Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I'll have one of these please...


Staddlestone/Mushroom Stone
Somewhere along the line... I fell in love with mushroom stone.  I just sent my husband an e-mail with a picture of one and said that if he ever wanted to get me something special..this would be it. {of course I could speak to him about it, but now he will have a picture!}  Crazy, huh?  I should be asking for jewelry, like the pair of diamond earrings I have always wanted.  Actually, I think these antique staddle stones are less expensive (but still pricey enough)!





Since I am nuts over mushrooms--these are perfect for me! When we were up in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  I saw a pair of staddlestones in a garden right on the water, it was so enchanting.  They offered a place to sit and enjoy the view. I should have taken a picture!  I was so excited to see them in that setting.  That is when I knew that I would have to have one for my garden.  Well, make that two or three!



Staddlestones were mainly used to elevate buildings that stored food.  Due to the mushroom like shape of the stone, it would make it difficult for rodents to climb up.  Also kept building off of the damp ground.



They are very popular in England.  The mossier... the better!

Nestled in the garden






Grand garden entrance



Saw these on 1st dibs-outrageously expensive antiques!



Ahhh!  Just love to look at them all lined up like cute little toadstools...so charming.  I have to have one!

If you happen to have one of these, lucky you, send me a photo~
 I would love to see it.  


Shh! I was hesitant to do a post on these, I want them all to myself!  I know everyone will fall in love with them too :)...or not!


Enjoy


~jamilyn~

*images from Fine Gardening, Flicker, Veranda

11 wonderful comments:

Gwen Driscoll said...

Love this post. Wish I had many for my garden.

Talk soon.

Gwen

Jaime Rogers said...

Soooo cute, I would love a trio or two of those myself!

Best,
Jaime

Unknown said...

Hi Jamilyn! I have long since stopped asking for expensive jewelry as a gift...I would much rather have something lovely for my home or garden any day!!!

These are very cool!!

Have a great week!

:) T

nelya said...

oh my goodness! I have seen these before, but never knew the background. Thanks for "schooling" me! I've had a lifelong fixation with everything mushroom so these are right up my alley.

Unknown said...

These are very nice, especially in the cluster of 3!!!
We use a similar idea here to keep termites out, but not in stone. Ours are wood and metal (not nearly as nice)!

Unknown said...

Tooo late, love 'em already....
Anyway, all stone things moss covered are so lovely! Had seen something like it at Smith and Hawken once!
By the way, I read this trick how to get natural moss growth on stone pots: rub them with yogurt...


XX
Victoria

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

I love them too!!! You blog is darling. I am now a follower.

xo,
cristin

Anonymous said...

They are fabulous and worth trying to replicate in concrete. Next summer's project!

The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after said...

Aesthetics I can totally appreciate. I just love your style.
You have a lovely weekend.

Bethany Christensen said...

I have seen these before but didn't realize what their origins were. I would love some too. Thanks!
Bethany

debra @ 5th and state said...

hi jamilyn

being an anglophile and a mushroom freak myself i have amassed a gazillion sources. have a friend that manufacturers them in the US, from a replica of an original. just needs time to get mossed and fungused. let me know if you want info.

also a friend of mine in england used to make staddle stones;
1-dig a while in the ground, the depth and shape for the top.
2-with boards make the bottom shape
3-rub the inside of boards with mud, scrape some off but it's purpose is to create a lumpy/bumpy interior so the base is not smooth
4-fill hole in ground and base with concrete
5-dry and voila!
never tried but am always tempted to
xo
debra