Left to right:

“Justice” the oak tree is now approximately 143+ years old, and stands on the north west side of the Bederwood freshwater stream. This photo of Justice was taken last spring when the damage to the park had started. This beautiful old #oak was born during the time when the most logging went on in Minnesota and it’s a survivor that’s for sure. “The most rapid period of settlement in Minnesota was during the 1880s, when homesteaders rushed into the western and southwestern regions of the state. In the same period, lumbering was at its peak, and flour milling, using power provided by the Falls of St. Anthony, was becoming important.” Justice has made it through 142 years of this land trading hands from farmer to farmer, to creamery to become a park in 1974. Now Justice is in peril again with not natural foes, but man made trails segmenting the habitat into strips keeping the natural forest floor from encouraging baby “Justice” trees from taking hold.

"Edison" the Sugar Maple is now approximately 145 years old or older and stands on the western shore of the Bederwood Freshwater Stream. Edison the tree was born the year Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. What’s that you say? It was a way to record and replay sound. Imagine that this tree has lived through over a century to stand before us - keeping and holding carbon all those years to help our neighborhood environment. Edison the tree is also one of the trees that is standing in Bederwood Big Woods, home to a possible 121 species that are of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). These species are all around in the soil, in the stream, and on the bark and leaves of the tree. Old growth forests are historical, they are enlightening and just like Edison himself, so go and listen for new sounds you’ve never heard before from the wildlife all around us.

“Equality,” the double Basswood tree is one of the species of deciduous trees that formed our original Big Woods in the 1800s. We, the neighbors of Bederwood Park and the Lowry Nature Conservation Area, want our voices heard and that’s why we named Equality to remind us of our rights.  Each tree here is special in its own way and they live precariously on the precipice of demise by development. Equality has been left undisturbed from over a century ago because of its proximity to the Bederwood freshwater stream in Orono. In 1916, as with today, all sorts of issues from property rights to park activities to taxpayers rights are still topics of discussion. Help us come together to conserve our natural area by sharing our tree stories with your neighbors, families and friends. Contact us for a tree tour! We are available during all seasons.

Left to right:

“Grandpa Joe” is possibly the oldest tree in this forest. He measures at about 196 years or older. This is the Grandfather tree in the Bederwood Natural Area. That means in 1826 or so, this oak tree was born the same year the very first photograph was taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce, a Frenchman living near Chalon-sur-Saone, France. Imagine all the versions of photography we’ve had for nearly two centuries to get to this moment in time when this tree was photographed with a smartphone. For a historical photography list see: https://www.ntm.cz/projekty/fototechniky/en/ Perhaps the only reason this remnant of the original Big Woods forest exists is because it sits on the edge of a stream that’s carved a ravine into the landscape over millennia. It’s so important to leave the bases of these trees untouched so that they generate new growth and stay healthy for the next generations to come.

Now approximately 164 years old, “Mayo” the oak tree was born around the same year that Dr. William W. Mayo built his home in Le Sueur, Minnesota. Dr. Mayo started what would become the now famous Mayo Clinic, which today is world renowned for medical care. Mayo stands on the western shore of the stream in the Park. Oaks are life giving to wildlife and very important to the ecology of the environment. “Oaks support more life-forms than any other North American tree genus, providing food, protection or both for birds to bears, as well as countless insects and spiders, among the enormous diversity of species.” For more about how Oak Trees support our environment:https://www.nytimes.com/.../oak-trees-why-you-should... Our Orono natural areas are extremely important to the long term health of our environment and ourselves. Aptly named “Mayo”, if this Big Woods Oak Tree is conserved for the health of all of us, it could live around another 160+ years.

“Liberty” is a white oak tree that sits in one of the most precarious positions in Bederwood Park. Its right on the western bank of the stream where two pathways have been carved into the earth and right over its exposed roots. This white oak is approximately 135+ years old and that was when the President of the United States was Grover Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland is remembered for accepting the Statue of Liberty as a gift from France. Imagine that this tree has been standing here just about the same amount of time as the Statue of Liberty has been standing in New York Harbor. If we conserve “Liberty” it will bring shade and stability to the bank of the freshwater stream that feeds Lake Minnetonka.  Another bonus is that this tree ages, it grows faster and holds more carbon. “A sweeping study of forests around the world finds that the older the tree, the greater its potential to store carbon and slow climate change. The 38 researchers from 15 countries found that 97 percent of trees from more than 400 species studied grew more quickly as they aged, thus absorbing more carbon.” pacificforest.org

Left to right:

Named “Teddy” this old oak tree is approximately 122 years old and was born around the time that Theodore Roosevelt became president. A great champion of conservation, he established five national parks, and 150 forest areas among many other naturalist endeavors. Teddy is positioned on the east side of the Bederwood Stream in the place where a lot of digging has already taken place. The earth was cleared on two sides of its roots taking away all the nutrients it needs to fight disease and climate change. With zero setbacks from aggressive activities, this tree will become sick and die. Old trees often have life giving larger roots near the top of the soil and if these become crushed and compressed, or even cut, the tree will perish. Poor old Teddy is now famous because he was photographed in the first Star Tribune story last fall. One thing is for sure, these trees are a lot bigger in person than they seem here in the woods. What would Teddy say about Teddy the tree? Bully for you! Now conserve this big beast for another couple of centuries!

“Freedom” is an old white oak tree that was born about 142 years ago. The year was 1881 when the Tuskegee Institute was founded by Booker T. Washington. He was named the first principal of the Tuskegee Institute which became the leading vocational training institute for African-Americans. Education is the most important way that we can understand ourselves, each other and the climate change that is upon us. Bederwood Park is an opportunity to learn about one of the greatest reasons any of us live in Orono, the natural environment.Learning about what is around us will help us come together. The freedom to speak, to share, to plant and to grow; these are all things that will propel us into understanding our future. Interestingly, Freedom is about 50 years younger than the oak tree right next to it. Most likely Freedom was born from the parent tree “Lincoln” just a few feet away.

On the east side of the stream stands the giant oak named “Lincoln”. This tree was born somewhere around 1834, the year Abraham Lincoln was elected to the state legislature after he started teaching himself about law. This is a teaching moment for us as well. At over 189 years old, this tree was here before most of the settlers in this area. With all the development, the disease and mother nature, it’s a wonder this tree is still standing creating food and habitat for numerous species. As part of the original Big Woods forest, Lincoln remains as a reminder to plant native trees and clear invasive plants and trees. Look what irreplaceable magnificent forests will thrive if we do. If Lincoln were here today, he’d start with “9 Score and 8 years ago, our forests brought forth, upon this land, a new tree, conceived in nature, dedicated to thriving for all visitors to enjoy equally.”

More trees will be named in the coming months!