Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Mossy Garden Stump

I often find myself admiring the simple beauty that slowly evolves when trees meet their end, and the forest welcomes the trees back into the good earth. 
 

Moss on fallen trees is always so pretty to view and feels lovely when we gently run our hands across.


I have some mossy patches here and there in my yard, but sometimes the heat of the summer sun makes it dormant and dries it till it's crispy.  I also have an old stump that is slowly rotting away without any real purpose.  I decided to combine the two.  I took the stump and hacked away at the top with a heavy axe only because I couldn't find our small hatchet.  I'm sure my neighbour (sitting on his deck) was impressed with my prowess.

 
I then dug up a shovelful of moss from the north side of the shed.  Did you know if you ever lose yourself in the deep woods that moss grows on the north side of the trees ... a bit of a naturalist compass.  Right.  Back to my shovelful of moss.
 
 
I soaked the moss well with water just as it sat on the shovel there.
I packed some black earth onto the top of the stump and then lay the moss on top of that.

 
Cool.
 
 
I placed the stump in the shade garden amongst the woodsy ferns and scented astible, and of course all that's left to do is wait.  A gardener's essential tool being patience.  I'll mist the moss each morning because when I watered it with even a gentle spray, the dirt started washing away.  I hope it turns into a nice spongy mossy top on the stump through the summer :)
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy
 

 

35 comments:

  1. what a great idea. Moss is so pretty. Yes I knew that. Moss grows on the N side of the tree in theory. I have tested that theory and its confusing........some trees have moss all the way around. So do we go by the average? LOL anyway, I like your idea on the log. I don't have a log, what else could I do it on hmmmmmm
    thinking...............Janice

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    1. Yes, I'd say go by average, generally, which side of all the trees is greener with moss.

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  2. oooooo...very nice! Such a great color of green.

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  3. Thank you for such a wonderful post and briliant pictures Wendy, I love your idea to plant the moss on a tree trunk.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  4. That's just a genius idea - love it! Have a happy day, hugs xx

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  5. What a brilliant idea for a log which was rotting away-simple beauty indeed Wendy, Alison xx

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  6. Fab idea, I do hope it takes for you!

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  7. Wendy, how courageous, (and impressive!), of you to brave an axe! Your mossy garden stump is very pretty and your philosophy on the cycle of nature, calming. Thanks for sharing and have a lovely week!

    Poppy

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  8. Wendy, I found this interesting, because I also enjoy looking at moss. We have a TransCanada Trail near us and it's a wonderful place to look at the forest floor. You never know what you'll find there. Great idea to transplant some to your garden!

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  9. This looks really good Wendy! I love it :-)
    And the moss growing on the north side of trees is very interesting!
    Sarah x

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  10. Brilliant Wendy!!! Great use of the log and the moss makes it look very pretty too! Just right for a woodland setting in the garden! xx

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  11. Great idea! The photos are really beautiful xx

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  12. What a nice idea, Wendy. I look forward to seeing how it does there. The color is very pretty.

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  13. Wendy, what a sweet little project! No moss here..no tree stumps either...:( How lucky you are. Such a natural way to decorate your garden!
    Mona

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  14. What a lovely idea Wendy I would never have thought of doing that, I hope it takes and grows it will look really pretty, keep us updated. :) xx

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  15. I love the colour and texture of moss and there is some growing on stones and in pots in our garden. I just keep it in the shade all winter and hey presto!

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  16. I really liked this post and the way you describe the trees returning to the earth, how true and peaceful that sounds. We do not have that many trees here in Iceland, mostly because it is a volcano island but we have a ton of rock fields...with moss. I grew up with stories of elves and trolls and we were warned as kids to never take moss from the rocks because it would anger the elves that lived inside them. It was so fascinating hearing these stories although it left a kid feeling a bit eerie and scared, but in a good imagination building kind of way.

    The blue door you asked about is not to grandmas house but our neighbors. I really liked your story of the sticks being left outdoors. These rocks have been there for some time and Im not sure if our old neighbors daughters did this or my kiddos (we share the yard). Either way I have often thought of taking them in and cleaning them and then crocheting around them. I think they would look great like that in the window sill or outside the front door.

    Have a good rest of the week :)
    Birgitta xx

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  17. I hope your moss does well on top of the stump, it looks so pretty! I too have noticed moss growing on all sides of trees. Maybe itt depends on which side receives the most rain and stays the wettest...

    Blessings,

    Victoria

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  18. Oh how wonderful Wendy, I love this idea, it looks beautiful! xoJoy

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  19. I love your mossy stump - it makes a nice focal point in your shade garden! It is sad to see the trees that have fallen, but like you have so beautifully written, there is a kind of beauty in the cycles of nature. Lovely. xo Karen

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  20. It looks like just the sort of place little fairies might take up residence....keep a look out! :) x

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  21. Heisann! Thanks visiting my blog. Old trees with moss are really a nice way to see the nature goes in circle.
    I´m still waiting for the rain.....
    Have a wonderful weekend ;:OD)

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  22. Oh, I love your mossy stump. A friend just gave me a stump, but mine has no moss.

    Your yard looks so lush. We are in a drought so we don't have the lovely green colors.

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  23. I'm envying you for your mossy stump! I just may not be happy until I get one of my own!

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  24. I love your mossy stump too Wendy! It is going to be so nice in your yard. Enjoy!
    Julie

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  25. You are a rockstar friend! This is just fantastic! I love trees and all that surrounds them especially moss and how brilliant to help that stump along and give it an extra coating of beauty! It is the perfect addition for your shade garden! High five over the computer pal! Wishing you an extraordinary weekend! Nicole xoxo

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  26. Hello ..., glorious shots from your garden .. and I love the
      shovelful of moss and your creativity! Lovely post, thanks for sharing!

    Eva Jorunn Norway

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  27. Such beautiful photos! I have a moss problem in one of my beds, too much moss!!! It is pretty though isn't it?

    Have a great weekend xoxox

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  28. Wonderful greenery form your place and my husband and I really loved your idea about moss on the top of the stump♡♡♡ And educated from you about naturalist compass that moss grows on the north side of the trees;-)

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  29. The natural cycle and its beauty. Very nice. I'm at the other end of the thought scale on fallen trees today as a number of majestic oak trees on my property succumbed to oak wilt this summer and must be taken down. Thanks for visiting Troutbirder. We love our many trips to Canada....:)

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  30. Uprooted trees always look so odd to me. I guess I always expect the roots will be much bigger. I love your mossy stump project and think something like this would look great in the woodland part of my garden. Have a great weekend!

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  31. Any tree, in any shape or form is a thing of beauty and adding the moss to a tree stump as you have done here, looks amazing. Thanks too for sharing the compass fact of the North side of trees. I'll impress people with that next time I take a walk in the forest or wood. Have a wonderful weekend xx

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  32. I love you idea of creating your own mossy stump. Like you, I love looking at the dead trees. On my walk on Teapot Hill I have my favourite stump picked out, and I smile every time I go past it.

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  33. That's perfect, Wendy. We have a little garden pond in a very shady part of the backyard. Moss loves it there. I also like to encourage moss from time to time. I've also heard of people making a puree out of moss and a little water, then painting it on whatever you want, providing it continues to have shade and moisture. Yours was a very clever idea. Your neighbor will be jealous. :-)

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  34. Love the mossy stump. Moss always reminds me of fairies because I used to tell my children the fairies like to sleep on it! You will have to watch for them! ;)

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