Focal points can be many different things, such as plants with large flowers or colorful foliage, containers, benches, and even found objects. Photographs of prized gardens always have a piece of garden art on display. Garden sculptures, trellises, arbors, mirrors, fountains, and wall art are some of the many options for garden art. Understand the concept of using focal points, and the choices become endless!
Location & Purpose
Study your gardens or landscaped beds. Do you have focal points, or do you need them? If you have them, where are they located? If set too near an outer edge, it may seem a little awkward. Try moving the focal point closer to the center if possible. Also consider moving pieces during the year to cover fading bulb foliage, highlight a particular specimen plant, or punch up the drama for a gathering.
Using garden art as a focal point does not have to be one piece. Small groupings of coordinated pieces strategically placed can be viewed as one unit. Paintings and metal artwork can be displayed on a wall near an outdoor seating area. A container can be placed near a gazing ball beside a birdbath. Be careful not to overload with too many items or to scatter them infrequently around the yard.
Make It Personal
We suggest adding a bit of your personality to your gardens. You can add elements outside that you might not consider inside your home, like a trellis or birdbath. You can also bring your interior decorating style outdoors using similar colors, style lines, and art that represents your ‘look’. Of course, decorating indoors with houseplants and art that reflects the outdoors will bring the serenity of nature into your living space, flowing with what you’ve created outside.
Create a party atmosphere with lights and lanterns. Add interest to a shady spot with a whimsical tea set waterfall, painted watering can, or stained glass piece. Birdbaths delight the eye with wildlife guests while providing an important water source.
Compliment Your Art with Plants
Surround focal points with complimentary plants. For example, a fountain framed with a simple backdrop of grasses, shrubs, or evergreens offers the eye a place to rest. Background plants can hide unsightly views and bring wildlife into closer view. A dry rock bed with perennial blooms would be beautiful. Add a bench or bridge as a focal point and it becomes an interactive retreat for people and pollinators.
Planning and planting a garden is like painting a picture. In place of paint, the plants provide color and texture. Unique accents are an added bonus picking up on your personality or family hobbies. A garden is an ever changing canvas, benefiting the beauty of your ourdoor living space as you co-create with nature to enhance the environment in your space.
Join us on Garden Art Saturdays in July to shop local artists and create or add a focal point to your garden beds.
