planted in select pockets between the stones.  The extensive selection of dwarf conifers mimics the desired alpine look, and a berm planting of native trees and shrubs screen the home from the road.