This Cercidiphyllum japonicum stump spent several years in a corner of the back yard in the garden centre where I work, and for the last 3 I've been watching it rot, hoping it would gain character. The owner told me I can have it, and to show him what I can do with it, so I started some work on...
I picked up this japanese maple at a landscape nursery on my way home from work this evening . . . at a reduced price because it's damaged ;)
So am I - we should get along fine.