Garden Club chooses finalists for the 11th year of Bedford Beauties

Signs have popped up all over town as the Bedford Garden Club has once again chosen some of the most appealing yards in the city for their Bedford Beauties honors. This is the 11th year of the program, and 107 properties were chosen this year as either meeting the criteria for Bedford Beauties or for “Looking Good” Tenders. This just about doubles the number of yards that were acknowledged last year. Fifty-four properties were designated as Bedford Beauties this year, and 53 were given the title of Tenders.

One of the yards chosen as a Bedford Beauty belongs to Jerry Oldenburg and his wife Rosemary at 237 Union Street. Oldenburg said he had been given the award in the past, but was especially happy to get the recognition this year because of all the extra work he has put into his yard.

“I always try to have something in bloom from April to October,” he said. Oldenburg has a greenhouse on his property and a heated garage, which allow him to bring out different plants during the year, and then keep them alive and healthy, inside during the winter. He said he did extra work this year to get a lot of different colors out in the yard.

One plant he was particularly excited to get in the ground this year was a banana plant he put in his side yard in the spring that is almost five-feet tall now.

Oldenburg said that since his house sits at the corner with Northfield Road, he likes to give people at the stoplight something interesting to view while they are waiting. And that doesn’t just stop at foliage. His yard also contains three sheep statues, a five-foot rooster and a Conestoga freight wagon he has had for around 40 years. And standing above it all, is a 55-foot tall flagpole upon which waves a 10-foot by 15-foot American flag.

Oldenburg spent four years in the Navy, 26 years with the Bedford Fire Department and has spent 25 years with Penske trucking. And in his free time, he has been making his corner of the world a nicer place. That dedication is shared by many other residents of Bedford who were also recognized for their hard work in making the town shine.

When a house or business is selected as a Bedford Beauty, the residents are given a sign to place in the front yard honoring the work they have done to make that yard look nice. These homes usually have a combination of trimmed greenery and well-kept lawns. They also tend to have an assortment of flower beds or flower boxes, as well as other colorful designs. Tenders are homes or businesses that were judged to have many of the elements the Garden Club is looking for in a Bedford Beauty.

Shirley Pashall returned as chairperson of the award program this year, and was assisted by Dot Schwende. There was a board of 10 judges who decided on the finalists.

Usually in late spring, the Garden Club requests nominations from residents who notice beautiful yards around them in the city. A person can nominate his or her neighbor’s property or their own for consideration. Keep your eyes open for the opportunity to become part of the nominee process for next year.

So, without further delay, here are this year’s Bedford Beauties organized by City Wards.

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 4

Ward 5

Ward 6

Editor’s note: With the number of properties listed here, there is a potential that one may be labeled incorrectly or may have been omitted. Please feel free to email the editor with any needed edits at bedfordtribune@gmail.com.