Fort Myers Florida Weekly

Shangri-La marks 100 years with tours, parties




Cecelia Morales speaks to guests during a garden tour of Shangri-La Springs.

Cecelia Morales speaks to guests during a garden tour of Shangri-La Springs.

Guests follow organic garden manager Cecelia Morales through Shangri-La Springs’ 4½-acre garden, stopping to snip off leaves of fennel, mint, cranberry hibiscus and other herbs. The mixture will create their own tea blend that they will enjoy along with cucumber sandwiches, scones, fresh fruit and cookies during a tea party following the tour.

“This was a perfect way to celebrate my birthday,” says Barbara Meek of Naples, who attended the garden tea party with her daughters, Kristine and Juliana Meek.

After Barbara and Kristine took Shangri La’s garden tour in April, Kristine was inspired to start her own home garden.

“Because of all the stress of COVID, I found at first I did baking and gained 10 pounds,” she laughs. “Gardening was a much better way to control my stress. I gained a new hobby.”

During that first tour, Ms. Morales gave Kristine cuttings for oregano, peas and Mexican sunflowers. “My son was so excited to see them go from these little clippings to a proper plant,” she says.

Cecelia Morales, standing at left, welcomes everyone to the tea party. ROBIN F. DEMATTIA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Cecelia Morales, standing at left, welcomes everyone to the tea party. ROBIN F. DEMATTIA / FLORIDA WEEKLY

For other garden tea party guests, being outdoors in the lush, historic property was a post-pandemic adjustment to priorities.

“Since COVID, I realized it’s okay for me to take a morning off from work and do something for myself,” says Sue Huff of Naples, who is self-employed. “It’s okay to mix relaxing and fun in a work day. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.”

Her friend, Judith Svetaka of Bonita Springs, says Shangri-La is “a nice place to be outside in nature.”

That’s a sentiment that the property has embraced since it was first opened 100 years ago.

The Heitman family constructed the 25-room Heitman Hotel in 1921 to house potential buyers of the family’s nearby development. It has changed hands several times, expanding to 50 rooms at one point and being renamed Shangri-La in 1964 when it became an institute devoted to natural hygiene.

Additional updates started when local conservationist Addison Fischer bought the property in 1998 to preserve the landmark. Just before the pandemic began, the hotel was preparing to reopen four first-floor guest rooms and six rooms in a villa on the property. They remain closed, however, along with the restaurant and spa.

MORALES

MORALES

But people are still holding weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, celebrations of life and other events at Shangri-La.

“Demand for the outdoor event spaces has soared,” says General Manager Lee Bellamy. “It took us a little by surprise, but we’re happy to have it.”

In addition to the garden tea parties, Shangri-La offers one-hour garden tours at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to see the more than 300 varieties of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants in the garden and orchard.

“We’re a very unique property and the garden is really a lot of what we’re about,” says Mr. Bellamy. “It’s something you can’t really find anywhere else in Southwest Florida. The gardens are a vital part of our operations and it’s very important to share that.”

Shangri-La Springs

Shangri-La Springs

Ms. Morales notes that tour guests are surprised at how much Shangri-La Springs grows on just over 4 acres.

“People think of farms as long rows of the same thing,” she says. “This is a great example of a garden on a small scale.”

She says many people also see species they’ve never heard of before, including cecropia, which she says is “like a gummy worm of a fruit,” and muntingia, which she describes as tasting like buttered popcorn jelly beans.

During the garden tea party tour, she helps guests understand the medicinal aspects of the herbs they are picking for their tea. Mint, she says, is an antioxidant that also calms the stomach. African blue basil is packed with vitamins A and C, and cranberry hibiscus has vitamins as well as iron and calcium.

Ms. Morales came up with the garden tea party idea while mixing her own brews. “I was just sitting thinking about how much I love making teas and felt other people would enjoy it,” she says. “And we have a beautiful venue for a tea party.”

It also gives her an opportunity, she says, to show that “fruit and food can be grown in a holistic and organic way that is really pretty.” ¦

In the KNOW

Shangri-La Springs

27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
239-949-0749
www.shangrilasprings.com

Garden Tea Party

July 6 at 10 a.m.

$30 per person, including a commemorative tea mug.

Call to register. There are no tea parties in August-September; they resume in October on the second Tuesday of the month.

Garden Tour

10-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays

$15 per person

Call to register.

Farmer’s Market

The weekly market will reopen in November and likely have produce such as Asian greens, salad greens, radishes, carrots, beans, eggplant and herbs. Shangri-La has an abundance of tomatoes, among other vegetables, in the spring.

Mango season

Mango boxes go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, June 23. Pick-up is from the boutique area of the lobby from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays. Prices are 10 pounds for $25 and 20 pounds for $45. Cash and credit cards accepted.

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