Think of growing a yard this way: mostly gravel (and no sprinklers) but instead wide-spreading plants that can have water efficient water-dripper systems installed.
Purple Fountain Grass - Love this in a container with a lower flowering plant around the bottom. May just need to do a new pot! This is a heat lover too! Great for Texas.
Tthis garden is an inexpensive small space solution for growing herbs and spices. This family was already growing plants in recycled food packaging, so the idea was a hit, in fact it was so sucessful with viewers that Rosenbaum published a how-to.