Fort Myers Florida Weekly

Gardening class offered at Edison and Ford estates


 Edison and Ford Winter Estates has resumed 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, the 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 also be purchased as a gift.

All garden classes are held in a climate controlled and accessible classroom. Advance registration is required online at www.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.

The next class is Women of the Moonlight Garden; their Inspirations and Contributions, at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Cost is $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.

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