Edison Ford Receives Award
Edison Ford received an award for work to promote The Henry Ford Legacy and preserve the Fort Myers Ford Estate. Chief Curator Mike Cosden, Assistant Curator Brent Newman, and Automotive Curator James Moss traveled to Henry and Clara Ford’s Historic Estate, Fair Lane, and to Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. While in Michigan, they undertook research and received the coveted “Friend of Ford Award” from the Henry Ford Heritage Association for their work to preserve the Florida Ford Estate and in recognition of ongoing projects like the new quadricycle, which they are building this year.
Curatorial Staff are pictured with the award and Henry Ford Heritage Association Treasurer, Mark Campbell.
Edison Ford Butterfly Garden
This is a female Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes astarius), newly emerged from the chrysalis. She was one of a large number of caterpillars feeding on our dill and parsley in the Edison Ford gardens back in late June and early July. Unlike some of our local butterflies which normally remain in the pupa form for only around ten days, swallowtails often wait months before emerging as an adult butterfly.
Eastern Black Swallowtail larvae feed on a variety of items of the Apiacae family commonly found in herb gardens, including parsley, dill, fennel, coriander, and carrots. Mock Bishop’s Weed is a native to our area and is usually found in wetland areas, providing a native host for these beautiful creatures. Common Rue (Ruta graveolens) also grows well locally as a perennial and will serve as a host for the Eastern Black Swallowtail, as well as the Giant Swallowtail. Care should be used when handling rue as some people report skin irritation from contact with the foliage.
If you missed our September garden talk on pollinator gardens you can stop by anytime to see our butterfly garden and talk to our garden experts about options for your garden. Our gardens and garden shoppe are open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:30pm.
