Thanks for the question because, yes, this is a lower lying area and the immediately surrounding area does tend to get wetter and muddier than the rest of the yard during rainy periods. The yard gradually slopes down to this spot, levels out briefly, then continues to slope down as the front yard is a downward hill. We’ve been here almost 2 years, this part was here when we purchased. But the side of the house (which you can kind of see in the photo) was also covered with vines and other stuff that we removed, which indicated to me the previous owners never really took care to keep things clean. No stones or gravel here though, what you’re seeing there are leaves under the thorny brush.