The Cacti & The Stump - a true love story!

There was something about drift wood, stumps & fallen trees that made my mom happy. She would always mention how pretty they looked lying there, placed in the right spot to guide you towards a path, house an animal or protect a nearby plant. Seeing this through her eyes always made me happy when I would find one on my own. My house is nestled next to a wooded area; perfect enough that it drowns out the noise from the traffic & houses some interesting creatures, including a fox & a brave little raccoon who likes to sit on our driveway gnawing away at something s/he found in our trashcan. As I am transforming our backyard on a NATURE budget, (free & nature designed) I was able to find some great fallen elm & cedar trees. The stumps were screaming, please show me off! So here we are, a love through my mother’s eyes & a passion for transforming things out of nothing.   

I started digging up rocks in the woods so I could utilize them in our garden, at the same time I started pulling & dragging limbs, stumps & trees. YES, I dragged a fallen elm tree that was 12 + feet (I know this because I was able to cut 3 -4’ pieces & there was a couple of feet left of it). I didn’t want to delve into this project but I did want to utilize my time & kill multiple birds with one stone. I will show you my rock projects soon, but for now, the love story of The Cacti & the Stump.

NO TREES WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PROJECT –

2 pieces I found debated on which one I wanted to start with

 I chose the one on the right  

 

 I do not own a chainsaw so my ryobi circ. saw had to do. I positioned the stump to sti the way I wanted it to, check to see if it is balanced & it wasn't.

 B- I then cut the bottom to make it balanced

A- I started to cut around the stump

Cutting around the stump

 It's getting late, Mr. Soggy bottoms is croaking

 Take the project indoors & cut the middle section with a saw (great arm workout)
$4 bow saw from habitat for humanity (Austin, TX)

 I used my hole cutter for the drill to mark the area  I wanted to cut. (Note: it doesnt cut through the stump, just makes a circle)

Then I took a large drill bit & started drilling within the perimeters

I drilled & drilled away (what a mess)

I bagged the cedar shavings- They smell great & I know I can use them somehow

 My dollar store items, moss & glue

 A collage of the stump

 I super glued the moss (I didn't want to use hot glue as I wanted it to be water proof) The side of the stump has a tiny hole where the drill shaved through, I purposely did this so the water can seap out & or the roots can go through. Add  the plants & soil, a bamboo skewer helped me tuck in the roots & moss.
It was love at first sight, meant for ea. other.
THE END!!

TOTAL COST
$3.23
BREAKDOWN- 4PK CACTI $4.95 (only used 3) $1 Glue, $1 Moss
 

TIP: Make sure your stump is stable & balanced. You can add footing to bottom or just simply cut something straight. In the process of drilling the holes, I did manage to make a small hole by one of the crevices so the water can drain. This is my first time making one so I am not certain if this will be able to help or at least let the roots grow.  Cacti, are easy to grow & able to tolerate once or twice a week watering. Please feel free to send me pics of your projects. I would love to check them out.

Reproduction Strictly Permitted, Not responsible for; splinters, new addiction of dragging dead wood home or a finding a new love of stumps & cacti. I recommend that you use goggles, & have some common sense of a circular saw if you so decide that this is the tool you want to use.

Happy Mother’s Day Week

Xo-Xo

~Mel