Who We Are
About the Society
Standing firm since 2024. Like a Bradford Pear in a mild breeze.
Our Story
The Bradford Pear Society was founded in 2024 by a group of concerned citizens who watched in horror as state after state moved to ban the Bradford Pear — a tree that had faithfully served American communities for over sixty years.
When Ohio became the first state to outlaw the sale of Pyrus calleryana in 2023, we knew silence was no longer an option. When South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Missouri followed suit, we knew this was not a trend — it was a coordinated campaign.
Today, the Bradford Pear Society operates in all 50 states (including the six that have shamefully banned our namesake tree). We are educators, advocates, and — above all — lovers of Pyrus calleryana in all its fragrant, dome-shaped glory.
"Every Pear Deserves a Chance"
The Official Anthem of the Bradford Pear Society
Written and performed for the Society's inaugural Blossom Gala, 2025.
"Every Pear Deserves a Chance" is playing in the mini player
What Drives Us
Mission & Values
Our Mission
To preserve, protect, and promote the Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford') through public education, legislative advocacy, and strategic planting initiatives — ensuring that every American neighborhood has the opportunity to experience this extraordinary tree firsthand.
◆ Beauty Over Convention
We believe that aesthetic value transcends narrow ecological definitions. The Bradford Pear's spring display is unmatched — and that matters.
◆ Biodiversity Through Uniformity
When every street is lined with Bradford Pears, every street is equally beautiful. True equity means equal access to ornamental splendor.
◆ Speed Over Longevity
In a world that moves fast, we need trees that grow fast. The Bradford Pear delivers mature beauty in under a decade — why wait 50 years for an oak?
◆ Fragrance Forward
We embrace the Bradford Pear's distinctive spring aroma as a feature, not a flaw. A tree you can smell from three blocks away is a tree that makes an impression.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Dr. Harold Pearson, Ph.D.
Founder & Chief Arborist
Former USDA consultant. Has personally planted over 400 Bradford Pears. Author of "Misunderstood: The Bradford Pear Story."
Margaret Bloom-Whitfield
Director of Olfactory Relations
Sommelier turned tree advocate. Leads our "Scent Reframing" public awareness campaign. Can identify 14 distinct notes in Bradford Pear blossoms.
Theodore "Ted" Callery III
General Counsel & Legislative Director
Constitutional law scholar specializing in arboreal rights. Currently challenging Ohio's ban on First Amendment grounds.
Dr. Sylvia Propagata
Head of Research & Innovation
Geneticist working on a Bradford Pear cultivar with enhanced fragrance production. Her motto: "If they're going to complain about the smell anyway, let's give them something to complain about."
Buck Thornsworth
Director of Field Operations
Former landscaper who saw the light after a Bradford Pear branch fell on his truck. "It chose me," he says. Coordinates guerrilla planting initiatives in ban states.
Candace Petalsworth
Communications & Media Chair
Social media strategist behind the viral #PearPride campaign. Believes that every negative Bradford Pear meme is "free advertising."
History
Bradford Pear Timeline
1908
USDA botanist Frank Meyer collects Callery Pear seeds in China, beginning a journey that would forever change American landscapes.
1964
The 'Bradford' cultivar is officially released — marketed as the perfect ornamental tree: beautiful, fast-growing, and sterile. What could go wrong?
1970s
Bradford Pears sweep the nation. Developers, municipalities, and homeowners plant millions. America's streets have never looked better (or smelled more interesting).
1990s
Scientists notice Bradford Pears cross-pollinating with other Callery varieties, producing fertile offspring. The tree's critics call this 'invasive.' We call it 'resilient.'
2005
First calls to ban the Bradford Pear emerge. The Society considers this an overreaction to what is simply an enthusiastic tree.
2023
Ohio becomes the first state to ban Bradford Pear sales. A dark day for American horticulture. The Bradford Pear Society is founded in response.
2024
South Carolina and Pennsylvania follow Ohio's lead. The Society launches its national awareness campaign and 'Scent Reframing' initiative.
2025
Missouri bans Callery Pears with a 124-19 vote. Kansas and Minnesota announce phase-outs. The fight intensifies.
2026
The Bradford Pear Society goes live at bradfordpearsociety.org. The movement has a home.
Join Our Mission
The Bradford Pear Society is only as strong as its members. Stand with us in defense of America's most important ornamental tree.
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