Unless you live on a golf course, you don't need a big fancy lawn. I've overheard many conversations that go something like this, "I just spent hundreds of dollars mowing, fertilizing, and weeding my lawn. Now it's growing like crazy so everytime I turn around it's time to mow it."

Consider how illogical that is. Think of all the time and money you'd save if you have barely any lawn or no lawn at all.

I live in S. California, which is basically a desert. So it uses lots and lots of one of our most limited resources to water those lawns. California is constantly having water wars as golf courses, agriculture, and industry all have to juggle water rights.

My first choice of an alternate landscape is low water and low maintenance planting. I love rock gardens. I love succulents. And they go great together.

Visit your local quarry and landscape store and see what they have in the way of setting up a rock garden. Pick a focal point like a big boulder with pockets for planting, or giant steps to train plants over. Decide if you want it tall and narrow or short and wide.

Make a tiki garden. Tikis are god figures popular in Hawaii and the South Pacific. Traditionally carved from palm trunks, these bad boys can make a great focal point in garden. Carry the theme out with seashell or oyster shell pathways and fish nets or an anchor. Think Gillagan's Island or McHale's Navy.

Make a Japanese garden with winding paths and statuary. This can be a haven of restfulness. Put in a bonsai garden, hang some windchimes. Check Feng Shui books for ideas.

Have a garden with an animal theme. Topiaries are great focal points. If you are gifted in gardening skills you can make your own. Or your local nursery will have some already growing for you. I know they are expensive, but the initial cost is a short term expense compared to the long term expense of having a big lawn, power mower, weed removal, and watering bills.

Maybe a pond or a fountain is also an option where you live. Or if you are a wood carver you can make your own statuary. Some people like to make their own mini-windmill from a kit or make welded sculptures. Wander through your local botanical gardens and universities for ideas. You can make kinetic sculptures that move in the wind, or create your own windchimes from found objects.