Stumpery
A stumpery is a
A stumpery traditionally consists of tree stumps arranged upside-down or on their sides to show the root structure but logs, driftwood or large pieces of bark can also be used.[1] The stumps can be used individually or attached together to form a structure such as a wall or arch. Stumperies can vary in size from a handful of logs to large displays containing dozens of full tree stumps.[2] The use of storm-damaged or diseased trees is not uncommon and can save the landowner the cost of their removal.[1][3] Where tree stumps are unavailable a more modern, angular look can be achieved by using railway sleepers or old oak floorboards and some companies sell waste timber or driftwood specifically for the purpose of constructing stumperies.[2] Plants such as ferns, mosses and lichens are often encouraged to grow around and on the stumpery.[2] Stumperies provide a home for wildlife and have been known to host stag beetles, toads and small mammals.[4][5]
Stumperies have been described as "Victorian horticultural oddities" and were popular features of 19th-century gardens.
The first stumpery to be built, at
References
- ^ a b c d Mallory, Julie (1 June 2007), "Stumpery makes good use of storm debris", Evansville Courier & Press
- ^ a b c d Klein, Carol (20 November 2003), "Turn your eyesore into an asset", Daily Telegraph
- ^ a b Layton, Karen, Stumped? Turn an eyesore into a garden asset (PDF), retrieved 1 February 2009
- ^ a b The Wildlife Trusts; Royal Horticultural Society, Cheshire garden wins silver!, retrieved 1 February 2009
- ^ a b c Sturgeon, Andy (16 December 2006), "Anatomy of a garden: Highgrove Stumpery", The Guardian
- ^ a b c d Easton, Valorie (25 May 2008), "In this island woodland, stumped is not a bad thing", Seattle Times
- ^ a b Hughes, Roger (Autumn 2003), "Fern Garden Stumpery" (PDF), Stephen F. Austin State University: Arboretum News
- ^ Russell, Tony, "The Gardens at Highgrove", Country Gardener, archived from the original on 8 February 2009