Plants as a Focal Point

• A single, attractive plant or a group of plants in one area can serve as a focal point. Large plants with interesting flowers, like angel's trumpet, will draw the eye, as will plants with nice forms like Japanese maples or weeping cherries. Groups of plants with a bright color like impatiens or coleus make a good focal point in a garden bed. Topiaries also beg to be noticed.
  
  

Man-Made Focal Points

• Anything from a garden bench to statue, a bird feeder to a gazing ball, works as a focal point. Focal points don't have to be stuffy and serious, so feel free to use a whimsical piece of decor to add your own personality to your garden.
  
  

Scenery

• If you have a yard that allows you to look out on a lovely view, use that as your focal point. To guide an observer's eye to the scenery, make a frame with vines climbing over an arched trellis. If you don't have a great view, paint a scene on a fence or your garden shed instead.
  
  

Water and Other Natural Objects

• A pond or a bubbling barrel fountain not only draws the eye, but the moving water makes a pleasing sound. Use stacked stones at the edge, cattails or other pond plants to add height and interest to your water feature. Groups of large stones or a single stone with an interesting shape also make excellent focal points. When grouping stones or other objects, use odd numbers of them for better spatial balance.