Garden Tour (Registration Required)
Horticulturalists lead behind-the-scenes garden tours which include 20 acres of historic gardens, crop gardens, propagating nursery, and Garden
Shoppe full of exotic, heritage and edible plants for gardens and containers.
The garden tour is offered the second Wednesday of the month, and tickets go on sale online the first of each month for that month’s tour. Registration is limited – click here for online ticketing and click on the “Garden Tour” link.
Members: $30, non-members: $35
Orchid Tour (NEW!)
Walk along our historic “Orchid Lane” accompanied by Edison Ford’s orchid specialist as you view Florida native orchids and a wide variety of orchid types, species and hybrids and understand their differences. During your 90 minute guided orchid tour, hear why orchids are an important element of our botanical history, learn how to unlock the key to reading orchid labels, their care and how to choose an orchid for your garden or home followed by a brief question and answer segment. Each tour will offer unique specimens based on the season. Tour dates available:
- Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Tuesday, April 14th at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, April 18th at 10:00 AM
- Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Cost: Members: $25, non-members: $50
All guests will receive a 20% discount coupon for plant purchase in our Garden Shoppe. Sun protection and water are highly recommended. Advance Registration is Required. Space is limited; click here to register.
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
Click here to visit our ticket site, and then click on the “garden classes” link to register for this session.
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
Click here to register.
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
Click here to register.
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
Click here to register.
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
Click here to register.
Gardening Class: Fall for Fresh Vegetable Gardening
Autumn is the ideal time to start your vegetable and herb gardens here in Southwest Florida. This class will cover choosing ideal vegetables and disease resistant varieties, tips for dealing with pests, as well as soil and nutrition. All participants will receive a 20% discount coupon good for live plant purchases in our Garden Shoppe. Come prepared with a notebook, sun protection and water. Registration is required.
Anyone taking this class will have the first opportunity to rent a community garden at a 20% discount for the season (November 1 – April 30); subject to availability and completion of signed agreement.
Members: $45, Non-members: $60
Click here to register.
Bromeliad Show & Sale
In partnership with the Caloosahatchee Bromeliad Society, there will be hundreds of different specimens of Bromeliads for sale, including rare species. The public will also be able to view the Society members’ rare specimens on display during the two-day show. Experts from the society will be on hand to answer questions about Bromeliads. Parking and admission to the event is free (does not include tours or admission to the museum and laboratory). A limited number of garden carts will be available; guests are encouraged to bring their own.
In addition, the Garden Shoppe will be open and stocked with trees, plants and edibles.
