One of the big concerns in the west is water. From Burkburnett, TX to Hasty, CO locals had concerns about what was in their water. And there is also the worry of having water at all.
(This year in that swath of the country from Galveston to Yellowstone, their appears to be plenty of water)
When we came to Colorado Springs, we noticed lots of trees and grass. In this considered high desert? Garden if the Gods is the natural look of this area.
Everywhere we looked there way too much grass.
We stopped at the Conservation & Environmental Center and spoke with Kelli about water. Colorado Springs has a number of reservoirs in the mountains for water. They had displays encouraging landscaping that needed less water.
Its a desert. Your landscaping should be rocks. Rocks do not need to be watered. Add in a few native plants and maybe some metal ones too.