Without knowing about the historic artifact, we sort of re-invented it for our own front border bed. Got very large (dishwasher size) rocks of local granite, lined half up along road edge and the others 8 ft. away, filled in with a mix of topsoil and manure, to make a long raised bed. We call it a berm, and it stopped the water erosion from the road (which is slightly uphill), and gave us some privacy as well as a neighbor-friendly shrub and flower bed 30" high. The house is actually a former rental cottage, so the small scale was important. We planted a variety of shrubs and perennials in it, from shadbush in size through rugosa roses, down to inkberry and ilex crenata and iris and lavender. Instead of using flat stones and stacking them, we used large glacial boulders so they could be set next to each other, on the ground. It was not expensive to make a wall/raised bed in this way. Carol

Brandon: Do you think the rock is limestone? That's the kind of crushed white rock I'm familiar with. If it's limestone that could cause some problems. But coarse limestone doesn't break down very fast. So a little extra sulfur would probably counteract the limestone. If the rock isn't limestone, then no problem.

You have to build a retaining wall out of stone to get higher than 10-12". Small beds of one foot height or less can use the standard garden centers' Retaining Wall Blocks. Pick your style and color. ...I suggest a small bed, very small, like 2'x4' x 1' high as an initial project. It is not hard but is labor intensive. You will need to get an inch or two into the subsurface... 4"x6" lumber will work for that size too; even 4x4's. However, you will want to stack heavy stones on them so 4x6 is best(with the 6" side on the ground). You can use cedar or redwood if pressure treated cannot be used. ( BTW, That is expensive lumber. ) For taller structures you need some larger blocks such as those from Anchor Wall Systems. They are called gravity walls because gravity is the equalizing force to sub' for those stakes. You can build 18", 24" and for some of the blocks even 36" gravity walls. Anchor Projects AWS Products Now if you have big, heavy(50+lbs) stones in the area, you could use those rather than purchase cut ones. Gathering them should be fun -take your shotgun. ... You can make a frame of 2x12xY' lumber and stack stones on and around it too. The frame by itself will not work without support in the long term. (short term w/b okay) I rec' that you look for landscaper in the area and tell them what you want. So many beds is a big project and take my word for it, those retaining wall blocks used for 2'+ high walls are very heavy(70 lbs ea.) when moving and stacking a hundred or more of them. And you will need a lot more than 100 ... Now, here's a novel idea for you if you want to be earthy and practical. Use bales of hay. Entire homes have been built that way. I have no experience building structures with them so you have to Google... Just so you know, pressure treated lumber is not harmful to people, plants or the environment when used properly. Five years or so ago, it might have been ( and was dangerous to some really stupid people ) but that kind of PT lumber is not made anymore or sold anywhere in the USA. It would be, relatively, simple to construct a 8'x8'x1' bed with landscape timber; I've done it here and am about to do it again for a base wall for a garden house. It is like making toothpick houses but instead of glue at the corners one uses 5" spikes ... there are plans on the net. E.g.: Raised Bed Project Again, however, without stakes in the ground you will have to add weight to the top. The taller it is, the more that is needed. Sides will need support too if the structure is very long... Good Luck!

Here's an update on my pond. After reading all your comments and thinking and Googling lots more, I went to consult a pond "guru". She suggested making the pond much deeper (was only 15" deep), removing the shelf, so that it will appear to be too deep for the critters. I was still trying to decide whether to go the whole way and have it completely rebuilt, or just to clean it thoroughly and then get a new electric fence. Eventually, I took the plunge, as it were, and have now had it completely rebuilt. It is a bit bigger than it was, and is now 25" deep. I put in a "fish cave" (really a cinder block with a flat stone on top where my pots are standing). I didn't like the waterfall the pond man built, so went back here and to Pinterest and found some lovely looking bowls being used as waterfalls. So that's what I now have. I'm still getting used to it being partially above ground, though, as many on this forum said, that makes it much easier to access the plants and clean the pond! Plus it's very nice to be able to sit on the edge of the pond. The fish are really happy now. The photo was taken the day it was finished - luckily the hyacinth chose that day to flower! I had tied the grasses back so the pond guy could work there more easily. Love to hear feedback. And thanks again to everyone for your input, ideas, and inspiration! Couldn't have got this far without all of you!!!