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Garden Photo of the Day

Garden Photo of the Day

From eyesore to eye-catching

comments (8) May 18th, 2011 in blogs
MichelleGervais Michelle Gervais, Senior Editor
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Photo: Michelle Gervais
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Several years ago my neighbors and friends Laura and Bruce had an absolutely MONSTER dead tree taken down in their back yard at the end of their driveway. Seriously, this thing was huge. Luckily, they were able to drop it over a wooded bank beyond the yard, and we've been canibalizing it for bonfires ever since. However, the massive stump remains, and it's the first thing they see when they pull into their driveway each evening. There's no way they can have the stump removed, so Laura decided that, rather than try to hide the stump, she's start embellishing it. It's become an ever-evolving little garden where she pops in little perennials and bulbs she picks up throughout the season, and a place to display a few relics she's picked up on her frequent trips to our amazing local antique flea market, the Elephant's Trunk. Now, instead of a massive reminder of a dead tree, they see an antique millstone framed by an impressive natural statement and subtly charming little plants. These photos were taken last week, in mid-May. It just keeps getting better and better as the season progresses. **Be sure to click on all the photos on the left!

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog! Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

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posted in: ornaments, trees
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Comments (8)

LaFlor writes: Wonderful. Like all garden it will evolve with time and different things are added. We just cut down a big tree, what an idea.
Posted: 12:20 pm on June 7th
JWilliamsatChat writes: Loved RachelleK's idea of hollowing out the stump to make a planter. Could you please share how you did that? What kind of tool? Thanks in advance. Posted: 7:22 pm on May 20th
Cher_B writes: We also took a stump and put a ring of rocks around the top and then filled with dirt and added annuals. It turned out very nice. Though this year the bark has fallen away from the stump, not sure what to do next, but working on the garden beds that encircle it. Flowers love to grow next to a decaying stump. The other stump that was cut closer to the ground, we put a large pot on top and filled it with flowers. Finally that stump has eroded away and there is a new red maple about 6ft tall with a garden bed around it. We pruned it to keep its shape well also. Posted: 4:44 pm on May 18th
RachelleK writes: Beautiful! Love the "button" and the picture with the iris and rocks. I had a stump, much smaller, that I hollowed out and use as a raised planter. Enjoy your pretty view!
Posted: 10:09 am on May 18th
heresgreenie writes: Such beauty surrounds this stump! These photos are a keeper for my garden library as we may have to remove a large tree very soon. :-( I can visualize how perfect it can be after seeing Laura's creative ideas!! Thanks so much for sharing these pics....they have given me a new outlook! Posted: 8:46 am on May 18th
rwotzak writes: And I love that she's my neighbor! It's always good to have other creative folks on the block...especially ones that share plants that they don't have room for. Posted: 8:38 am on May 18th
SunnyDispo writes: This is terrific -- totally inspiring! Posted: 7:31 am on May 18th
Deanneart writes: I love creative solutions to problems in the garden. This is well done
Posted: 4:36 am on May 18th
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