If I fail to mow my lawn, it doesn't look anywhere as nice as this one. By planting certain native grasses, you can have a lawn that's visually appealing, easier on the environment and on your back.
These beautiful lawns pictured here were installed by Shades of Green Landscape Architecture in California, which prides itself on creating landscapes that truly benefit the environment. They've been using sustainable grass seeds that need only be cut once or twice a year, and experimenting with a variety of native lawns which look beautiful when left uncut, and require far less water.
Read More: No-Mow Grass at BuildPedia
(Images: Shades of Green Landscaping)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
My neighbors get mad when I let my buffalo grass get that lovely and high.
I wonder how this would stand up to kids playing on it. We have a backyard full of sand and two little kids who need some sort of turf to play on.
How do HOAs and nosy neighbors feel about this?
It looks like an abandoned yard.
It looks lush and healthy and lovely to me.
I looks beautiful, but I hate ticks which always seem to find me in long and long-ish grass. A little walkway of wood chips is always appreciated.
It's all about how you frame the grass in. If your fences and backyard decor are shoddy looking than your grass is perceived as overgrown and a threat to the HOA. If you have a swanky modern industrial style back yard then your grass will garner oooo's and aaaaa's. Also this grass is very durable...will stand up well to kids n dogs.
We ripped out our old lawn and added this Eco Lawn. It looks fantastic, dogs don't do anything to it, and the neighbors ask about and like it. http://www.wildflowerfarm.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=4&pg=1&gclid=CK_8mevsu6sCFUwZQgod7T7ovg
Be prepared for ticks.
We have the same thing, in AZ. Our (very strict) HOA can't argue with it, because the varieties of field grasses we grow are on the approved plant list. It's also great because we water it once or twice a week, if that.
And no worries for pets or bugs - our dog loves it, and rolls around and runs through it daily without harm to the grass. Maybe it's too dry where we are for ticks and the like, but I've never noticed a problem with the bugs.
I hate a manicured lawn. If I ever own a home, I'd do my best to avoid mowing.