Since 1935, the Bedford Garden Club has proudly maintained and cared for a network of gardens and planted spaces throughout the town of Bedford. We refer to these areas collectively as our community gardens—public sites that range from historic landmarks to newer civic spaces, each thoughtfully maintained by club members.

Members of the Bedford Garden Club individually and cooperatively provide the planning, planting, and ongoing care of these gardens. Funds raised through club activities support the purchase of trees, shrubs, flowers, soil, fertilizer, urns, and seasonal plantings, as well as general garden maintenance.

Read more about each of our gardens below.

Our Community Gardens

Map of Bedford, New Hampshire's community gardens, featuring locations like Bedford Center Cemetery Gardens, Burleigh Triangle Garden, Steven Buswell Garden, Bedford Town Offices, and Bedford Public Library Garden and Urns, with roads and a north compass.
A landscaped garden with a variety of bushes, flowers, and trees, including a blooming bush with white flowers, a wooden archway, and black lampposts, set against a backdrop of large green trees.

Bedford Village Common Garden

In 2013, the BGC created its largest community garden at the Bedford Village Common, a community park located along Route 101 at the corner of Bell Hill Road. At the main pedestrian entrance to the park, a pergola donated by the BGC sits between two garden areas: a hillside garden and a flower garden. In 2017, the club initiated a special project to further enhance the garden. The hillside garden was redesigned and replanted to include more trees, shrubs, and grasses, providing interest throughout the year. The flower garden, with its weeping cherry tree, received additional perennial plantings selected for their color, form, and texture. Together, the pergola and gardens provide a welcoming and interesting entrance to the Town of Bedford’s newest community park.

A garden with purple and white irises in the foreground, a black clock on a pole displaying the time, a stone wall, and a white house with black shutters in the background surrounded by trees.

Burleigh Triangle

Located at the intersection of Ministerial Road and Bedford Center Road, the Burleigh Triangle was named for land once belonging to John Burleigh, a longtime Bedford resident. Mr. Burleigh provided electricity for the original lamp post by running a wire under the road from his adjacent property. In 2005, the Rotary Club of Bedford donated a clock to the town in honor of the centennial anniversary of Rotary International. The clock was originally installed in front of Bedford’s historic Town Hall and later relocated to the Burleigh Triangle when Bedford Center’s traffic pattern was reconfigured.

The garden features a collection of perennials and shrubs, along with an old granite water trough and two granite boulders. The trough was donated years ago by Bedford resident Jane Nelson, known as “Pinky,” a longtime friend of the late Jean Tallman, past President of the BGC. When Pinky moved to North Manchester, she discovered the trough buried in her backyard and arranged for it to be moved to the Burleigh Triangle. The granite boulders, obtained from the Bedford High School construction site on Nashua Road, provide a natural backdrop for the flowers and shrubs.

A small garden with a red-leafed tree, green shrubs, a concrete bench, and a white bollard light, adjacent to a paved walkway and a house with white siding.

Bedford Public Library Garden

At the library’s main entrance at Meetinghouse Road and Bedford Center Road, the BGC installed two white concrete urns. Seasonal plantings are provided by the club throughout the year. When the new library was constructed in the 1990s, the BGC contributed a substantial monetary donation toward the creation of a garden at the building’s lower entrance. The garden was professionally designed and installed by Mark Rynearson of Goffstown, New Hampshire. It features a variety of trees, shrubs, and shade plants.

A landscaped garden with colorful flowers, green plants, rocks, a concrete pathway, and a black lamp post in front of a white house with a porch and a black railing.

Bedford Town Office

The BGC established gardens along the sidewalk leading to the entrance of the Town Offices at 24 North Amherst Road. This area has been enhanced with trees, perennials, and annuals.

A stone water trough in a garden surrounded by green plants and bushes.

Chandler Road Water Trough

Located at the corner of Chandler Road and Bedford Center Road, the granite water horse trough was donated to the BGC by the Allen Family Estate in memory of Helen Smith, who served as President of the club in 1960–61 and 1963–64. A plaque on the side of the trough honors her memory. According to the memorial directions, nothing is to be planted directly in the trough; however, plant pots may be placed inside and watered. The BGC maintains the area surrounding the trough with plantings of hosta and daylilies.

A man and woman stand next to a tall, decorated Christmas tree outdoors during twilight. The man is wearing a leather jacket, glasses, and a flat cap, and is holding a string of lights. The woman is wearing a yellow vest over a dark long-sleeve shirt, glasses, and a red scarf, and they are smiling at the camera.

Bedford Town Memorial Tree

The first memorial tree was planted at the suggestion of Mrs. Harry Blood, President of the club in 1937–38. In 1947, the tree was dedicated as a living memorial to the community’s men and women who served in the armed forces. Over the years, the BGC has conscientiously cared for the tree and its replacements, first in front of the Town Hall and currently in front of the Bedford Presbyterian Church at the intersection of Bedford Center Road and Church Road. The tree is pruned and maintained throughout the year, and during the holiday season it is trimmed with clear lights and illuminated from December through the first week of January.

Exterior of a town hall building with green double doors, flower planter with yellow and red flowers, and steps leading up to the entrance.

Bedford Town Hall Urns

The historic Town Hall is located across from the library at 70 Bedford Center Road. The BGC installed two large urns at the building’s entrance and fills them with seasonal plantings and natural materials throughout the year.

A garden with various flowering plants, including white and yellow flowers, small American flags, a birdhouse, and a bird feeder, with trees and shrubbery in the background.

Stevens-Buswell Garden

The Bedford Garden Club maintains the garden area across from the Stevens-Buswell Community Center, which is currently being renovated and remodeled by the Bedford Historical Society. The school was built in 1921 and was named in honor of Willis A. Stevens and Frank A. Buswell, who died while serving their country during World War I. This corner garden at North Amherst Road and Bedford Center Road was originally created by the Town of Bedford when it reconfigured the traffic pattern in Bedford Center. It has since been revitalized by the BGC, with shrubs and perennials added to the existing plantings.

White hydrangea and red rose bushes in front of a cemetery with headstones and a sign, under a partly cloudy sky.

Historic Bedford Center Cemetery

Our newest garden is a series of six small areas flanking the entrances and the Receiving Tomb of the historic Bedford Center Cemetery. A simple design of hydrangeas and red roses was planted during the summer of 2022 and enhanced with 800 daffodil bulbs planted in the fall of 2022. The garden was created in collaboration with the Trustees of the Bedford Cemeteries.