[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[skier435 at yahoo.com]

85225
skier435 at yahoo.com

I am thinking of trying to convert my front yard to a desert landscape myself.  I have two questions..

The first is sometimes I see small hills/mounds of rock in yards. Are those simple hills/mounds of top soil topped with landscaping rock? Is there anything I should consider when incorporating those into my landscape?

Second, what equipment can you use to make swales or rock rivers that you see? 

I appreciate the information!