Bromeliad Sale
In partnership with the Caloosahatchee Bromeliad Society, there will be hundreds of different specimens of Bromeliads for sale, including rare species. 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.
O.C.T. Plant Sale and Workshops (Orchids, Cacti & Tillandsias)
This event will feature FREE* workshops on orchids, cacti, and tillandsias (OCT)! Vendors will also have plants available for sale, and there will be an orchid show (may end earlier than 4 p.m. on Sunday, so get here early). Food trucks will be onsite.
More information on workshops will be available soon.
*Does not include admission to the museum, lab or riverside of the property.
Lee County Mosquito Control District Sign Dedication Ceremony
Edison and Ford Winter Estates and the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) will unveil two new signs that detail how Floridians have met the challenge of living with mosquitoes in the past as well as the impact of new scientific advances.
The signs share information about one of the tools that the LCMCD uses, known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). This method involves releasing lab-reared, sterilized male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to mate with the wild female population to reduce their presence. SIT is not a new technology and does not involve genetically modifying mosquitoes. It’s important to note that male mosquitoes do not bite, only females bite.
The signs are located at the entrance to the Bromeliad walk at the Estates. During the event, a representative from LCMCD will welcome the attendees, a National Honor Society student from the Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School will read a poem, there will be a ribbon cutting for the signs, and then sterilized male mosquitoes will be released into the Bromeliad garden. The sign ceremony is free and open to the public (does not include tours or admission to the museum, lab or riverside of the property).
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.
Members: $30, non-members: $35
Grow Fort Myers & Orchid Symposium
Come learn, buy and enjoy! Several FREE workshops will be offered and vendors will have orchids available for sale.
Workshops will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some topics include:
* Cattleya Culture
* Phalaenopsis Culture
* Choosing the Correct Light
* Introduction to Brazilian and Venezuelan Orchids
* Designing with Orchids
Participating Vendors and Guest Speakers:
Aunt Jenny’s Garden, Bello Tropicals, Blue Pagoda, Florida Orchid House, Jim-N-I Orchids, Alexandra Kravchenko Orchids, Red Hawk Nursery, So Orchids, Southwest Florida Orchid Society, Sunland Orchids and more! Food vendors include Panini Genie, Nickle City, Kamy’s Kettle Korn and the Banyan Café.
Seating for the workshops is available on a first-come, first-served basis, standing room is available for overflow. Admission to the event is free; admission to the museum, lab, or riverside of the property is not included. Free parking. See you there!
Sponsored by: 
Gardening Class: Grafting Cacti
Learn at the hands of our skilled botanist, the horticulture practice of grafting cacti for propagation or hybridizing. This is a special opportunity to understand several grafting techniques including selecting the right scion to match a rootstock and produce a high-quality plant to take home.
The program will begin with a Garden Talk (included in the registration fee for the grafting class) in our expanded succulent garden, and the grafting class will immediately follow at the Garden Council classroom. Registration is required for the class.
All tools, plants and work materials are included. Two sessions are available: Saturday, March 14 at 10 AM or Tuesday, March 17 at 1:30 PM.
Cost for Gardening Class (includes Garden Talk): Members: $50; Non-members: $65
Click here to register now!
A Garden Talk only option is available on a walk-in basis, Saturday or Tuesday as above. Cost for Garden Talk only: Members $15; Non-members: $20
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!
