"Xeriscaping" sounds exotic; perhaps something to do with an extraterrestrial landscape.• This is not too far from the truth, as for many San Diego home owners, the idea of having a yard that reflects the natural flora instead of a uniform green lawn is, well, alien.• 

If you've ever seen science fiction shows, such as the original Star Trek, the sets of alien worlds were almost uniformly desert-like planets (except in the case of worlds that were paradises of strange and direful natures).• That's where yards like this belong, say the proponents of turf, lush green outdoor carpets and copious watering systems. The green lawn appears to have been insinuated into the American Dream along with snow at Christmas and family vacations to Disneyland.• The issue becomes heated in areas that just don't support the green lawn aesthetic, especially when water is scarce and people need it for drinking.• 

Of course, Kirk, Spock and McCoy weren't trying to get Kentucky bluegrass to grow in the California desert.

For xeriscaping enthusiasts, plants that thrive on San Diego property without the need for excessive watering is the answer to limited water supplies and problems with pesticide use.• Xeriscaping is growing in prominence despite the vicious opposition of many American HOAs and multifamily residential associations. People who have chosen to xeriscape their lawns have been the subject of complaints, served with fines for defying ordinances that support a water-wasteful lawn environment and even the victims of vandalism - their drought-resistant plants uprooted, cut down or mowed. Despite this, more and more communities are waking up to the fact that xeriscaping saves water, lowers pesticide use and makes use of the beautiful natural plantlife that thrives in arid climates.

The problem with the people who think that xeriscaping belongs on TV is that the resources that they depend on to keep their lawns minty-fresh are in short supply.• Water supply has always been an issue for San Diego residents, especially since the majority of them are supplied with water diverted from the Colorado River via the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It just doesn't make sense to move into an arid environment and struggle to maintain a large expanse of vegetation suited to a temperate, rainy climate.• In times where drought necessitates drastic water restrictions, all your work maintaining your lawn could be negated anyway.

Consider the traditional plight of the San Diego home owner who is trying to keep their lawn green despite not having enough water to maintain it as such.• Brown, dead grass is not attractive and isn't that enjoyable.• Trying to save or reclaim your lawn from drought is not a fun occupation.• For home owners on a budget that doesn't allow for water to be trucked in during times of drought, it definitely doesn't make maintenance any easier to feel that you're fighting a losing battle.

Money you spend on maintaining your lawn could be much better spent improving your home, saving for vacation or other things you are saving up for.• You can save thousands of dollars in water and maintenance costs by installing plants that thrive in Southern California's climate.• Go to Europe!• Remodel the bathroom (but only with water-saving showerheads; the DOE frowns on shameless indulgence)!• Buy that utterly frivolous item you've always wanted!

Admittedly, an effectively presented xeriscape takes some thought to plan and execute, so you might want the services of a professional who can help you achieve your goals for an attractive outdoor space.• The City of San Diego supports the efforts of both single family homeowners and homeowners in San Diego multifamily residential complexes to introduce a San Diego-friendly landscape to their properties.• Investigate 20gallonchallenge.com for more information on their Smart Landscape Evaluations.

You will also want to research the local bylaws, as there are still people for whom the green lawn is the only way to go and they resent anyone else making a move towards a private area that doesn't fall into their idea of a "nice lawn".• These people often populate HOAs and condo associations, so beware.• However, many city and state laws negate the attempts of these short-sighted people to force their neighbors to waste money, resources and time to maintain a green lawn area.

The San Diego County Water Authority has several informational fact sheets about water conservation and xeriscaping at sdcwa.org.• They can be found on the menu under Water Management > Conservation.• In these fun-filled fact sheets, you can find out more about how to conserve water and what plants will live happily in your yard without needing to be regularly flooded with moisture.• There are many plants that are attractive, need little water and can provide you with shade to enjoy your new garden layout.