September 12, 2023
Orchid Sale and Symposium at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 12, 2023) — On October 14 and 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will hold its annual Orchid Sale and Symposium. The event will take place outdoors, under the oak trees and surrounding areas. Multiple workshops will be offered each day and vendors will have rare and unusual orchids for sale.
A daily ticket is required to attend the workshops ($20 for Edison Ford members; $25 for non-members); the plant sale portion of the event is free to attend. Tickets do not include tours or admission to the museum, lab or riverside of the property.
Workshop Schedule (ticket required each day):
Saturday, October 14
9:30-10:30 a.m. – Former Art Teacher and Edison Ford Instructor, Jim Hopton, will teach how to prepare a hypertufa (cement-like) mount for displaying orchids.
11 a.m. – noon – John Hampton will present “My Favorite Orchids” and how to read an orchid tag.
Guests attend an orchid workshop during the annual Orchid Sale and Symposium at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Noon – 1 p.m. – “Ask the Expert” table will be open for visitors to ask Michael Spelta (Edison Ford orchid specialist) questions.
1-2 p.m. – Stan Grigiski will present tips and techniques for displaying orchids in and around the home.
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Debbie Hughes, Edison Ford Director of Horticulture will talk about which orchids are best suited for tree mounting, and how to mount them.
Sunday, October 15
9:30-10:30 a.m. – Anita Singh, of Flowers by Anita will demonstrate how to create a floral design with fresh orchids.
11 a.m. – Noon – Mickey Carnell, Owner of Blue Pagoda Orchids will present “Introduction to Orchids.”
Noon – 1 p.m. – “Ask the Expert” table will be open for visitors to ask Michael Spelta (Edison Ford orchid specialist) questions.
1-2 p.m. – Renowned botanical artist, Aaron Apsley of Aaron Apsley Artworks, and illustrator of Hortus Curious, will present “The Art of Capturing the Orchid in Watercolor.”
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Jim Davison of Jim-N-I Orchids will present “Brasavola Star of the Show.”
A limited number of garden carts will be available; guests are encouraged to bring their own. Food and beverage vendors will be onsite with refreshments available for purchase. Southwest Florida Orchid Society representatives will be available to answer questions.
Participating vendors including Bello Tropicals, Blue Pagoda, Florida Orchid House, Hang-a-Pot, Jim-N-I Orchids, Krull Smith, OFE Orchid Supplies, Palmer Orchids, Pelican Coast Orchids/Amore Orchids, Red Hawk Nursery, Sierra Madre Orchids, Smiley’s Orchids, So Orchids, Sunland Orchids, and Tropiflora will have orchids and orchid supplies for sale.
The Edison Ford Garden Shoppe will be open all day and offers a unique place for gardeners to shop for quality plants. The Shoppe is stocked with a large selection of ornamentals, orchids, fruit trees, butterfly plants, herbs, succulents, rare exotics and Florida natives. Many of the flowering trees and shrubs in the botanical gardens are available for purchase. Wind chimes, fountains, ceramic flower pots and garden art are also available. A ticket is not required to enter the Garden Shoppe.
Orchids have a long history with the Estates. They were Mina Edison’s favorite plants and she displayed many of them in her garden, attached to trees so they could grow as she saw them in the Everglades. Today, visitors can view many orchid species throughout the 20 acres of botanical gardens. Following in Mina’s footsteps, horticulturists continue to attach orchids to trees throughout the site. Purchase tickets at EdisonFord.org.
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