But what's an appropriate definition of door yard? I love the term, quaint but entirely useable - sorry no Whitman available to look up. Just a brief mention - I've had 3.5 inches of rain since Thursday night - lovely, lovely rain. A dooryard, which Whitman considered one word, would be a garden in front of, or near, a door. I have a dooryard. Bob Nold, Denver, Colorado, USA