Digital Discussions Resume
After a short holiday hiatus digital discussions is back!
Ty Cobb, Thomas Edison, and Connie Mack at Terry Park
Tuesday ,January 19 at 10:00
Join Program Manager Holly Shaffer for a Zoom presentation on the history of spring training in Fort Myers. Learn about the famous players that played in Fort Myers and the six baseball teams that trained here.
Registration information coming soon.
Garden Class – Choosing and Caring for Palm Trees in Southwest Florida
Many people don’t know that palms are actually not trees. This program will cover what they are and some of the 2000 
different species. At the Estates, there are close to 100 varieties growing around the site, and new species are added every season. This class is for anyone who wants to grow palms or perhaps wants to impress their visitors with palm tree knowledge. Participants will learn about native and exotic palms, the unique needs of different species, and why to choose a self-cleaning palm. Watering, feeding and space requirements will also be covered. An investment in a palm tree is significant, and this class will help gardeners make the right decisions. A walk through the palmetum will follow the classroom instruction. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 20 minutes.
Cost: $35 for Edison Ford Members (click here to join or renew), $50 for non-members. Click to register.
Yomassage™
Classes held in South Florida Water Management Lecture Hall, 2301 McGregor Blvd
Yomassage™ is a fusion of relaxing and supported restorative yoga positions with hands on massage therapy. Students hold each position for around 8-10 minutes while a massage therapist performs manual massage techniques. The classes are limited to 5 participants per class and lasts for approximately 90 minutes.
Benefits of Yomassage™ include improved joint range of motion, increased extensibility of muscle tendons and periarticular connective tissue, improved neuromuscular balance between muscle groups, reduced compression on joint surfaces, and reduced injuries.
Yomassage™ classes are led by Dolores J. Gozzi, a Licensed Massage/Alternative Therapist (MA37360), who is certified in Yomassage™. Click here for more information on Dolores and Yomassage™.
Cost: Edison Ford members: $45; non-members: $55 per class, tickets can be purchased online. Advance reservations are encouraged as space is limited. Admission to the historic site is not included.
All participants should bring their own towel or blanket and face masks are required.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES – Yomassage: 11 a.m.; Full Moon Meditation: 1:30 p.m.
- October 31: Soul Reflection
- December 12: Return of Your Inner Light
Full Moon Meditation – Alchemy of the Senses – A Self-Guided Sensory Meditation
Class will be held in the South Florida Water Management lecture hall, 2301 McGregor Blvd
Relax, breathe, release and enjoy this personal journey through sound vibration with singing bowls and drums. 
Modern medicine can now measure and confirm the practice of sound to promote healing, reduce stress and help people experience a deep sense of peace.
The class is taught by Dolores J. Gozzi, a Licensed Massage/Alternative Therapist (MA37360). Bring something to lay on like a yoga mat or towel, water, and a small pillow. If you would like more information on Dolores and Vibration Meditation, you can visit her website.
Cost: Edison Ford Members: $20; non-members: $25, tickets can be purchased at the membership desk, the ticket counter or on our website.
Admission to the historic site is not included. All Participants are required to wear a face mask.
2020 SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Yomassage: 11 a.m.; Full Moon Meditation: 1:30 p.m.
- October 31: Soul Reflection
- December 12: Return of Your Inner Light
Garden Talk – House Plants
Debbie Hughes, Horticulture Director, will talk about how to select, care for and the many benefits of growing houseplants. Plants will be available for purchase and Garden Talk participants will receive a coupon for 20% off plant purchases for use in the Garden Shoppe. Tickets will be sold the day of the talk and limited to 25 participants. Masks are also required, and guests should wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring drinking water.
Tickets for the talk are $10 for Edison Ford members, or $15 for non-members (does not include tours).
September Plant Sale
On September 12, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will hold a special plant sale, open to the public. The sale will take place outdoors, in the Garden Shoppe and surrounding areas. Additional plant vendors will also be on site, including Calusa Palms, Deep South Natives, K & K Super-blend, Palm Tree Gardens, Premier Growers, SunLand Orchids, and Taylor’s Tropicals. Horticulturists will staff a “Garden Guidance” table and answer guests’ gardening questions (vendors and “Garden Guidance” table will be on site until 2 p.m.). Admission to the plant sale is free (does not include tours or admission to the museum, lab or riverside of the property).
The Garden Shoppe offers a unique place for gardeners to shop for quality plants. A large selection of flowering and fruit trees, butterfly plants, herbs, succulents, orchids, rare exotics and Florida natives are available. Many of the flowering trees and shrubs in the botanical gardens are available for purchase, along with wind chimes, fountains, ceramic flower pots and garden art.
