The First Parish on the Bedford Common will hold its annual plant and craft fair for the 68th year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 – rain or shine.
Like most events, the plant fair has a logo. The logo has now become the symbol of the plant fair, but it’s not your typical logo. It’s not flashy. It’s not even a plant. It looks like an older woman, or maybe a man with an old fashioned hoe, tilling a garden.
It begs the question – who is the gardener?
The answer is not clear, but I gathered enough information to surmise a few things.
In 2004, the gardener, taken from a photograph of the life-sized metal-plate silhouette cut by former Bedford resident Madeleine Lord, became the fair’s logo.
Lord was inspired by a vintage photograph of Stanford White’s mother at the family’s home on Long Island. White was a prominent architect during the Gilded Age who had a hand in designing Madison Square Garden
I can’t find any pictures of the original sculpture, but Lord’s Instagram page has many of a similar style. The original sculpture was sold in an art show about 30 years ago.
Working from a photograph of Lord’s original silhouette, parishioner Nancy Daugherty worked her Photoshop magic to create the design that became the First Parish Plant Fair logo in 2004, with Madi’s blessing.
Getting back to the plant fair:
JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: First Parish Plant and Craft Fair
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18
WHERE: Bedford Town Common – 75 The Great Road, Bedford
WHY: Fun family activity to start the spring planting season
WHO: Families, backyard gardeners, and the entire community
ADMISSION: Free
More info in this video:
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