DIY Network

Homegrown Hint: Garden Focal Point Homegrown Hint: Garden Focal Point From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-211

Figure A

One of the best ways to hide a vegetable garden in your landscape is to add a focal point that draws the eye to the design rather than to the individual plant type (figure A). He illustrates his point by turning on the water fountain in the bed, which adds a great deal of charm primarily by being unexpected. He also places wind chimes in the bed; these can be used all year long and be moved to different locations while adding pleasing sounds to the garden.

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Bright colors and interesting sounds make garden design more appealing by adding another layer of depth that your don't usually see in a vegetable garden. A water fountain adds charm to a vegetable bed, mostly because it's so unexpected.

Figure B

Most of us think of growing vegetables in a plain-looking garden, but we've shown that you can grown them in whatever space you have! There are so many architectural and fun elements you can add to your yard. Picking up a set of chimes while you're picking up tomato plants is a great idea -- the chimes will add their own pleasant sounds to the garden to harmonize with the sound of the fountain.

Chimes can be used all year long and are portable enough to be moved around the garden (figure B). Find garden decorations or architectural elements that suit your lifestyle and tastes -- your garden should be a place for relaxation, not just for work.