Where do you garden in your yard?

I often wonder where most gardeners do the majority of their gardening. And by that I mean where in your yard do you put your best efforts? I've read about gardeners that mostly garden in their backyard, and have the front yard more of a lower maintenance area. I know many people like the privacy that the backyard gives them. If you're in your backyard maybe fewer neighbors or passersby will see some of the odd combination of clothes and shoes us gardeners are known to wear. Or maybe it's where the most gardening space is.

In our yard the front is the only full sun part of our yard, it's also the biggest part of our yard. I've mentioned before that the builder for some reason set our home far back on the lot. Our front yard is probably closer to the size of many backyards. I spend a lot of time gardening out front and so I subject my neighbors to watching me in sweat pants, old t-shirts and whatever shoes happened to be by the door as I left the house. They see me when I get a sudden urge to remove more grass or need to haul something heavy that requires repeated times of lifting and setting down the item until I get it to where I need it. Sometimes I do feel a little embarrassed that someone might see me struggling with something physically difficult, but then I decide at least I'm trying, and if I want to grow roses and other sun lovers I have to be seen out there.

Part of the front yard from the end of Summer '09.

Our backyard is where the pond is. Back there no one can see me trying to walk along the edge of the pond or lose my balance and almost fall in as I have done many times. They also can't see me kneeling down in my pajamas stretching to reach for the plants that the raccoons have knocked into the pond again. No one knows back there if I'm moving a plant in the wrong weather and for the fifth time that summer, I like that about the back yard.

The pond at the beginning of fall. The Hellebores stayed there for a couple of days, and then were moved to a shadier spot.

The pathway next to the deck and under the big trees are in the back as well. This is where I "get" to do my dry shade gardening. As many gardeners make their front yard more low maintenance the backyard is where I'm trying to cut down on so many gardening chores. Maybe so that when I do come to the backyard, it will be to sit and relax and enjoy the view. Of course I know that really isn't true, I rarely sit and enjoy the view, even if there was nothing to do I'd find something to do.

A look down the path during the Summer.

Our side garden is the lowest maintenance area of our yard. It's where the raised beds are, now mostly filled with blueberry bushes, strawberries, a fig tree and the few vegetables we grow in the summer. I had wanted a cutting garden, but we decided the Littlest Gardener is only little once and should be able to have a sunny place for a little playhouse. Instead we'll plant Sweet Peas and a few other easy annuals near it.

Part of the side yard, Sweet Pea and the Littlest Gardener running and playing.

To answer my own question I garden everywhere, some beds in the different parts of the yard are "easier" but I divide my gardening time all over the yard. Currently the other side of our house holds our metal garden shed and the compost bin, but I'm hoping this Summer to turn more of it into usable gardening space. Some days I'm in the mood to do sunny gardening out front, while other days I feel more like gardening in the privacy of the backyard.
I'd love to hear where you garden in your yard and why.