In the U.S., if you have a yard that is gardened and has plenty of flowers, what would you call it?
Would you still call it a yard, or would it be okay to call it a garden as well?
Thank you!

Question

In the U.S., if you have a yard that is gardened and has plenty of flowers, what would you call it?
Would you still call it a yard, or would it be okay to call it a garden as well? 
Thank you!

Answer

I would use "backyard/front yard  garden" to be more specific.  This means that it covers the entire area.  "I have a patch of garden in the backyard" means  only a small area is dedicated to growing food or for aesthetic purposes like a rock garden.  Lawn grasses are not considered as a garden (because they come in sods/tufts); however, ornamental/wild grasses are excluded.

However, "yard" in US English means "garden" in UK English.  Also in US English, "garden" can mean a public hall, e.g. Madison Square Garden

Answer

It would still be a yard. You might say that it is a nicely-landscaped yard. Garden (in the US) implies a patch of ground specifically dedicated to vegetables or flowers. Now, the garden may be part of the yard- but in that case, it would be a specific area, possibly fenced, that is 'the garden'. The rest is still just the yard.

Answers · 2

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