| One of the best ways to add interest to your | | | | slanted, on its side. One trick is to bury |
| garden is with architectural accent pieces. A | | | | part of it in the soil at an angle.4. Group |
| unique piece can add a focal point and | | | | several together to create a setting. Make |
| break-up the plant material. One interesting | | | | sure to vary the sizes and try using an odd |
| way I found to do this is with old olive | | | | number of pieces. Groups in three or five |
| jars. Olive Jars date back centuries and were | | | | work best.5. Try making a fountain out of it. |
| used in the Mediterranean to store olives, | | | | There are kits you can by to turn pottery |
| olive oil and other foods. Many of these come | | | | into fountains. Make sure you are using one |
| from Turkey today and you can find them at | | | | that has a glaze inside or has been |
| antique shops and architectural salvage | | | | waterproofed.6. Don't be afraid if it is |
| yards. What is really attractive about using | | | | chipped, cracked or broken. These are |
| them, is that they are unique and will make | | | | typically the most sought after. They add an |
| your landscape design such. Here are some | | | | old world charm and resemble pieces from a |
| tips to choose the right one.1. Choose one | | | | architectural dig. All pottery left exposed |
| that is appropriate in size for the space. A | | | | to the elements naturally degrades. This is |
| very small one adds nothing in a large | | | | what you want when creating an authentic |
| landscape with tall plantings. It can even be | | | | style.If you are trying to get an idea of the |
| a distraction. The same holds true for small | | | | types of olive jars available, you can see |
| intimate plantings with oversized olive | | | | some at Olive Barn on the web or try some |
| jars.2. Select planting materials that | | | | local garden shops or antique shops in your |
| contrast well with the accent piece. Many | | | | area.Jacqueline Salinas - Bachelor of Science |
| olive jars have a rich brown color that | | | | in Horticulture - Texas A&M University owns |
| provides an earthy appeal and stands out in a | | | | several internet related companies and with |
| green back-drop. Some vibrant green glaze | | | | the primary emphasis on Garden and Home. |
| ones also work well in areas where you need | | | | Visit Olive Barn for more information. |
| splash of color, such as xeriscape and sparse | | | | Contact her at or visit her blog at |
| settings with gravel and grasses.3. Try | | | | Simplicity by Olive Barn. She is one of the |
| setting the olive jar in different positions | | | | founders of Garden Living Houston, an |
| to give it a more natural appearance as if it | | | | earth-friendly gardening ezine for Houston |
| was left there unintentionally. Perhaps | | | | Texas. |