Blue Onion, in English English a yard is definitely a small space and is hard paved - cobbles, setts, flags or concrete - and usually at the back but sometimes at the front depending on the era of the house and also the area of the country. They tend to be in industrial towns in houses built for factory or mine workers and they often had an outside toilet and a coal shed and a washing line.
In American English a yard is what we call a garden and is the plot of land that comes with a house. Whether or not the house inhabitants actually care for it as a garden with plants and grass and so on to enhance the house and family life or use it as a dumping ground is another question entirely.
We just call our grassed areas the grass. Lots of it. Been neglected for several years till we arrived and then we had a 15 month drought. Some of it really is grass but much has been invaded by meadow weeds such as buttercups, daisies, bindweed, dandelions, mallow and clover and, in some areas, masses of apple mint and avens and herb Robert. Some of it has grown over previously graveled paths between old farm buildings and some has grown over felt matting and gravel covering old foundations. The bit of grass at the front has naturalised cyclamen and lambs' ears.
It will both shrink and improve over the years to come but the main thing for me is to have a green space for us to enjoy and a place for the dogs and cats to romp and play.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I agree with Obes. The yard is the hard bit outside the back door. Most of the rest of my acre and a bit plot is taken up with soft landscaping, sham/yawn (thanks Papi Jo) I would never refer to that as yard.
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In American English a yard is what we call a garden and is the plot of land that comes with a house. Whether or not the house inhabitants actually care for it as a garden with plants and grass and so on to enhance the house and family life or use it as a dumping ground is another question entirely.
We just call our grassed areas the grass. Lots of it. Been neglected for several years till we arrived and then we had a 15 month drought. Some of it really is grass but much has been invaded by meadow weeds such as buttercups, daisies, bindweed, dandelions, mallow and clover and, in some areas, masses of apple mint and avens and herb Robert. Some of it has grown over previously graveled paths between old farm buildings and some has grown over felt matting and gravel covering old foundations. The bit of grass at the front has naturalised cyclamen and lambs' ears.
It will both shrink and improve over the years to come but the main thing for me is to have a green space for us to enjoy and a place for the dogs and cats to romp and play.