The mighty Bedford Oak
About two miles from my home in Bedford, at the corner of The Hook Road and Cantitoe Street stands the majestic and venerable Bedford Oak. It is estimated that this incredible white oak tree, is more than 500 years old. Its girth measures more than 23 feet and the spread of its branches is approximately 130 feet. It may not surprise you that the Bedford Oak has long been a living monument of the community. It was growing when the Native Americans populated this area. It stood strong through the Revolutionary War. Its acorns provided nourishment to countless generations of wildlife, and who knows how many bird nests were built in its branches.
Interestingly, Mrs. Sharp, whose home was once my farm, began a grass roots effort to save the tree back in 1977. While passing by, Mrs. Sharp noticed a bulldozer parked near the tree getting ready to excavate for a house. She pleaded with the developer and managed to raise several thousand dollars from the community to acquire two acres of land, keeping the revered Bedford Oak safe from harm. That land is now part of the Bedford Historical Society and the magnificent oak continues to thrive.
Hello Martha, What a marvelous, ancient tree. It's seen so much history! I'd love to have some acorns from it to start some seedlings. It's very ingenious of someone to attach a grounding wire to this tree. I've never heard of such a thing, but think it's a great idea. Mrs. Sharp, who saved this tree, is or was a very forward thinking lady! Hooray for her! SAVE THE TREES!! Developers frustrate me when they are so impatient and shortsighted that all they can see is the bottom dollar. I guess they can't very well be stewards of the land when they only have their pocketbooks at heart. Thankfully, people are realizing the value of having trees around their homes and properties. I've long advocated the use of landscaping to cool homes. Proper placement is essential for this to properly work. Uh oh, I'm climbing down off my soapbox now. Sorry. I do get carried away. Happy Monday all!
Posted by: Frances Jackson | May 4th, 2009 at 7:26 am
How beautiful is this majestic oak tree. Trees were a childhood passion and still are. This Bedford oak stood there during the American Revolution. I can picture our Continental troops sitting under it for shade.
Many years ago my grandmother had a very old oak tree on the front of her property. It was enormous and its branches extended far and wide providing enormous amounts of shade. But its roots were going into her basement and she had to cut it down.
To see this event with her I flew to Boston then travelled to my old home town and watched the tree surgeons cut it down. We stood side by side in her driveway to see this happen.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | May 4th, 2009 at 8:12 am
p.s.
Chad Wallace has displayed his drawing of the Bedford Oak on his blog. He also has a nice drawing of Stewart Farm... is this your farm?
http://www.chadwallaceart.blogspot.com/
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport | May 4th, 2009 at 8:29 am
I think Martha is the most gorgeous lady ive ever seen.
Posted by: Kunal Sharma | May 4th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Oh, please post some photographs when this tree is in full leaf this summer...and again when the leaves turn color in the fall...THANKS
Posted by: Judy Ware | May 4th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Isn't God great!!!
Posted by: delia | May 4th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Wow.... breathtaking tree. Thanks for sharing Martha. By the way, it was wonderful to meet you on Friday at your book signing.
Posted by: Nicole Bahnsen | May 4th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Very interesting. I also am amazed at how the mentality is always "we can replace this old thing with something in the location we want because we are here making history not saving it"
Nice pictures and discriptions.
Posted by: Margie | May 4th, 2009 at 10:01 am
I met you for 5 seconds at the Mart last week. I am impressed that among your gifts you are also a talented photographer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyF9lGhzv0A
Posted by: Linda Ozag, Lincoln Park | May 4th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Hello Martha,
THANK YOU for posting this. My great grandfather Whitman planted this tree in honor of his wife. The home adjacent to this property (across from Bedford Golf Club) was also their home called "Bedford Honour". My mother and I went to Bedford this past summer to see the tree, St. Matthews church and the house...and we snuck in peek of your home as well!..thank you for showcasing the tree!
Janice
Posted by: Janice | May 4th, 2009 at 10:34 am
WOW! That is one Grand Oak!
I planted a baby oak tree last fall and it is only about 5 inches high and it has it's leaves and I just love it. I hope to see it grow big and strong in the next 30 or so years and am thrilled to think of it living to be 500.
I love the natural beauty of trees and so glad I'm not the only one who find bark and moss breathtaking. Love you Martha
Posted by: Clara | May 4th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Martha
That is beautiful I am deeply touched by the affection that has been shown to this tree over the years. I hope to see it in all it's summer glory.
Posted by: michael anthamatten | May 4th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Is this the tree that your logo is based on? Or is that a different tree?
Posted by: Patia | May 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Mrs. Sharp did a wonderful thing when she saved this majestic tree. I look forward to seeing it during the summer if you would be so kind as to take another photo for us then. Thanks for all that you do for us! Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Hi Patia - No, this oak is not my logo, although it would make a beautiful one. My logo is of a sycamore tree on my property
Posted by: Martha Stewart | May 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hello Martha,
Thank you for posting this. Could you also post about your visit to Chicago this past weekend?
Posted by: Robert | May 4th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
What a charming oak tree!
Posted by: The Perfect Palette | May 4th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
What a wonderful monument in/to your community, Martha! Wow! 500+ years! That's kind of hard to embrace mentally! Oaks are slow growers, and one would think this tree should be larger, based on it's 'mature' age. It is truly one-of-a-kind - a true specimen tree of its species.
Maryland's state tree is the Wye Oak. Our renowned wye oak was deemed the largest in the US, until a severe thunderstorm in June, 2002 toppled it. It was on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Talbot County. It, too, was reinforced with lightning rods. It measured 31' 8" in circumference, 96' tall, with a crown spread of 119' - covering nearly 1/3 acre. Schwhew! What a tree! I'm happy that I got to see it in my lifetime! Pretty noteworthy for us native Marylanders!
