This naturalistic berm is planted with a season-spanning design that can transform a suburban yard into a quiet haven. The berm rises to three feet high tall enough to make you forget that your neighbor's yard lies just beyond. Staggered plantings cover the berm and create baffles that muffle sound, while the diverse mix of plants provides color and interest all year long. Intended for a backyard, the berm allows you to enjoy the remaining lawn in privacy. Tall berry-producing evergreens located at the top of the berm provide immediate screening, while perennials and bulbs, ornamental grasses, and small flowering trees at the front provide seasonal bursts of brilliance. A flowering groundcover on the berm helps hold the soil in place and makes a graceful transition between the slope of the berm and the flat lawn area. Wherever you decide to site the berm, be sure to maintain the original grade of the yard at the property line, to avoid violating zoning regulations. Also, be sure to add a two- to three-inch-thick layer of mulch to help the slope retain moisture and to discourage weeds. This privacy planting gets a head start on creating an effective screen by beginning with a berm, which gives young plants a height advantage. @season:Shown in Spring Michael J. Opisso