Huge Palmyra Palm Frond

We were trimming yesterday on the Edison & Ford properties for stormscaping.

This is the Palmyra palm from Africa. How do you like the size of that frond? It is well over 10 feet tall.

The palm was encroaching on the Pine trees otherwise we don’t cut green fronds – only dead ones.

Do you have questions about stormscaping? Our horticulturists are here to answer questions about pruning and trimming for hurricane season. Stop by the Garden Shoppe, leave a comment, or give us a call at (239) 334-7419.

Edison Ford Antique Car Restoration Project Continues

In the past few years, the automotive department of South Fort Myers High School has successfully completed a very unique new restoration program to several of the antique car collection of Edison Ford. In the upcoming months, they will undertake restoration of the 1929 Model A which has been moved to a secure garage bay at the high school site.

The project is under the direction of the Edison Ford curatorial staff and Jim Moss, Automotive Faculty at South Fort Myers High School. So far, the completed cars include the 1917 Model T Truck which is on display in the garage by the Ford house and the 1937 Ford Coupe which is on display at Page Field Airport.

Retired school superintendent, former principal and Edison Ford Tour Historian, Bud McKendrick, has been involved since the beginning and sees great value in the students’ learning about basic engines and also in their follow up involvement as volunteers at the Edison Ford for auto events and programs. We agree and thank Jim, Bud, our curatorial staff and the regional car clubs and projects which provide financial support.

Mangoes Mangoes MANGOES!

One of the historical features of both the Edison and Ford estates throughout their history has always been the flourishing mango trees. In fact, in Edison’s day, they dubbed the line of mangoes along the fence line as “Orchid Lane” because they discovered that the mango trees located there also loved to have orchids fastened to their rough bark.

The trees of Edison and Ford’s time, were mostly the old variety of ‘turpentine mangoes’ but newer varieties such as the prized Hayden Mango were added over the years.

Today, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates boasts dozens of varieties throughout the gardens and offers them up for purchase in the Garden Shoppe, the Museum Stores and at the City of Fort Myers Farmer’s Market (in summer, the first Thursday of the month).

Visitors are still cautioned not to pick the fruit as some people have allergic reactions. Stop by the Edison Ford and check out the varieties for sale.