Lucid Stead

Imagine for a moment, a serene destination encased in and exuding light from every surface; a house that blends into the landscape seamlessly. The visuals of the house transform with the changing light of day and night, and this place seems to grow and modify with every new breath of air, with every new phase of the sun and moon. The quiet desert winds are the only soundtrack to this otherworldy experience . . . this is not just a place in your imagination, a getaway for your psyche, this is real, this is here in our beloved Inland Empire. This is Lucid Stead.

Artist Phillip K. Smith III is a desert native who hails from the Palm Springs area and still resides there today. However, with Lucid Steads nine-year journey into existence, Smith has been maintaining a residence just down the road and over the hill from Lucid Stead in Joshua Tree, to manage a hub for it, as well as spend as much close time with the project as possible. Phillip K. Smith III received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, a notorious and highly regarded institution. He often draws inspiration from the Californias Light and Space movement, as well as minimalist design and deconstructivism. Smiths innovation and exploration of new technologies keeps these ideologies current. He was honored as the 2010 Artist in Residence at the Palm Springs Art Museum and was included in the exhibition, Smooth Operations: Substance and Surface in Southern California Art, alongside Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, DeWain Valentine and Craig Kauffman at the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, where he will have a solo show in January 2014.

Lucid Stead is truly a collaboration with the desert, and with the history of the area. Smith lives and breathes the desert, and that sense is truly felt in this contemporary, experimental homestead-art-piece. Driving around the Joshua Tree area, its not uncommon to stumble upon the sights of these tiny little abandoned shacks known as Jackrabbit Homesteads, strewn across the quiet landscape. Many artists find solace and inspiration in these homesteads, including Smith. After nine years of sitting with this land and this one shack of a house, Smith let the land and house speak to him and dictate the creativity of the property.

When people drive up to the house, the first thing they noticethat changes the whole experienceis the silence. The land out in Joshua Tree just has a different pulse than other places. It operates on a different timeline and a different world view. Out here at Lucid Stead, light and shadows interact with the sun. The house has become a part of the desert, a part of the land as it interacts with the light, the reflection, the landscape.

A lot of my work is about merging these highly precise developments, Smith says, like these rectangles, next to something thats highly organic, you know, something that falls through the fingers of your hands, you cant necessarily hold onto it. So I love that theres these very crisp visions pushed right up against the dry wood. The whole shack is an existing homestead shack, its been here for probably 70 years.

The house exists as it always had, the same wood, the same door frame, window frames and rooftop. Smith did not replace anything in the project, he only pulled away material and added light and reflection. It is covered in panels of mirrorin the daylight, the house seems to merge into the land, both reflecting itself and the desert it so generously adores. At night, though, its a whole different experience.

At night, its about projected light. The four windows and the doorway turn into fields of color, Smith explains. White light emanates from the inside out . . . and ultimately that last element was change. You know, this desert up here moves at an entirely different pace of change.

The nighttime lighting is almost like a psychedelic experience to say the least, a kind of performance. The moon and stars light up the ground, theyre so bright in this unpolluted sky, while the homestead performs its own little ritualistic celebratory dance of light. The colors move and shift around the house in a cyclical manner, but at a slow and steady pace thats hard to even notice. Its beautiful and peacefully satisfying to stand in its presence. With the quiet surrounding of Joshua Trees outer limits, with the peaceful slow-moving colors of Lucid Stead, night becomes the time for Lucid Stead to sing its quiet light song, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but extremely vocal in its own way. The more time you spend with it, the more things reveal themselves, Smith says.

Smiths past work touches on similar styles, concepts and issues. His intense perfectionism is a gorgeous gift in his art practice. Giant, bright and mind-melding installations and sculptural experiences transform spaces, collections, whole buildings even. His love for the Light and Space movement is very apparent, but he takes that style to another level. Often working with light and experience, it seems his real passion is the pure experienceno words, no figures, no suggestions. Abstraction and creation based on the momentary whole body experience of art is a clear achievement for Smiths worktruly masterful.

