A Yard That's Becoming A Garden


We may have never answered this question, let alone been asked it, but if the truth be told we already have an opinion on the matter. The definition may not be readily on our lips but we all have some bias towards what is a ‘garden’ and what is just a ‘yard’.

Is it the amount of plants that a garden must hold? Or perhaps, for the landscaping lovers, maybe it’s when the yard shows signs of forethought and architectural design? It’s quite an ambiguous question to begin to unravel and one that ultimately isn’t that important – but humour me!

Many of the homes in our area contain the postage stamp lawn and if they’re lucky might house a border of perennial shrubs to hide their fences. Their backyards aren’t much more exciting with the only difference being the larger expanse of lawn. For me, this is just a yard. It has a functional purpose and looks neat but apart from the standard array of big-box plants it offers very little.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. Each to their own I guess. But for me, a yard becomes a garden when a gardener enters it. While the humble yard is overtly different to a glorious garden the key variable is acutely – the gardener.

Why? Because gardeners can’t live with yards.