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