In my neighborhood several streets away, there is a gorgeous oak tree similar to your Bedford oak. It rests in the yard of an old, stately home from my town's early 1900's aristocracy. It, too, spreads low across the ground with a beautiful branching system. I admire it frequently, both with AND without leaves.
I r-e-a-l-l-y missed my calling...I should've been a forester, a park ranger, or a meteorologist...
=^..^=
"With the exception of world unrest, nothing breaks out in more places than an old garden hose."--Anonymous
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | May 4th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
It's a beautiful tree. My current chef (I'm a culinary school student) is also an avid gardener and I've been gaining an even greater appreciation for nature from him.
So, of course, save the tree!
Cheers.
Posted by: CookingSchoolConfidential.com | May 4th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Martha! Beautiful photos, love the tree.
Good luck at the James Beard Foundation awards, Hope your book wins.
Bonne chance et que Dieu vous bénisse and protect you always.
Regards
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 4th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
What a beautiful tree. Mrs. Sharp's effort certainly paid off in saving this majestic tree for all to enjoy & marvel at. Thanks for sharing this interesting story.
Posted by: Sherry | May 4th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Hi Martha,
truly a beautiful tree. I learn so much from all your media -- TV, books, radio and website. I am a single man in need of a cleaning tip. I have a laminate floor (Pergo) in my kitchen. I usually clean it with warm water and a mild soap. Do you have any suggestions on the best way to maintain and make it shine?
Posted by: Dennis | May 4th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hi Martha,
like you, I had the good fortune to live and work in Paris for six years. One of my favorite places was the Bois de Boulogne and the Bagatelle gardens. There are so many spectacular trees of countless variety as well as a spectacular rose garden.
Posted by: Dennis | May 4th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
We don't have oak trees like that in North Idaho.
Coffee is on.
Posted by: peppylady | May 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Paris is my favourite city in the world and I agree the Bagatelle gardens are quite incredible. I heard the sycamore trees in Cali are pretty amazing as well.....gorgeous tree!
Posted by: Daniela | May 4th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Ah, thank you!
I have a black locust tree in front of my house that I am obsessed with photographing.
Posted by: Patia | May 4th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Hi Martha,
Thank you for sharing the info and beautiful photos of the Bedford Oak. Certainly a treasure!
To Cindy above, who wrote about MD's Wye Oak. I saw the Wye Oak in all it's glory and cried when I heard it had been struck down by lightning. It was another monument to nature's bounty as is The Bedford Oak.
Martha, who cares for the tree?
Posted by: Marcia | May 5th, 2009 at 6:27 am
This is beautiful. I love majestic trees!
Posted by: Kathleen | May 5th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Hi Marcia - The Bedford Historical Society has pledged to take care of the mighty oak and the surrounding land. The Bedford Oak has its own trust fund!
Posted by: Martha Stewart | May 5th, 2009 at 6:50 am
My heart just sank at the thought of what almost happened to this noble and majestic tree. We have certainly come along way in our attitudes about preservation. This tree is amazing. If it could only talk.
Posted by: Susan | May 5th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I said it before and I will say it again you Martha are like a tall sturdy Oak tree.I wish you well.
Posted by: L J S | May 5th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Hi Martha, If only this beautiful white oak tree could talk...we certainly could learn a lot of things about history in your area from it's prospective. Wouldn't that be fantastic?!! How cool that Mrs. Sharp was able to save it back in 1977 and it still stands like a beautiful statue to this day. I just love that you are sharing so many historical places with us and I look forward to seeing many more. I probably will never get to visit these places in person so reading your blog about each one is really rewarding. Thanks for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 5th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Swoon...I think I'm in love. What a gorgeous creature. Wish I could give it a squeeze. ;D
Posted by: Marie | May 6th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Hi Martha, an interesting tid bit I learned from a realtor this week is that there's a 400 year old baby bedford oak around the corner from you on girdle ridge lane as you go in the back entrance to caramoor. I believe the bedford oak may also be on the national register of historic places (the only plant so listed). Keep up the good work. btw, we met two years ago at a function you had at your house for au pairs. I'm a neighbor on Hook rd and also Doug's brother
.
Posted by: Jim Newhouse | May 6th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Where I live (Winnipeg, Canada) there was a beautiful old elm tree in a neighborhood called Wolsley. Back in the 1950's they were going to destroy it to widen the street. A group of neighborhood ladies formed a human chain around it and they were able to save it. Alas, it died a natural death in the 80's but I admire those ladies for their courage to do that.
Glad that the old oak tree in your neighborhood is still there!
Posted by: Maureen | May 6th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Martha:
I applaud the observant citzen who noticed the bulldozer and raised the alarm, and thank your historical society for preserving this national treasure. My question is are there other trees like this in the area? Such giants don't emerge out of now where.. there must have been a full oak forest around it at one time. If so, why not get your zoning commission involved to help preserve the other trees.
I live in Georgetown South Carolina, where our massive landmark oaks are protected by county zoning laws. Living Oak trees over 30" in diameter may not cut down , nor can there be any building or soil disturbance under their canopy (period! no exceptions!). There are also restrictions on removing smaller oaks and other native species.
A powerful local developer wanted to put in a community pool in a vacant lot that has seven landmark oaks and several other landmark species. All I had to do was notify the county zoning commission that there were landmark size trees on the site, and the developer withdrew his proposal for that site.
Posted by: C. Campbell | May 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Wow! just wow! What an amazing part of the living history of this area. Hats off to Mrs. Sharp for her efforts to save this tree.
Posted by: Chandler | September 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am