Metal furniture is a perfect choice for outdoor use because it lasts a really long time, and gets better-looking as the years go by. Whether your personal taste gravitates toward vintage or modern, iron or aluminum, shop our collection of outdoor metal furniture to find the look you love. We offer beautiful garden benches with ornamental scrollwork, and dining sets both with cushions and without, to let you custom-design your space. Our bistro metal furniture sets add charm to any outdoor setting; they perfectly sized for a cozy chat over coffee or an intimate meal for two. If you like whimsical metal furniture that makes you (and your guests) smile every time you see it, you'll love our animal benches that are great as end tables but sturdy enough to use as stools.
Olla (Spanish, pronounced “oh-ya”) jars have been around since ancient times. Made of unglazed ceramic, ollas traditionally have short, narrow necks with wider bodies, and are made in a variety of shapes. They have been used for thousands of years for cooking, storage, and plant irrigation.
When used to irrigate plants, an olla is buried neck-deep in the ground near a plant’s roots, with the opening of the olla extended above the soil so that it can be filled with water periodically. The porous walls of the unglazed pottery allow the water to seep through gradually, constantly and consistently hydrating the plants without overwatering them – and without wasting precious water to evaporation or runoff.
The use of ollas for irrigation was introduced to the American Southwest by Spanish conquistadors during Colonial times, becoming very common among Native American tribes and Hispanic settlers. Though the technique gave way to more modern methods of irrigation some time ago, its superior efficiency, coupled with its simplicity, has caused it to make a comeback. Though the technique has changed little since its introduction, today’s ollas are usually capped off, making them even more water-efficient.
Perfect for home gardens, Ollas are a super-easy, eco-friendly, less time-consuming way to water annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and plants of all kinds in dry, sandy soil, very hot or drought-prone areas, raised beds, and even pots, planters and hanging baskets. Fill the olla before you leave on a short vacation to enjoy worry-free watering – and a smaller water bill!
