Pattern 10: Focal Points

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A destination need not be as practical as a place to sit; sometimes it's simply a visual lure. While we often site a piece of sculpture or a particularly pretty tree to be viewed from the windows of the house, some of the impact is lost when we see the object so clearly and so often. Creating a setting out in the garden to shelter a statue, frame a fountain, or place an extravagantly planted pot can make each more special, as they aren't so immediately available to us. Also, when we do come upon them, it is a more private experience, so we're more likely to pause and soak in the beauty.

Whether anyone ever sits on it or not, this bench serves the visual function of focal point and underscores the wild, open character of the meadow.

Copyright ©2007 Timber Press, Inc. Text excerpts from A Pattern Garden copyright © Valerie Easton. Photographs copyright © Jacqueline Koch, except photos on Bridges, Gates, and Shelters pages copyright © Allan Mandell; and photo on Water page copyright © Richard Hartlage. All rights reserved. Posted with permission of the publisher.