ugggggh I forgot to check the box to be notified of followup messages (why isn't that check by default?) I am going to resubit so please don't respond to this one. Gonna title it totem pole gone bad

This may not be possible for you,but there are people who do chain saw carving and may be able to turn your stump into a work of art. My sister has friends who have had that done to their big stumps.
-Sprout

Can you have the stump cut closer to the ground? My last garden had three large (30" diameter) stumps. They were about 18" high. I asked my son to hack out a "basin" in them which I filled with potting soil and planted with annuals.

I have a stump like that and it was left tall on purpose. I have a painted pot up there that I plant up with bright flowers. The planting changes with the season. Planting a climbing vine to grow up it might be an option if you have some soil to work with around the base. I like the stump!

Well, it wasn't quite so thick as this, but I knew someone who used theirs as a sign post. They picked like twelve or fifteen spots all over the globe...their favorite spots. Then they painted simple signs on two by fours (and aged them) for the destinations. Like juneau, ak 4,406 miles and an arrow. It was really neat looking.