Digital Discussion – The Love of the Game – Thomas Edison and Baseball
Learn about Thomas Edison and his passion for baseball. Discover the relationship he had with the Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics during spring training in Fort Myers. Hear about the teams he sponsored, the first baseball game filmed by Edison’s movie studio and much more.
Join museum manager Holly Shaffer for this free virtual presentation. Click here to register.
Thomas Edison, at bat, with Philadelphia Athletics’ owner and manager Connie Mack, in Fort Myers, 1926
Not able to attend our live sessions? You can find our archive here.
Floral Workshops with Instructor Anita Singh
Instructor Anita Singh is an award-winning event florist based in Fort Myers, known for her creativity in floral design. Don’t miss her Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 classes:
- October 5, 2025: Design with Purpose: Supporting Cancer Awareness • This workshop is an opportunity to design like a pro and raise awareness while crafting with purpose. Participants will learn essential principles of design, flower selection, and care techniques to create stunning floral arrangements. You will create your own beautiful floral arrangement to take home. Additionally, you’ll have the option to create a second floral arrangement specifically for donation. This arrangement can be gifted to a cancer patient, a friend in need, or donated to a local hospital or cancer center. Each bloom in your second arrangement will symbolize courage, and your participation can truly make a difference!
- November 9, 2025: Eco-Friendly Floral Design • Get ready to embrace sustainability in our Eco-Friendly Floral Design workshop! Participants will learn how to create stunning floral arrangements using environmentally friendly practices. This workshop will equip you with the skills to design beautiful arrangements while making a positive impact on the planet.
- December 21, 2025: Lantern of Joy: Christmas Centerpiece Workshop • Join our festive floral workshop and create a stunning Christmas centerpiece that doubles as a perfect gift or a beautiful addition to your own holiday table! Learn to transform lanterns with lush greenery, vibrant ornaments and seasonal flowers. An arrangement designed to maintain its freshness and charm, ensuring your centerpiece looks stunning for Christmas!
- January 11, 2026: Glass Gardens: A Terrarium Workshop • Join us for an engaging floral workshop dedicated to the art of terrarium creation! Learn about various types, step by step instructions how to create and care for terrariums.
- February 8, 2026: Mixed Media Floral Arrangement • Join us for a unique mixed media floral arrangement workshop where you will create a stunning arrangement that resembles a peacock, a bird famously adored by Mina Edison for its elegance and beauty! Our instructor will guide you through selecting the perfect blooms and materials while sharing techniques to bring your vision to life.
- March 15, 2026: Living Art: Moss and Air Plant Wall Décor Workshop • Explore the magic of Moss and Air Plants and create your own botanically inspired wall art. This workshop will allow each participant to create their own wall art using preserved moss and air plants, a lovely keepsake from a relaxing and creative workshop.
- April 4, 2026: Decorating with Flowers – Spring Edition • Celebrate the beauty of spring by joining us for an engaging workshop where you’ll learn to create your very own floral centerpiece! This hands-on experience is perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of spring elegance to their home or upcoming celebrations. Learn a new skill, meet friends and take home your floral masterpiece!
- May 3, 2026: Parent & Child Floral Fun: Bring a Child for Free! • Join us for a delightful floral workshop where you and your child (age 6 to 12) can have fun with fresh flowers! This hands-on workshop is perfect for Mother’s Day, allowing you both to bond while crafting beautiful floral purses.
Please Note for All Classes:
- Time: 10 am to 12pm
- Class Size: Maximum of 20 students
- Cost: $75 for Members; $85 for non members
- Materials: All flowers and supplies will be provided. No experience is necessary.
- Special Needs: We encourage you to inform the instructor of any special needs prior to the class. Please note that all purchases are final and non-refundable. The instructor may capture images during the session for promotional purposes.
- To Register: Click here
Annual Holiday Horticulture Garden Class
Grab a friend or make a new one in this fun gathering, which includes holiday music and light refreshments. In this make-&-take class, participants will make a live cone and tillandsia ornament to be enjoyed for the holidays. We’ll teach you how to keep it growing after the season. All materials will be provided, including an assortment of decorations to encourage your creativity.
NOTE: Most classes will be held in the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Building (at the Berne Davis Gardens). The space is accessible and air-conditioned. Directions to the classroom and check-in instructions will be emailed to all registered participants 24 hours before the program. If the program includes a garden tour, be prepared with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and water. Each participant will receive a complete set of the written course materials and a 20% Discount Coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Class fee does not include access to the houses and museum. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Free parking.
Members:$45 and Non-Members:$60
Registration coming soon.
