Out of the huge came forth a stumpery

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This beautiful pine was threatening the power lines, the house and the dogs

When we first bought our old cortijo, one of the only things that really concerned me was the large pine tree that grew about three metres from the front of the house. Each year we would pay for someone to come and remove the processionary caterpillar nests. It was not cheap, but better than risking these nasty beasties maiming or killing the dogs. The tree roots were causing extensive ground heave, which would eventually undermine the house, and it was tall enough to be interfering with the power lines that supply our house and those of the neighbours.

After the usual rigmarole with applying for permission from the Ayuntamiento and then waiting months to obtain a multiply-stamped permit, we called in the professionals.

Sadly, we were not around to watch the process, but Potty Finca sent us photgraphs
In just over half a day, the tree is completely taken down

The tree was cut down during the week that Geoff was in the UK and I was busy breaking my ankle, so other than getting the logs piled up neatly, nothing was done with it for over a year.

Meanwhile, in the garden, the area around the fig tree was bugging me. I wanted to put something there, because it was a rather dead space, but inspiration was not striking.

There were plans for most of the garden, but the bottom left corner was a slightly dead space
The little fig tree, surrounded by dreary old pots

I had planted the fig tree in a racing tyre that has sentimental value for us, so whatever I did would need to work around the tyre. I also had a load of empty wine bottles from Christmas and various celebrations that I wanted to use.

To cut a long story short, after much deliberation, I decided I would build a ‘stumpery.’ I suppose it should more correctly be called a slice-and-bottlery, but I do not let little things like accuracy worry me.

Slices of tree trunk and bottles arranged around the tyre
A sort of paisley swirl shape fitted nicely in the available space
Add an old sleeper, some succulents and stone chippings…
Another sleeper and some recycled poles and planks finish the seat off.

The stumpery will take a little while to settle in. The last few bottles need to be hammered in further and the spaces between the bottles will have to be topped up with compost as the rain washes what is already in there down. The succulents are tiny at the moment, but I hope they will spread and fill out quite quickly. Then, as the fig tree grows and matures, we shall have another shady place to sit and enjoy the sights, sounds (and smells!) of our little patch of paradise.


 

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