We'll admit it: We tend to give front lawns a pretty hard time on this site. However, we do recognize that, in certain situations, turf is needed. It's tough to play tag on asphalt; it's no fun to dive for a fly ball in center field without a bed of cushy green to break your fall ...

That's why we like hearing that UC Riverside researchers are working on creating a super drought-tolerant grass.

Actually, they're working on creating grass that is drought-tolerant, thrives in shade, and if resistant to pests and fungi.

With California in such a heavy drought, researchers are realizing that homeowners are resistant to giving up their lawns altogether (they have a rich history, as the article explains) but might switch to a grass that requires less maintenance.

Get the full article here.

Image: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times