One of the best ways to add interest to your garden is with architectural accent pieces. A unique piece can add a focal point and break-up the plant material. One interesting way I found to do this is with old olive jars. Olive Jars date back centuries and were used in the Mediterranean to store olives, olive oil and other foods. Many of these come from Turkey today and you can find them at antique shops and architectural salvage yards. What is really attractive about using them, is that they are unique and will make your landscape design such. Here are some tips to choose the right one.

1. Choose one that is appropriate in size for the space. A very small one adds nothing in a large landscape with tall plantings. It can even be a distraction. The same holds true for small intimate plantings with oversized olive jars.

2. Select planting materials that contrast well with the accent piece. Many olive jars have a rich brown color that provides an earthy appeal and stands out in a green back-drop. Some vibrant green glaze ones also work well in areas where you need splash of color, such as xeriscape and sparse settings with gravel and grasses.

3. Try setting the olive jar in different positions to give it a more natural appearance as if it was left there unintentionally. Perhaps slanted, on its side. One trick is to bury part of it in the soil at an angle.

4. Group several together to create a setting. Make sure to vary the sizes and try using an odd number of pieces. Groups in three or five work best.

5. Try making a fountain out of it. There are kits you can by to turn pottery into fountains. Make sure you are using one that has a glaze inside or has been waterproofed.

6. Don't be afraid if it is chipped, cracked or broken. These are typically the most sought after. They add an old world charm and resemble pieces from a architectural dig. All pottery left exposed to the elements naturally degrades. This is what you want when creating an authentic style.

If you are trying to get an idea of the types of olive jars available, you can see some at Olive Barn on the web or try some local garden shops or antique shops in your area.