May 1, 2019
Celebrate National Public Gardens Week at Edison and Ford Winter Estates with Garden Tours, Free Workshops and Plant Sale
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 1, 2019) — In partnership with the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), Edison and Ford Winter Estates is celebrating National Public Gardens Week, May 13-19. Special discounts and programs will be held throughout the week with a garden event, “Grow Fort Myers,” on May 18 that will include free workshops and a plant sale. 
On May 13, organizations across the country will decorate their sites with green lights to indicate their participation in the event. Green lights will glow on palm trees and a ficus at Edison Ford each night during the week.
Visitors wishing to become a member of Edison and Ford Winter Estates can join this week and receive a free month (13 months for the cost of a 12-month membership). Current members can also renew their membership and get a free month. Membership offers many benefits, including unlimited visits, admission to reciprocal museums and gardens, and discounts on education programs and special events.
Garden Tours will be offered on May 15 and 17 at 10:30 a.m. Visitors will receive $10 off the regular tour price of $40. The $30 Garden Tour ticket is valid on these two dates only. The guided tour takes visitors on a journey around the 20-acre site and through some areas not typically included in tours. Visitors will also get to see the newly established Florida native garden and hundreds of species of plants and trees from all around the globe.
Then at 7:30 p.m. on May 17, families are invited to watch “Moana” under the stars at the Banyan tree. The movie is free and refreshments will be available for purchase. Visitors should bring a folding chair or blanket. Tours of the gardens, homes, museum and lab are not included. To give back to the community, Crawford Landscaping is sponsoring the movie and making it possible for Edison Ford to offer the free event.
On May 18, there will be several free lectures and workshops throughout the day. Starting at 9 a.m., Lee County Extension Agent, Stephen Brown, will give a presentation on the proper use of fertilizers in Southwest Florida gardens; there will be a Hypertufa demonstration; a butterfly gardening talk; and a rain barrel workshop demonstrating how to build and install a barrel and participants will learn about the value of capturing and using rain water. A limited number of rain barrels will be available for purchase. Local vendors will offer products, such as compost and worm castings, and there will be an “Ask the Expert” table.
Also on May 18 is the “Grow Fort Myers” plant sale including native and Florida friendly plants that thrive in Southwest Florida’s environment. This event is geared toward local residents to give them the tools they need to have successful gardens with sustainable landscapes. The Edison Ford Garden Shoppe offers fruit and flowering trees, shrubs and many different types of flowers in every color of the rainbow. For anyone wishing to start a butterfly garden, a large assortment of both host and nectar plants will be available. Coupons will be handed out for discounts on Garden Shoppe purchases. Refreshments will also be available for purchase.
Edison Ford is one of many public gardens across the country participating in this national celebration. The APGA encourages individuals to visit gardens, volunteer and donate to provide support throughout the year. Employees from Apple and Target will be volunteering their time to help establish a pathway through a new garden area.
The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit the website to see the May 18 schedule of events at www.edisonford.org.
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