I drove out to Loch Lloyd last month to visit a friend who just moved into one of those storybook homes tucked between trees and hills. You know the ones—perfectly trimmed hedges, winding paths, and a view that feels like a secret. Her place isn’t huge, but the yard? Stunning.

It wasn’t even anything over-the-top. Just... thoughtful. A balance of shade and light, with healthy grass and beds that weren’t screaming for attention but just quietly worked. The kind of yard where you instinctively take your coffee outside in the morning.

And of course, I came home and looked around at my own patchy lawn and said: “Okay, yeah. We need to figure this out.”

Loch Lloyd Energy, But Make It Kansas City

We don’t live in Loch Lloyd (someday maybe?), but I started digging around for ideas anyway—something to bring even a little of that peaceful vibe into our space. That’s how I came across this page from Top Tier Landscaping: 🌿 https://toptierlandscapingkc.com/loch-lloyd-kc/landscaping/

It was a great read—not salesy, just full of info that made me realize how much smarter I could be about my yard. Like, I’ve always thought landscaping was mostly about plants, but this broke it down as a full system: drainage, design, light, use of space, seasonal changes. Stuff that actually matters.

They mention things like Loch Lloyd’s rocky soil and how local conditions affect plant health. And even though we’re not in that exact area, a lot of it applies to our yard too—especially that mix of sun and shade that’s made choosing plants feel like a gamble every year.

Rethinking What “Done Right” Looks Like

Reading through their process, I realized something: I’ve been landscaping like someone who’s winging it. Buying whatever looks nice at the garden center, crossing my fingers, and hoping it survives a Kansas summer. Meanwhile, these folks are doing custom layouts, picking the right plants, and designing for the long-term.

They also talk about installing sod and turf for easy upkeep, using organic landscaping to avoid harsh chemicals (huge bonus if you have pets or kids), and designing lighting that turns the yard into something you can actually enjoy after dark.

One line stuck with me: “We plan around how your space is used.” That was the lightbulb moment. I’ve been planning around how it looks. Not how we actually live in it.

The Vision Is Simpler Than I Thought

I don’t need a luxury estate vibe. But I do want a yard that feels peaceful.

So I started sketching out ideas, literally on a napkin at first. Here’s what’s on the dream list now:

Replace the patchy grass with low-maintenance sod—something lush and soft that can survive my kids and a golden retriever.

Add some shrubs and perennials along the back fence. Nothing too fussy—maybe lavender, Russian sage, or native ornamental grasses.

Install soft lighting under the trees and along the path. Enough to make the evenings feel cozy without it looking like a runway.

Fix the drainage issue in the back corner that turns into a mini-pond every spring. That might be the least glamorous upgrade, but probably the one I’ll appreciate most.

Maybe, maybe, a small seating area tucked under the shade. Something for coffee in the morning and wine at dusk.

It’s not over-the-top. But it’s intentional. And that’s the difference.

No Pressure. Just Possibility.

I’m not in a rush to tear everything up. But it feels good to have a plan—a real plan—not just a cart full of impulse plants and a weekend of regrets. Top Tier’s guide helped shift my thinking. Landscaping isn’t something you finish. It’s something you shape, slowly.

And even though my address doesn’t say Loch Lloyd, I’m stealing that vibe one idea at a time.

Here’s to making your yard a place you want to be. Even if it starts with just one plant.