@Green Witch,
heh.
Acutally, there are more and more people who are minimizing their grassy area.
When I got the house in 1991, there was there horrible sycamore tree in the front of the house, and weedy grass. The tree was ugly and half dead. I hadn't the money, or the imagination to get rid of it, and what I'd do in it's place.
The people who built the original part of the house must have been lunatics.
While everyone else has pecan trees that drop tons of nuts every fall, or live oaks, which is one of my favorite trees, they planted a fugly sycamore.
When the tree was cut down I said "NO GRASS!" I didn't even want a small patch, as it would be something that would have to get mowed. I hate mowing grass, it's so boring, hot and unsatisfying.
Why would I want to cut plants down every week or so, when I can make things grow, and care for them? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that trellis does the trick, with the honeysuckle on the other side, to provide enough afternoon shade to the stone planter, and the garden. If it does, it's going to be beautiful.