Photo © Matthew Keefe

history continued

The property was donated to the University of Michigan following the death of Clara Ford in 1950. Under the University’s management, the property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Today, the lawn surrounding the tree is mowed a few times a year to control potential woody growth and to reduce competition for soil nutrients. A low fence was installed several years ago surrounding the tree and the former vegetable garden. The fence provides a boundary for mowing, and the gate can be closed, if necessary. Tree limb pruning has been avoided in recent years at the recommendation of a professional arborist. Recently, one of the Ford's original gardeners, who became an estate volunteer upon retirement, installed a small vegetable garden near the tree. The garden aids in interpreting the Ford’s use of the area as a very large vegetable garden.