cat beat me to the punch. What you've got there is a big hump with a big stump. In its present state, I don't see a satisfying incorporation of the two elements with additional plantings to create something architecturally anchoring. If you like the stump and want it to stay in its present state, well, I'm stumped. There's rot in the core which could easily be whacked away with a hatchet in order to snug in a pot or to fill with soil for a plant or two. Be tempted to go with a vine that'll drape rather than anything that adds additional height. And over time, it will just rot away more from the inside out - woody layers will go first eventually leaving you with a raggedy bark shell. But contemplating alternatives... do you know anyone with a chain saw who could take the stump down further? Have you called around to see about stump grinding fees for a 15", 20", or whatever stump? (It wouldn't be anywhere close to hundreds of dollars here, especially if they left the chips for you to use elsewhere on the property.) I've had lots of trees cut down - obviously location dictated grinding or not. Most were in mixed tree and shrub or fern bed locations so were just cut as close to the ground as possible.

You can put a break in the fence without having to put a post in the ground. Use a diagonal support like with a gate. Voila. You can have your cake and eat it too.

hip hip hooray .. the only good maple.. is dead maple ... especially a silver maple .. sorry.. no silent moment from me ... lol how about a giant Grecian urn on top ... supreme .. quite a statement .. [though maybe not the one you want to make] so you are thinking to remove what looks like myrtle??? i will bet a buck..there is little or no soil within a few feet of the stump .... and you will have a hard time digging in there.. and planting other things.. also.. rotting wood requires moisture.. and even though the maple is dead [they did apply stump killer i hope] .... in planting new plants.. you will have to insure that you can apply enough water for both the rotting maple .. and the new plants ... you might get further.. if you could add 3 courses of retaining wall on the drive and sidewalk.. to add some new soil.. for the new plants ... i do the stump thing all the time, though i do it flush to the ground .. but i have about 4.9 more acres than your front yard ... the whole process of the breakdown.. the 'shrooms.. etc.. can be very fascinating to watch over the years ... now get that grecian urn ... i would say.. a four footer.. heck.. how about a 6 footer ... lol .. check out the link ... as an aside .. i will bet a buck .. it was planted level with the lawn .. way back when .. how do trees basically grow themselves right out of mother earth .. especially maples ... now that is what i want an answer to ... ken ps: if they did not kill it.. ask them to come back.. cut off another inch.. insure its flat.. and treat the stump with some type of stump killer... or else you will have a good 3 dozen sprouts next spring ... and they will be 6 feet tall by fall ... because of that giant root mass ... Here is a link that might be useful: link

Good quality pots with purely gritty mix will have no problem being outside all year round. For sedums you can use clay saucers with holes drilled and they will be OK even the cheap ones. I have a mix of alpines in a good quality strawberry planter and it stays out all year round. It has been at least 7 years now. Here is a pic. There are semps on top too but the siberian iris is covering it up. This needs to be thinned out. Stumps are great for creative gardening. Ours is a hug oak stump in front. The tree was taken down in 2004 and the stump is still there although pretty much rotted now. I think it will collapse a lot next year. Here is a pic with flowers planted.