Gardening Events, Talks and Classes Offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

December 5, 2022

Gardening Events, Talks and Classes Offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 5, 2022) — Edison and Ford Winter Estates offers many opportunities throughout the year for residents and guests to learn about gardening in Florida. Garden Talks are offered once a month all year long (most months) and cover a wide range of topics from growing orchids to designing holiday decorations. Gardening classes are held during the winter and spring months and delve deeper into gardening solutions for the Southwest Florida gardener. Several plant sales and festivals are held seasonally and offer local and regional residents opportunities to purchase plants, trees, and vegetables for their home gardens.

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

Garden Talks:
December 10, 2022 – Make a Holiday Wreath (Cost for Edison Ford members: $25; non-members: $35; includes materials)
January 14, 2023 – Staghorns and Jungle Cactus
March 11, 2023 – Beguiling Begonias
May 13, 2023 – Growing Garden Treasures and Curiosities

Gardening Classes: (In-depth, two-hour programs include classroom and garden time. Space is limited and registration is required. Choose from Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. or Saturday morning at 10 a.m.) Most classes are $55 for non-members or $45 for Edison Ford members).

In January, Introduction to Florida Gardening Part I and II will be offered. These classes are helpful for anyone new to Florida or new to gardening in the sunshine state because the amount of sunlight and rain, as well as soil structure is quite different than what many people are used to in the northern states. The classes build on the monthly Garden Talks and provide a more in-depth look at different areas of gardening. Each class focuses on gardening aspects specific to Southwest Florida.

Introduction to Florida Gardening Part I
January 24 (1:30-3:30 p.m.) or January 28 (10 a.m. – noon)
Part I of this two-part class provides a foundation of how plants work, their nomenclature, and understanding of unique weather patterns and unusual soils found only in Florida, zone 10. This class will educate participants with identification of both Florida native and non-native plants, and how to recognize invasive species. Palms will also be discussed and the class will spend the last 20 minutes in the Palmetum. Cost: $45 for Edison Ford members; $55 non-members.

Introduction to Florida Gardening Part II
January 31 (1:30-3:30 p.m.) or February 4 (10 a.m. – noon)
In Part II, participants will be introduced to the concepts of “Florida Friendly Gardening,” including learning the proper use of fertilizers and soil amendments. Plants have unique pests, and their identification will be covered as well as when to use chemical versus biological controls as recommended by the Green Industries Best Management Practices concepts. Weed identification and diseases will also be covered, along with a discussion on selecting plants for a Florida landscape, followed by a question-and-answer session. The last 20 minutes of class will be held in the Butterfly Garden. Cost: $45 for Edison Ford members; $55 non-members.

Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water. Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the outdoor portion. Each class includes handouts, a recommended reading list, and additional resources to help the Florida gardener succeed. Though not required, taking Part I will be beneficial to understanding the content covered in Part II.

Advance registration is required and limited to 25 participants. The classes are held in a climate-controlled and accessible classroom at the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council and Berne Davis Gardens, located across the street from the Edison Ford parking lot (on Larchmont Avenue). At the conclusion of class, each participant will receive a 20% discount coupon for plant purchases in the Garden Shoppe. Register online at EdisonFord.org.

Additional classes:
February 21 or February 25, 2023 – Grow Fabulous Roses
March 21, 2023 – Growing Tropical Fruit
April 18 or April 22, 2023 – Introduction to Plant Propagation Techniques

Plant Sales and Garden Festivals: (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
February 11-12, 2023 – Spring Garden Festival
April 8-9, 2023 – Grow Fort Myers Workshops, Orchid Symposium & Plant Sale (Will be a two-day event and combined with the Orchid Symposium that was previously postponed).

In addition, the Garden Shoppe is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All programs are subject to change. Guests should wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring drinking water.