Re: Stumperies

Hi Catharine,
I hope this sufficiently answers your question.  It covers about as much as
I know, except that I have a vague memory of having read something else
about stumperies, but I have no idea where or when.
Mr. Rickard says the following about stumperies (quoted from pages 31 &32 )
" The concept of stumperies was promoted in the nineteenth century,
particularly as a setting for ferns and as an alternative to a rockery...it
was suggested that tree stumps with a length of trunk still attached be
planted upside down in the ground ..."
He goes on to say that "It is very easy to develop a stumpery ... Make an
apparently haphazard arrangement of irregularly shaped pieces of wood or
tree stumps...and plant the ferns in between."  He goes on to describe the
only public garden stumpery that he has seen ( in Staffordshire, England).
He also describes one developed by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
Both are described as having had stumps piled high enough to form arches as
central features.  Obviously gardeners or botanical garden landscapers are
not imitating the design, which raises the question why not.   The other
side of the coin is we have large pieces of trees that have fallen and have
access to more if a lack of material has been  the problem.  The ferns we
have recently planted among a large rotting log look great and so we are
inspired to investigate further.  However, if we proceed with the concept,
it would be nice to do so with as much knowledge of the subject as possible.
I hope there are some who have knowledge and experience to share with us.
Mr. Rickard finishes by saying that he thinks there is a place for
stumperies.  He believes that they come into their own in woodland gardens,
which is one aspect of what we hope to develop.
Ralph in Louisville, KY USA


----- Original Message -----
From: "Catharine Guiles" <cguiles@maine.rr.com>
To: <ferns@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [ferns] Stumperies


> Hello, Ralph,
>     For those of us who have not read Mr. Rickard's book, pray tell, what
is
> a stumpery?  Growing ferns on an old stump?  Or ???
>     Thanks,  Catharine Guiles
>
> > From: "Ralph Archer" <ralpharcher@worldnet.att.net>
> > Reply-To: ferns@hort.net
> > Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 21:08:36 -0400
> > To: <ferns@hort.net>
> > Subject: [ferns] Stumperies
> >
> > Mr. Martin Rickard in his book '...Garden Ferns' has a discussion on
> > stumperies as an effective way to display fern collections. We are in
the
> > process of enlarging and renovating a Hardy Fern Foundation fern display
> > garden here in Louisville and are intrigued by the notion.  We would be
very
> > interested in any information available, especially additional
information
> > sources and tips on design and installation.
> > Ralph in Louisville, KY USA
> > Zone 6 on the edge of 5
> >
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