"Cheryl Isaak" wrote:

One of the trees that looked ok actually has a split trunk from being bent
over in storm. Since it is only a white pine, I don't mind losing it. It
is
something I have plenty of on property and this one has had blister beetle
damage to the crown/leader at least once.

Now, I was thinking of cutting it down and building a raised bed around
the
stump and tossing annuals in the bed while the stump rots.

Digging out the stump would most likely damage other plants I want to keep
and more importantly damage the neighbor's garden when she's looking to
sell. At least the raised bed would be nicer to look at then a stump or
the
dying tree.

Or I could just put a spike in the trunk and train a climber up a post.

The only thing that saves this tree at all is I lost a big piece of my
shade
for my hostas and I might have to move a few of them there.

Or I could create a whole new bed for the hosta, but that is a different
story.

Cheryl in southern NH

You could be missing the forest for the trees, keep it simple:
http://i43.tinypic.com/347bnkw.jpg