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