Here's Looking at You, Kid: Focal Points in the Garden

In symmetrical compositions, sitting areas should feature furniture of concrete, iron or wood. Wood furniture in formal gardens is best painted white.

Man's imprint, while ever present in formal designs, is much more subtle in informal gardens. Instead of being controlled, nature is emulated. Meandering paths, oftentimes paved with weathered brick or stone, mulch or gravel, mimic streambeds; ornamental grasses swaying in the wind evoke ocean breezes. As in nature, plants are allowed to spill exuberantly over into paths, consort with neighbors or clamber up supports.

Geometric shapes, dominant in formal designs, give way to gentle curves. Walkways, beds and borders are randomly spaced, follow the lay of the land, and are often edged with found rocks, logs or landscape timbers. Hedges or tapestries of mixed shrubs, lightly pruned, act as living walls, providing privacy and a sense of enclosure. Turf is used sparingly, or not at all.

In asymmetrical compositions, plantings occur in drifts and are multi-layered. Trees and shrubs add vertical interest. Vines connect the ground and sky. Perennials, annuals and bulbs provide color.

Focal points in informal gardens frequently involve items of a personal or humorous nature.

A flock of flamingos wading in a "pond" of broken bits of porcelain, a collection of multi-colored bowling balls nestled in a bed of greenery, stone alligators lying in wait by a pool or a sculpture comprised of cast-off auto parts will impart a whimsical air.

Twig or wicker seating areas tucked into leafy bowers, or an arbor smothered with old-fashioned roses, are perfect focal points for the hopelessly romantic. Other possible elements to emphasize include terra cotta pots, gazing globes, sundials and birdbaths and houses.

To be effective, focal points in informal gardens should reflect the personality and spirit of their creator. As always, let simplicity, scale, and style of architecture be your guide.

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