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Reimagining the Desert

Response to Print of Feeding Frenzy, Santa Cruz, 2012. Response to Print of Kudzu, Texas, 2010. Response to Print of Egret Rookery, Louisiana, 2010. Response to Print of Green Hill, Washington, 2010. Response #1 to Print of Thicket, 2006. Response to Print of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz (No. 2), 2013. Response to Print of Trumpet Vine, Hawaii, 2011. Response to Print of Shrub with Doves, Florida, 2006. Response to Print of Vulture Roost, Texas, 2010. Response to Print of River Bend, Texas, 2011 (part 1 of diptych) Response to Print of River Bend, Texas, 2011 (part 2 of diptych) Response to Print of Inspiration Point, California, 2011. Response to Print of Trees and Fog, California, 2011. Response to Print of Cowell's, Santa Cruz, 2013.

Response to Print of Feeding Frenzy, Santa Cruz, 2012.

Response to Print of Kudzu, Texas, 2010.

Response to Print of Egret Rookery, Louisiana, 2010.

Response to Print of Green Hill, Washington, 2010.

Response #1 to Print of Thicket, 2006.

Response to Print of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz (No. 2), 2013.

Response to Print of Trumpet Vine, Hawaii, 2011.

Response to Print of Shrub with Doves, Florida, 2006.

Response to Print of Vulture Roost, Texas, 2010.

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When a Photo Isn't Behaving, Bend It to Your Will

AUSTIN LANDSCAPINGTEXAS HILL COUNTRY LANDSCAPERS

Ol' Yeller Landscaping, Inc. is a design and build landscaping company that services Austin and the surrounding Hill Country area. Our experienced & educated professionals create enhanced and functional landscape designs that not only increase your homes property value but also increase your quality of life.

Now you can have the best of both worlds-an outdoor-living environment that includes the unique native plants and features of the Texas Hill country blended with your favorite design style. We'll create a customized, comfortable space where your kids or pets can play without worrying they'll damage some fussy, imported plant. We're passionate about creating functional beauty. Above all, we promise you a range of innovative design options that will express outstanding quality and craftsmanship.

Sustainable design & build landscaping services in Austin / Hill Country area. Experts in landscape design, limestone, flagstone, patios, pits, fences, plants, walkways, xeriscaping, pergolas, water features, ponds, tree planting, vegetable & herb gardens, cedar removal, land clearing & overall property maintenance.

If you have a little more time & would like a more precise initial consult. Please click here!

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Austin Landscaping | Sustainable Landscape Design, Xeriscaping ...

Wish you had steps running up your hillside? At the very least, your hill may need a retaining wall. Steep slopes present a great challenge to your landscaping acumen. If you fail to tackle hillside landscaping, you may face erosion problems. But attempts at hillside landscaping by the novice often end up with time and money wasted. So before you begin, read these tips for landscaping a slope.

Flowering Ground Covers Need a plant that will beautify your slope while also holding back the soil and smothering weeds? These flowering ground covers may be just the solution for your problematic hillside. Browse my pictures to facilitate plant selection and click the accompanying links to read info that will help you determine if a particular plant is right for you.

Building Dry Creek Beds on Hillsides to Prevent Erosion Are you losing soil on a hillside to erosion? If so, consider installing a dry creek bed. This tutorial tells you how, step by step. And dry creek beds look so good, some people install them even if they do not have erosion problems.

How to Build Stone Retaining Walls Do you have merely a slight slope in your landscaping, a minor annoyance that you would like to "do something with"? The type of stone retaining wall described in this tutorial could be just the solution you are seeking. Being mortarless, it is a relatively easy undertaking for DIYers.

Juniper Plants for Hillside Landscaping Those seeking plant options for landscaping slopes should strongly consider junipers, especially creeping junipers. One type is 'Blue Rug juniper plants and their relatives are sturdy evergreen groundcovers for sunny slopes. Using juniper groundcovers controls erosion and weeds, and also eliminates your having to mow steep slopes. These plants are truly a boon to hillside landscaping.

Landscaping Hills With Pachysandra Creeping junipers perform well in sunny areas. But what about a ground cover for shady slopes? Pachysandra is one choice. These ground covers are not as tenacious as junipers, but they can be effective on medium-sized inclines. Pachysandra will not grace your hillside landscaping with the floral display of the next entry but has nice foliage.

