Landscaping Secrets

Focal Point and Axis

A focal point is any object, such as a fountain, bench, statue, urn, or tree, that draws the eye to it due to its placement in the garden (see example at far left). How many focal points should one garden have? That depends. A small garden can probably accommodate a single center of attention, but if you have a large space partitioned into smaller ones by shrubs, each area can have its own focal point. Remember to choose a piece that fits the scale and and style of your garden.

Axis
To a garden designer, an axis is the centerline of a view or walk (see example at near left). Determining an axis makes it possible to line up landscape elements to create special effects. For example, an axis in a garden might run from a doorway through a pair of identical planters, down the center of a walk, to a distant gazebo. In this case, the door and the gazebo are said to be "on axis."