Garden focal points?

Question

Besides a fountain, bird bath, or statue, are there any other garden focal points I should consider?

I'm new to gardening. Right now my backyard has a strip of pachysandra, some hostas in permanent shade, and a small bed of annuals next to the garage.

I'd like to have some object as a focal point and build a small bed around it - either next to the low fence in bright sunshine, or near the pachysandra with a dark green background of pines and maples (the backyard ends in a low wall and drops off, so you're looking at the middle of maple and pine trees).

Answer 1

gazing balls

obelisk

trellis

bench

pottery

sculpture

hanging baskets placed throughout (from the trees too!)

Answer 2

A water feature is an excellent focal point.  People who enter your yard will instinctively move toward it.

Water features don't have to be complicated or difficult to maintain.  You just need an outside power source.  There are solar-powered water features, but obviously they must be in a very sunny location.

Although this is not my photo, I have an urn just like this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwardleger...  Water flows from a basin underground and flows on the outside of the urn back into the basin.  Very pretty sound, very pretty effect.

You can place rocks and plants in a large circle around the urn and build a path that leads to it; then put a small bench near it.  People will gravitate to it and sit by it.