Creeping Phlox Plants A slight slope in a sunny area can be covered with creeping phlox as a groundcover to help prevent erosion. Phlox bears a myriad of blooms in spring (prettier than Pachysandra's flowers), and using it in hillside landscaping gives you an optimal opportunity to show off its beauty. But like Pachysandra, phlox won't prevent erosion on steep slopes.

Building Outdoor Steps Building landscape steps will allow you to scale inclines in the yard, be they steep slopes or moderate hills. I asked a professional in building outdoor steps about such issues as selection of materials and the use of railings. Here are his answers.

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Landscaping on Steep Slopes - Tips for Hillside Landscaping

by Jason

Hill and Back Yard

We are planning to put up a privacy fence on our lot. We have discovered that we own more land than we thought. What we have is a very rocky hill and a flat piece of land that has sage and other weeds on it. Any ideas of what I can do with this? Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

by Michelle (Birmingham, AL.)

Planting On A Sloped Front Yard

We built our house and have done NOTHING in the way of landscaping. I'M READY! The problem (for me) is that the front porch is about 50'long. Looking at the house, the bottom of the porch on the left end is about 2' off the ground; then the ground slopes, and by the time you get to the other end the bottom of the porch is prob 12' off the ground. Not sure what to plant across the front to look even. HELP

Hi Michelle, I understand. That can be an issue.

A mixed planting is best. I would use groups of taller shrubs at the taller end and lower ones at the shorter end (where the porch is 2' high). Plants to use would depend on your sun conditions.

1. Is the area sunny or shady? 2. Do you have a deer problem? 3. How much space is there, and is it broken up by steps? If so, how long is each side?

Original post:
Landscaping A Hill - Landscape Design Advice

Some homes are located on hills and it would be challenging to design a house on that kind of typography. Aside from the house, even the landscaping needs to have a different kind of treatment in order to look a lot better. There are lots of considerations to make when landscaping a hill like making sure that there will be a slow flow of water by placing terraces or landscape edgings.

You might need help from a professional landscaper in order to make sure that the soil will not erode and that it will also appear appealing. Putting plants, retaining walls, terraces are just few of the ways to landscape a hill. With that, we will give you some ideas on how some outdoor home scenes were done. Check out the images to get hill landscaping design ideas:

This also used rocks which is not merely for appeal but would also hold water and soil from flowing and eroding.

This one did not use large rocks but covered the soil with greens. The stone pathway looks lovely too. Notice the retaining wall of stones at the bottom which helps keep the soil from eroding.

There is so much greens in this landscape from the bushes to the trees and it sure looks very relaxing!

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15 Hill Landscape Design Ideas | Home Design Lover

Kimberly Hawthorne

Kimberly Hawthorne has been writing since 1980, currently contributing to various websites. She specializes in human and animal health issues, gardening and crafts. With over 11 years experience she is an expert in home improvement, remodeling, repairs and the tools used to get the job done right.

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Hills can add some challenges when planning a landscape. Steep hills can be difficult to maintain and special considerations need to be considered, such as water drainage, soil erosion and what types of plants will grow there. Most people desire landscaping that is functional as well as attractive.

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Hill Landscaping Ideas | eHow - eHow | How to Videos, Articles ...

By Brandon Cornett, Editor 2013 All rights reserved

Reader question: "We have a steep hill in our backyard, and we are trying to figure out how to landscape it. Right now there's just grass back there. My husband has a heck of a time trying to mow it, as it is really steep. I think it's dangerous for him to do that. Can you offer any landscaping ideas for a hill such as ours?

"The way I see it, anything is better than the grass we currently have. But it would be nice to improve the overall look of the backyard, while also solving the hill problem. I am wide open for suggestions!"

You are not alone. This is one of the most common questions we receive from homeowners. As it turns out, there are many people out there who want to know the same thing you are asking: How can I landscape the steep hill I have in my yard?

Below, I've offered three specific landscaping ideas for your consideration: (1) retaining walls, (2) shrubs, and (3) ground cover with mulch or other substance. These techniques can be used by themselves, or in combination with one another. They all meet the challenges of landscape design for a hill, but with varying degrees of expense and effort.

