Tired of mowing? Go grass-free.

Jennifer Wry and Cheryl Raiche of Roslindale describe their former lawn as being "an ugly mess" thanks to grub damage. When they tilled the front yard to start a new lawn from scratch, they asked themselves, why not just put in a perennial flower garden instead?

Six years later, variegated irises, peonies, balloon flower, lavender, and other perennials grace their home's front yard. Annuals are added to the mix as the seasons change for pops of color here and there. Low-growing plants such as creeping thyme and oregano spread to fill gaps during the summer, and two types of mulch - pine and cocoa - blanket what the creepers do not. The only grass is of the ornamental type, requiring just one trim each year.

The garden certainly isn't maintenance free, and the initial investment in the perennials wasn't cheap, Wry said. But the plants grow and some multiply over time, so what was one clump of irises is now two and will be three. At this point, the work is about mulching, pruning, and watering. "It's a different kind of maintenance than a grass yard," Wry said. "It's a labor of love, community, and artistic expression, and much more satisfying than a lawn."

More people are curious about alternatives to grass lawns, according to Frances Hopkins, president of Under a Foot Plant Co., which owns the Stepables brand of low-growing perennials. Lawn alternatives that incorporate perennials attract beneficial insects and are generally environmentally friendly. And owners don't need a lawn mower.

"It's a different philosophy than having green grass," Hopkins said. "What you chose has everything to do with what you're going to use your space for. What are you doing in it, and what do you need out of it?"

Pachysandra and periwinkle are common ground covers that grow happily under trees, on slopes, and in other hard-to-care-for areas of the yard. Using these and other ground covers for an even greater yard area is an option for yards that don't get much use. Some low-growing ground covers, such as creeping thymes, mints, and stonecrops, can tolerate moderate foot traffic and can be planted between stone pavers. For some moist and shady expanses that already have mossy invaders, a moss-carpeted yard may be an obvious alternative.

Besides traditional and low-growing perennials, there are other alternatives for homeowners looking to rethink their lawns. Xeriscapes, or low-water-use landscapes, incorporate drought-tolerant and desert plants into a yard with gravel and stone. Your local garden center or nursery can help you choose plants that will thrive under these conditions. An even drier grass alternative is a "dry river," or a river bed created with stones.

So what happens to grass-free yards during the winter? Pachysandra, periwinkle, mosses, and some of the low-growing perennials will stay lean and green throughout the winter, but some lawn substitutes will leave the yard sans greenery when they drop their foliage. That doesn't necessarily leave the yard boring, however. Many perennials produce flowers, seed pods, and branches that look beautiful draped in winter's snow and ice. And come spring, they'll be back filling in for the lawn.