Susan Sanderson - my garden in spring

A number of years ago we dug out an area to build a wildlife pond. What do we do with the heap of soil that resulted?

On investigating possibilities, I read about a berm. A flat-topped mound that separates two areas of land.  This seemed like an interesting idea.

I grow a lot of hellebores.  The flowers are hard to appreciate fully as the flower heads hang downwards.  Putting them on a raised platform enables better viewing.  The area is on a very slight slope, the pond close by and an eight foot brick wall a few yards behind.  To the west is an old Belle de Boskoop apple tree and a small “secret garden” surrounded on two sides by hornbeam hedging and another side with an ornamental metal screen proving support for the fascinating honeysuckle Jazz.

To accompany the hellebores on the berm we have planted many spring bulbs and a variety of alpines and other small low growing plants.