Oh yes I've heard of "olla", it means "pot". The word can be applied to the type of containers you show in the photo, cooking pots or even the food cooked in them. "Olla" is often used like the English word "stew", in the generic food-oriented sense that is. But back to the main point...what was it? Oh yes, using ollas as watering vessels. This is a very old technique and a good one too. It's most helpful in limited rainfall areas or in poor moisture retentive soils. I use standard large decorative pots/planters in the same way. I have them sitting above ground next to the plants that need extra water. I have partially blocked the drainage hole so the water seeps out slowly. I opted for the above ground method because a. I have very sandy soil (more on this below), b. there are tree roots widely but randomly growing through the yard, and c. I'm using the pots as garden accents, and d. I didn't feel like digging large holes. When used above ground the pots can be made of any material. Used below it is traditional to use unglazed clay, just like in the photo. The unglazed pots will last a lot longer in dry/sandy soils, obviously. Any material pots-the water seeps out of the drainage hole, buried unglazed clay pots-the water seeps through the clay walls. A few pointers: Soil type needs to be considered: I mentioned above that I have very sandy soil. Water tends to move straight down and not spread in sandy soil. If I buried the pot, the seeping water would come out below the area where it's needed and it would make, basically , an underground column of moist soil. By having the pot above ground I can encourage it to spread and I can monitor it too. In clay soils the water will spread BUT the soil around the pot may become saturated and limit further water infiltration. Overuse of the technique may lead to rot issues, both with the pot and plant. Soil layer issues: If your soil has hard pans or, like in my area, areas of caliche the water will run along the top of the pan. Even underground this happens preventing water seeping in where you want. Mineral content of the water: With high mineral water, like I have, eventually the pot wall pores will become blocked with mineral/salt deposits.Most of us have seen mineral or salt buildup on terracotta pots. That's why I chose to use large drainage hole pots above ground. Pot placement: These watering pots need to be placed very close to the plants you wish to water or slightly uphill so the water will drain down to it. This holds for above or below ground pots. Number of pots: This technique is traditionally used to water a few plants per pot. The plants are usually grouped around the pot in some fashion. You can water large areas but you'll need quite a few pots. To wind up: Great idea of making your own! Saves $$$ and you can make it the size you want. Additional idea: Use a small decorative pot as a cover and use a funnel for filling the olla. Place the pretty pot on top of the buried one and when you need to fill, just drop the funnel in the drainage hole. The pretty pot marks the spot of the buried olla and the funnel makes it easier to fill. With above ground pots partially block the drainage holes. You want the water to seep out slowly yet drain within 24 hours. Consider your soil and water type. This technique works with containers too. Thanks strawberrygoat! Hasta luego!

It's great that you've discovered "new" ground! It really pays off to note sunlight habits around the yard at different times of the day & year. I'd just be sure that whatever you may plant in the wet-in-the-winter area can handle a lot of cool moisture so it doesn't rot in winter. (I think a lot of the trick for a tropical "look" in our full sun is just to select lush looking plants that actually do well in sun.) And good luck with designing the yard in your dreams. Hope you have lots of fun! :)

Thank you Plantmaven. Woodyoak-Great advice! I knew rooting might be an issue and planned on keeping a really close eye on them. Thanks for the reminder though :O) MeMo-Oh, you should try that!! Roses would be stunning.

Bud Wi: I'm sorry I don't have a possible solution for you but I had a lightbulb moment when I read your post. I live in a neighborhood where all the houses have those big LR picture windows that were ever so popular in the '50s. Everyone (almost everyone) puts a giant TV in front of them. When you drive down the street all you see is the a$$ end of a TV in the windows. I always shook my head at that. My next door neighbors have one, big window in their LR and a huge projection TV plopped in front of it covering it completely making the LR so dark and claustrophobic. It is the only window in their LR and is blocking all the light and killing the nice view. Now I understand the method to this madness. I have a CRT so I never had a problem with glare. patricia43. Play word jumble with TV getting too much "glare," and see if you think what I do, getting much too "large." See, it works.