Gardening Classes Offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

October 20, 2020

Gardening Classes Offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 20, 2020) — Gardening continues to be a popular pastime and this year, as people are spending more time at home, many are realizing the therapeutic benefits. On November 10, Edison and Ford Winter Estates will resume its gardening class series. Taught by horticultural specialist Karen Maxwell, each class focuses on gardening aspects in Southwest Florida.

Building on the monthly Garden Talks, these classes provide a more in-depth look at different areas of gardening and an excellent opportunity to chat one-on-one with an experienced horticulture professional. The information taught is especially helpful for anyone new to Florida and the classes can

Participants attend a gardening class at Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.

also be purchased as a gift.

Edison Ford is the premier botanical garden in Lee County, featuring plants and trees from around the world – many were collected by Thomas and Mina Edison in the early 1900s. New plants and trees are regularly added to the gardens for visitors to enjoy. Participants will also get to see different areas of the botanical gardens.

All garden classes are held in a climate controlled and accessible classroom. Advance registration is required online at EdisonFord.org or in person at the ticket office. All classes are limited to 25 and masks are required. Participants will receive a 20% discount coupon toward plant purchases in the Garden Shoppe.

Upcoming Classes:

Roses for Southwest Florida Gardens
November 10, 2020, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members

Growing roses in Florida is challenging and rewarding. This class will walk participants through each step to becoming a successful rose grower. Correct pruning techniques to awaken roses from their Florida summer dormancy will be discussed. An in-class presentation will include best varieties for southern Florida gardens, planting techniques and annual care guidelines. After the in-class instruction, participants will get to see Mina Edison’s rose garden and learn proper pruning techniques and how to evaluate existing plants for health and vigor. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 30 minutes.

Women of the Moonlight Garden; their Inspirations and Contributions
December 8, 2020, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members

The Moonlight Garden at Edison and Ford Winter Estates would not exist today if it weren’t for the vision of Mina Edison, a well-travelled and educated horticulturist in her own right. This class will cover the garden design by Ellen Biddle Shipman, one of America’s first landscape architects and more. The program will go beyond the design and dissect this formal garden to understand the source of Mina’s inspiration from many of her female contemporaries. While travelling with her husband and visiting American gardens, she absorbed inspiration for many of the elements still in use today, including the layout, bougainvillea trellis, pottery and plant choices. The class will also cover some of the early challenges that did not survive the test of time. After the in-class presentation, participants will get to go behind the ropes in the Moonlight Garden. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 20 minutes

Introduction to Florida Gardening, Part I
January 12, 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 for Edison Ford Members; $75 Non-Members (for Part I and II); or $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members (for just one class). Registration is required before the commencement of Part I for the cost discount. Both classes are not required, but recommended.

Gardening in Southwest Florida requires unique knowledge as it is the only state in the continental U.S. that is in USDA growing zone 10. This class is designed to provide gardeners with all the tools to un-learn previous gardening experiences and command the exciting world of tropical gardening in less than perfect soil. Part I will cover plant taxonomy, plant reproduction, working with SW Florida weather challenges, understanding the differences between native and ornamental plants and recognizing invasive species. Palm trees will also be discussed, and a great list of resources will be provided. Classroom time: 90 minutes.

Introduction to Florida Gardening – Part II
January 19, 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 for Edison Ford Members; $75 Non-Members (for Part I and II); or $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members (for just one class). Registration is required before the commencement of Part I for the cost discount. Both classes are not required, but recommended.

The Part II program will dive deep into some of the important elements of becoming a successful gardener in SW Florida. State programs such as Florida Friendly Gardening and Master Gardener Volunteer program will be covered. Additional topics include how to use fertilizers and soil amendments, common pest recognition and chemical and biologic controls, common weed identification, good irrigation and draining techniques, and selecting plants for the Southwest Florida landscape. A recommended resource list will be provided. Classroom time: 90 minutes.

Choosing and Caring for Palm Trees in Southwest Florida
February 9, 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members

Many people don’t know that palms are not actually trees. This program will cover what they are and some of the 2000 different species. At the Estates, there are close to 100 varieties growing around the site, and new species are added every season. This class is for anyone who wants to grow palms or perhaps wants to impress their visitors with palm tree knowledge. Participants will learn about native and exotic palms, the unique needs of different species, and why to choose a self-cleaning palm. Watering, feeding and space requirements will also be covered. An investment in a palm tree is significant, and this class will help gardeners make the right decisions. A walk through the palmetum will follow the classroom instruction. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 20 minutes.

Shade Gardening in Southwest Florida
March 16, 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 for Edison Ford Members; $50 Non-Members

One of the amazing aspects of tropical gardening is the variety of plants that can be grown, and in fact, thrive in shady areas. This class will help one design a multi-layered shade garden that mixes good texture, offers color and contrast and compliments existing plants or trees. Participants are encouraged to bring their shade garden challenges for ground cover, annual or perennial recommendations. Shade garden containers are another great way to highlight a darker area of a garden, lanai or screen room and design ideas for these spaces will also be covered. Many Florida native plants are perfect additions to a well-designed shady area and it’s important to understand how they grow and how to choose complimentary non-natives to create a stunning shade garden. This class will also cover watering issues and maintenance. After the in-class experience, participants will walk through two shade gardens at the Estates. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 20 minutes.

Container Gardening and Introduction to Floral Arranging
April 13, 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 for Edison Ford Members; $60 Non-Members

This program is one of the most popular and includes materials for participants to make and take their creation. Understanding how plants are conditioned is key to success when working with live plants, as well as how to care for the arrangement. This class takes basic floral arranging up a notch by teaching how to braid plants to add a very interesting highlight. Many of the arrangement techniques taught are displayed in the Art in Bloom event, held semi-annually at the Estates. Important note: Pre-registration is required on or before April 2, 2021 to ensure adequate materials for all class participants. Classroom time: 60 minutes; garden time: 20 minutes.