Laugh if you must, but I am not a horticulturist.

I say, if it looks good in pictures, then it's good enough for my personal landscape.
At present, I live in an apartment and have no plans to move. But let's just say that I am getting a new house. What kind of landscaping would I have? Considering that I live near Dallas, which is that middle ground between humid and oppressive Houston and arid, dry West Texas cities, such would call for something tolerant to...