Floor of the garden?

[Finn Macool]

Hi everyone.

Why can I say the floor of my garage or kitchen but not the floor of my 'garden'?

Or can I and it just sounds strange to my ear?

Thanks.

Finn.

[Mister Micawber]

Floors are manmade (with some exceptions-- the ocean floor, the forest floor), and your garden has no walls, conceptually, or ceiling.

[Casiopea]

I agree with MM. "floor" is tied to "ceiling".

EX: The cabin's dirt floor. (Note, the cabin has a roof, ceiling)
EX: The ocean's floor. (Note, the seawater = a ceiling)
EX: The forest floor. (Note, the tops of the trees = a ceiling)

Moreover, "floor" refers to the base of a construct; a garden's base is under the surface.

[Finn Macool]

Thanks MM and C.

I also, was thinking that it related to a three dimensional space and not necessarily a man made one.

We can have the floor of a cave or tunnel I think.

But looking at my OED, one of the definitions given is ‘any level area’ and another is ‘collog. the ground’ so that seems to throw my 3D theory out the window.

Now it seems to me that any level area can be described as a floor but to be the floor of something it has to have an upper level to be the floor of.

Thanks for your replies.

F.