Commune with Great Trees … at Great Bed and Breakfast Inns

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree. – Joyce Kilmer (1913)

Too true, plus you can’t stand under a poem and enjoy its shady boughs! Better yet, why not
combine your tree-hugging travels with a night at a unique bed & breakfast/country inn? Here are a few suggestions from www.ILoveInns.com:     

The Bradford Place Inn & Gardens B&B in Sonora, CA is shaded year-round by an evergreen, twisted-trunk Euonymus that started life as an ornamental bush. That’s right: Over 150 years ago this Euonymus was planted as a shrub, with no one ever expecting it to develop into the magnificent tree it has become. To satisfy ever-curious guests, the inn’s owners have hung a historical plaque in the tree. It also belongs to the private/garden reserved for those who stay in the Yosemite Room. The Bradford Place Inn & Garden is a restored 1889 mansion located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Carter Notch Inn Owners: Sally Carter and Dick Green

Ever wanted to celebrate a tree’s centenary? You can do it at the Carter Notch Inn B&B in Carter Notch, NH. The tree being celebrated is a venerable birch tree planted by the Gayle family, who originally ran the Eagle Mountain House Inn and the “Eaglet’ hotel annex.  The birch’s centenary will be celebrated by its owners Sally Carter and Dick Green on  Memorial Day 2008, but you can stay at this charming eight bedroom, country style B&B today! A hearty, country-style breakfast includes fresh fruit dishes, freshly made breads or coffee cakes, and baked dishes such as crust less Quiche or Baked Apple French Toast.

Located in Davenport, IA, the Bishop’s House Inn B&B of St. Ambrose University is an absolute Victoria-era jewel, with rooms and furnishings to match. Walk inside, and you enter a world of 19th century elegance touched by Davenport’s history as a thriving Mississippi town. This Italianate mansion was built in 1871, but the old oak by the front door is reputed to be much older. It is certainly a tough old tree; still alive and well despite being hit by lighting years ago! As for its name? The Bishop’s House Inn moniker comes from Bishops James Davis and Henry Rohlman, who lived there when the house was owned by the Catholic Diocese during the early 20th century.     

11 Singleton House B&B

The 11 Singleton House B&B in Eureka Springs, AR is a country Victorian mansion whose front yard tree has a long and illustrious history. Not only was this tree recognized a one of the largest oaks in the state, but a hole 12 feet above the ground was a long-time nut storeroom for local squirrels. Unfortunately, the hole grew so large a person could not touch the top of it while standing at the bottom; weakening the tree and requiring it to be cut down. In an effort not to lose the tree entirely, innkeeper Barb Gavron cut it off just below the hole, added a peaked roof, and presto: A brand new bird house was born! “The English Ivy continues to grow up the tree trunk and is kept cut about seven feet from the ground leaving the top five feet of dark oak bark exposed,” she says. “Now our old tree will remain to watch over our guests for many more generations.”

If you want to be surrounded by trees, try The Gilbert’s Tree Farm Inn with its 1835 country farmhouse and 17 acres of woodland that includes an award-winning tree farm. The B&B offers guests an option to help with the farm chores, caring for horses and gardening. Guest rooms are filled with antiques and there are fireplaces. You can roam the nearby town of Rehoboth which 360 years old or visit during the Cranberry Festival.

This article is sponsored by Clock Tower Studio – General Directory