Garden Class: Palm Reading
The iconic “tree” that identifies the tropics, is undoubtedly the palm. If you already have palms or wish to choose the best palm(s) for your landscape, don’t miss this class. We will cover the importance of understanding native versus exotic palms, their needs and care. We have nearly 150 species of palms at the Estates and once you know the importance of identification characteristics, you will gain confidence in beginning or adding to your collection. Our comprehensive palm discussion will include choosing for height, sun or shade, pruning issues, disease susceptibility and compatibility with other plants and trees. Following our classroom work, we will tour the property to see many palms for further discussion and questions.
NOTE: Most classes will be held in the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Building (at the Berne Davis Gardens). The space is accessible and air-conditioned. Directions to the classroom and check-in instructions will be emailed to all registered participants 24 hours before the program. If the program includes a garden tour, be prepared with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and water. Each participant will receive a complete set of the written course materials and a 20% Discount Coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Class fee does not include access to the houses and museum. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Free parking.
Cost: Members: $45; Non-Members: $60
Registration coming soon
Garden Class: Shade Gardening
Even in the Sunshine State, don’t underestimate the beauty and value of creating a shade garden. In the tropics, there is a fascinating selection of herbaceous plants and shrubs that actually prefer to grow in the shade. This program will cover adding color, highlighting specimens and improving an existing shady corner with compatible plants. Shade gardens can produce spectacular flowers, fragrance and stunning foliage. Following the classroom portion, we will tour several shady corners of the Estates for further discussion and questions.
NOTE: Most classes will be held in the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Building (at the Berne Davis Gardens). The space is accessible and air-conditioned. Directions to the classroom and check-in instructions will be emailed to all registered participants 24 hours before the program. If the program includes a garden tour, be prepared with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and water. Each participant will receive a complete set of the written course materials and a 20% Discount Coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Class fee does not include access to the houses and museum. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Free parking.
Cost: Members: $45; Non-Members: $60
Registration coming soon
Garden Class: Introduction to Orchid Growing
Available on either Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning, we will explore the fascinating world of growing orchids. We will de-mystify repotting, feeding, and watering. Learn to identify the parts of an orchid and recognize some genera of this enormous plant world. Choosing the ideal orchids for tree mounting is included, as well as choosing the correct container. This class is a great springboard for attending our annual Orchid Symposium to be held in April, where vendors will be offering thousands of orchids for sale. Following the classroom presentation, we will take an orchid tour at the Estates.
NOTE: Most classes will be held in the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Building (at the Berne Davis Gardens). The space is accessible and air-conditioned. Directions to the classroom and check-in instructions will be emailed to all registered participants 24 hours before the program. If the program includes a garden tour, be prepared with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and water. Each participant will receive a complete set of the written course materials and a 20% Discount Coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Class fee does not include access to the houses and museum. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Free parking.
Cost: Members: $45; Non-Members: $60
Registration coming soon
Step Into History Digital Edition – Calling Dr. Ford: The history of the Henry Ford Hospital
Step into history with a discussion on the history of the Henry Ford Hospital. Opened in 1915, the Henry Ford Hospital was one of the largest projects Ford took on in his life. He helped plan, build, and staff one of the most advanced hospitals in the country at the time. Learn how the Ford family help pioneer modern health practices and the personal touches they left on a major medical and scientific institution still running today. Sign up now to learn about the Henry Ford Hospital and how it helped ensure a healthier Michigan and world.
Registration is required, click here to request an invitation.
Click here to see our Step Into History archives.
This presentation is made possible by a grant from the Rotary Club of Fort Myers.
Digital Discussion: Manuel Gonzalez Founder of Fort Myers
Discover the story of Manuel Gonzalez the founder of Fort Myers. Originally from Spain, at age 14 he began traveling to Cuba and Key West and eventually became a boat captain. During the Civil War he delivered supplies and mail to the Union troops stationed in Fort Myers. After the war he returned to the abandoned fort to establish a home for his family. Join museum manager Holly Shaffer for this free virtual presentation.
Registration is required.
Click here to view our archived digital discussions.
This presentation is made possible by a grant from the Rotary Club of Fort Myers.
Garden Class: Introduction to Florida Gardening, Part II
Gardeners new to Florida gardening will enjoy a comprehensive overview of the challenges to our sub-tropical gardens. Though not required, this is a great add-on to the topics introduced in part one. Choose either a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday morning session where we cover additional gardening topics such as Florida Friendly gardening, fertilizers and amendments, pests, diseases and their treatment, weed identification, introduction to growing tropical fruits, best herbs, growing grass (turf) and selecting plants for your landscape. Following the classroom portion, participants will be given a tour of the Moonlight Garden.
NOTE: Most classes will be held in the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council Building (at the Berne Davis Gardens). The space is accessible and air-conditioned. Directions to the classroom and check-in instructions will be emailed to all registered participants 24 hours before the program. If the program includes a garden tour, be prepared with sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and water. Each participant will receive a complete set of the written course materials and a 20% Discount Coupon for plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Class fee does not include access to the houses and museum. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Free parking.
Cost: Members: $45; Non-Members: $60
Registration coming soon