A yard with a steep hill presents certain challenges, from a maintenance perspective. These yards are hard to water, due to runoff and pooling. They are hard to mow (as your husband will be quick to tell you). They can even be dangerous. This is why people with hills in their yards often seek a landscape-design solution to the problem. You'll be happy to know there are several solutions available. Which one you choose will depend on your budget and your aesthetic preferences.

The challenges of landscaping a hill become clear at the start of any project:

With those challenges in mind, let's look at some of the ideas and techniques you can use when landscaping a hill in your yard.

One popular idea for landscaping a hill is to segment it into two sections, with a retaining wall for a divider. In your case, since you are trying to get away from mowing the yard, you could combine this technique with mulching and plant placement. The idea is to create multiple tiers of yard space with no grass, and therefore no grass maintenance. You may have to water some plants or replace some mulch / groundcover from time to time, but you won't have to mow the steep hill anymore.

In the picture below, you can see this technique in action. Note that the wall is placed where the hill becomes less steep.

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How to Landscape a Hill - 3 Ideas for Landscaping a Steep Area

Landscaping a hill could be a hobby for some and a profession for others. Elevation landscape experts spend hours to ensure that their landscape is the best in the neighborhood. Landscaping adds visual beauty to one's garden and also makes these steep elevations easy to explore. Living on top of, or near, a hill means access to a naturally picturesque landscape. However, landscaping such a place could, at times, be very challenging. You need to consider certain factors before implementing a landscaping idea.

Few Suggestions for Landscaping a Hill

The type of soil of the hill and the possibilities of erosion need to be taken into serious consideration. Erosion can destroy the garden of the hill landscape. If the hill has a steep incline, there is always a strong possibility of landslides. This point has to be considered before designing a landscape garden for a hill. If you are landscaping a steep hill, it would be a good idea to plant trees that develop deep root networks. This would prevent erosion and landslides and, at the same time, help to maintain groundwater levels. This idea will help to make the soil stable and also provide shade. Instead of trees, shrubs that have a good root network-system that would help in preventing erosion can also be planted.

While implementing ideas for landscaping a hill, make sure to install a retaining wall and a few steps on the hill. A retaining wall would prevent landslides and also ensures that the soil is not eroded. The plants growing on a landscaped hill have to be watered regularly as the incline does not allow accumulation of water at the roots. Carving out steps on a hill helps to deal not only with erosion but also gives a unique beauty to the hill landscape. Besides, steps also allow you to explore the elevation and take a walk among those beautiful flowers and garden decor that you took so much pains to arrange thereon.

Another idea is to create a rock garden. A rock garden could be constructed to hold the shape of a hill. A rock garden would help redirect water coming down the slopes of the hill landscape to a sump that can be recycled later or to irrigate the vegetation on level ground at the foot of the hill. Besides, the waterfall effect during rainy weather would make your landscaped rock terrace a visual treat! Landscaping designs exhibit the creative and imaginative ability and skills of a professional. A landscape architect has to strike a balance between the appearance of the garden and its functionality. It is the responsibility of a landscape architect to ensure the prevention of landslides and soil erosion.

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Ideas for Landscaping a Hill - Buzzle

Laura Britton

Laura Britton is a graduate of Indiana University and a former English teacher. She is the managing editor of "The Balefire" magazine, and her work has appeared in several magazines and journals. Britton has been writing professionally for 10 years.

Landscaping on a hill involves certain challenges, but the aesthetics of the design can be very pleasing once your overall project is completed. Among your primary considerations is how your landscaping efforts will affect water flow and soil erosion on the hill. You want to avoid soggy bogs at the base of your hill, for example.

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Hills can add some challenges when planning a landscape. Steep hills can be difficult to maintain and special considerations need to be...

Hills present a challenge in landscaping. Without planning, the area may present an eyesore. Erosion, landslides, weeds, run-off, wasted topsoil, mulch, gravel...

Landscaping a hill with rocks is a practical and attractive alternative to planting grass, which can be dangerous to mow on a...

Landscaping can greatly improve the look of your yard. However, if your yard is partially or completely on a steep hill, designing...

Homeowners with a hill or slope have a problem to solve or an opportunity to seize, depending on their point of view....

Excerpt from:
How to Landscape a Hill | eHow