Dead Stump

weirdowl

Hi,
Here's a pic of a stump I found while out walking in the woods today. This is only the top 1/3. I plan to saw it off at the height shown. It's completely hollow all the way down. I have a couple of ideas for it that I am hoping I can get some input on.
I first thought about trying to use tall slender trees coming up from the middle to try and make it look like a single tree. I have almost decided against trying to make the stump look like it's still alive, and am considering making it look more like a clump growing up from the middle of the stump. From a distance it might look like a single tree but up close it would imply the cause and effect of the stump rotting from the inside creating the perfect "mulchy" place for seeds to sprout, inside the bottom of the trunk.
As for plant material I'm thinking about using a berry tree with small reddish purple leaves. I think the color of the leaves would go good with the bleached grey of the stump. They also grow nearby. They have a very small twiggy habit. Lush poofs of foliage wouldn't seem fitting I don't think.
If all of this actually works out I think it might also look nice to have moss growing up the stump in some places, along with some miniature grasses planted at the base.
Rather than try and bring this stump back to life, so to speak, I 'd like to try and imply the contrast between live material and dead and their dependence on each other if that makes any sense at all. When the trees are bearing fruit this will be more easily shown. Death>Life>Fruit>More life.
Let me know of any suggestions you have and any advice for working with dead stumps. Can I use lime sulfur to preserve the dead wood? If so, how do I prepare the wood for this? Thanks

Attached Images

stump.jpg (16.1 KB, 168 views)

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weirdowl

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Carp

i like it nice idea , let us know how u go

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"The aim of life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting WOW! WHAT A RIDE!!"

weirdowl

Thanks for the interest Carp. I've been contemplating on this stump off and on. One day I'm anxious to work on it and the next it seems like a lost cause. I definitely want to try it though. I'll post some pics when I do.

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weirdowl

DavidN

weirdowl
what a great piece of dead wood. I would take my time in deciding what to do with it as it is such a nice piece and I wouldn't want to waste it.