Larkin Landscape and Design

I want to tell you a story about hubris. Hubris is a Greek word that basically means "overconfidence that leads to disaster." And three years ago, I was the king of hubris. I had just bought my first house. It was a fixer-upper with a backyard that sloped aggressively toward a creek. I had a vision. I wanted a tiered garden. I wanted a flat terrace where I could put a fire pit. I wanted to look like a hero to my wife. I got a quote from a professional landscaper. It was... more than I wanted to spend. "I can do this," I said. "I have YouTube. I have a gym membership. How hard can it be to stack some rocks?" So, I rented a truck. I bought pallets of block from a big box store. I bought a shovel. And I went to work. The "YouTube" Phase The first weekend was actually fun. I felt manly. I was digging dirt, sweating, drinking Gatorade. I dug a trench. I threw some gravel in it. I started stacking the blocks. It looked good. Straight. Level. I posted a...

  Let's be honest for a moment. What do you see when you look out your back window? For a lot of homeowners in Central Iowa, whether they live in Ankeny, West Des Moines, or Granger, the answer is often "potential." You might see a patch of grass that is losing the battle against the summer heat. You might see a concrete slab that isn't big enough for a real barbecue. Or maybe you just see a blank canvas that you know could be something great, but you don't know where to begin. We understand. Your home is your safe place, but for too long, the "safe" part has only been at the back door. We at Larkin Landscape and Design think that your yard shouldn't just be a place to mow; it should be a place to live. It should be the place where you celebrate family birthdays, the quiet spot where you drink your morning coffee, and the beautiful view that greets you when you get home after a long day. We're going to show you exactly how to turn that "pot...