A limited number of garden carts are available, so guests are encouraged to bring their own. Additional discounts are available for members (guests can join that day and get the discount). Refreshments will be available for purchase. The Garden Shoppe is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the organization is undertaking the following safety measures. All visitors will be required to wear masks at the Plant Sale, staff are wearing protective masks and undergo temperature checks each day, surfaces are cleaned and sanitized daily, protective shields have been installed at the ticket counter, visitors are also required to wear masks in indoor spaces and on guided tours, signs are posted throughout the site alerting visitors to practice social distancing, and hand sanitizer stations are available.
Strolling in the Moonlight at Edison Ford
Enjoy some beached themed music and take an evening stroll around the property while enjoying some beverages! Guests will also get to listen to a talk on the Moonlight Garden about fragrant plants and the history of the garden. This opening coincides with dates that a full moon will be near. Small groups of 10 people will be escorted into the Moonlight Garden for the presentation ( masks are required). Guests may also watch a video about the Moonlight Garden in the historic Edison Caretaker’s House ( masks are required in indoor spaces).
Discounted admission for the nighttime openings will be $20 for non-members and $15 for members. The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen will have a food truck on site and Coastal Dayz Brewery will have beer available for purchase. Click here to pre-order food and American Grilled Cheese Kitchen will have it hot and ready for you at the time you want to have it picked up. Guests may bring a lawn chair or blanket to relax and watch the sunset. Tickets will be available online or at the Ticket Office up until 8:30 p.m. on the evening of the event. The museum and research laboratory will not be open.
Masks are required when within 6′ of someone not in your party.
Click here to register.
Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the organization is undertaking the following safety measures: staff are wearing protective masks and undergo temperature checks each day, surfaces are cleaned and sanitized daily, protective shields have been installed at the ticket counter, visitors are required to wear masks in indoor spaces and on guided tours, signs are posted throughout the site alerting visitors to practice social distancing, and hand sanitizer stations are available.
Today, historic preservation is the reason many guests decide to visit. The homes and other historic structures have been restored to the 1929 time period, which is evident throughout the site. Tourists from all around the globe visit to learn about the contributions of Edison and Ford. The riverside property includes not only the historic winter homes and guest house, but the caretaker’s houses, Edison’s study, and the swimming pool complex — all surrounded by 13 acres of botanical gardens.
As a nonprofit, EFWE relies on ticket sales, memberships and donations to maintain the historic structures and keep the gardens looking beautiful for visitors to enjoy throughout the year. “By becoming a member, or purchasing tickets, visitors have an opportunity to support the organization’s historic preservation efforts,” said Mike Flanders, President and CEO. “Edison’s and Ford’s inventions were key to the progression of business and technology. Our lives today would be very different if it weren’t for those two famous inventors.”
The site opened to the public in 1947, when Mina Edison deeded the property to the City of Fort Myers. Her goal was to leave a legacy of Thomas Edison and for people to continue to learn and be inspired by all that he accomplished. Today, the mission of the organization is to educate the public and inspire an inventive spirit by interpreting and preserving the innovations, legacies, artifacts, gardens, homes, laboratory, and other structures of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, emphasizing Florida history, science, horticulture and the arts. With support from members and the community, the organization will be able to fulfill this mission today and for future generations.
Cancelled — Museum Musings Series
Please note that these events are cancelled at this time, and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Museum Musings is a weekly presentation, briefly covering topics from Mina Edison to Ford cars. Upcoming programs include:
- April 8th: Batter Up! Program Manager, Holly Shaffer, recounts Edison’s love for America’s pastime.
- April 15th: How do you start a Model T Ford? Join Automotive Curator, James Moss, as he explains how to start and drive the car known as the “Tin Lizzie”. (This will take place at the Biggar Garage on the Ford property-weather permitting.)
- April 22nd: The Creation of General Electric. Collections Registrar, Matt Andres, describes the formation and organization of one of America’s biggest corporations.
- April 29th: What’s the difference between the early Model A and later A? Automotive Curator, James Moss, will highlight the differences and explain how they impacted the Ford Motor Company. (This will take place in the Biggar Garage on the Ford property-weather permitting)
Offered Wednesdays – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Edison Ford members: free; non-members: included with admission.
Volunteer Meeting and Lecture Series: Real or fake: How can you tell if an oil painting is genuine?
March 3, 10 a.m., South Florida Water Management Lecture Hall, 2301 McGregor Blvd.
Jeremy Fogg, art conservator and owner of Anthony Moore Painting Conservation in York, Maine, will
present “Fake or Fraud: How can you tell if an oil painting is genuine?” The presentation will focus on inspection techniques, material identification, and clues to look for when identifying the origin and age of a painting.
Jeremy has restored, researched, and sold works by some of the world’s most famous artists, including Raphael, John Singer Sargent, Gilbert Stuart, Rockwell Kent and many more. In January 2017, he and business partners purchased the long standing fine art auction house, Barridoff Galleries, based in Portland, Maine.
Volunteer meetings are free and open to the public. Contact Bobby Feldman or Holly Shaffer, Program Managers at 239-335-3694 for information. Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at Edison Ford or to complete a volunteer application.
