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“Focal Point” and “Negative Space”…read anything on the topic of design and you’re likely to see those words. As I’ve visited, and photographed, other people’s gardens I’ve noticed how an empty container, placed just so, seems to act as both; a focal point and negative space. At least to my way of seeing, and of course it’s only negative space when it’s left empty, something I don’t seem capable of doing (see a pot = put a plant in it).

This bright orange/red container makes a great focal point, and since it’s placed at the convergence of several paths it also acts as a sort of  wayfinding device.
Kuzma Garden 2014 2

And it wouldn’t be nearly as dramatic had it had been planted up.
Kuzma Garden 2014 3

The openness of this front courtyard is less overpowering when your eye has a large blue urn to rest on.
Kuzma Garden 2014 1

Here a smaller urn, partially obscured, gives you the feeling there might be more to this corner than meets the eye.
Kuzma Garden 2014 4

I haven’t always understood, or appreciated, the empty container. I thought them to be a little pretentious and artificial.
Wakefield 2014

I’m not sure what finally opened my eyes to their magic.
Daniels 2014

This unglazed terracotta urn proves the color of clay can be just as powerful as an arresting red or bright blue.
Testa-Vought Garden 2013

And plain cement (or a light-weight version of) can be just as polished.
Rondone 2013

And empty doesn’t have to mean there isn’t any plant life in (on) the container.
Kalbfleisch.Matteucci 2014

Since you might be wondering about some of the plants near those empty containers…