Find Rare And Historic Plants At Edison And Ford Winter Estates |

This year, the Grow Fort Myers event at Edison and Ford Winter Estates is going to be extra special, as it will be combined with the annual Orchid Symposium. The event will take place on April 12 and 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include a plant sale with rare and historic plants, plus free presentations from horticulture experts.

The plant sale will feature a new twist with varieties that have historical significance to the Edisons. The available plants have been propagated from specimens that have been at the historic property since the Edisons lived there. Rare and hard-to- find plants will also be available for purchase. The horticultural staff will share a large assortment of houseplants, shrubs, trees and palms that Thomas Edison collected from six different continents and grew on his Fort Myers property.

Several curated growers known for their commitment to responsible collecting and cultivation of rare species will have hard-to-find plants available for sale. Some of these growers will also give 30-minute presentations and share insights on the cultivation of plants including orchids, hoyas, jungle cacti, palms, tillandsias and more.

In addition, orchid vendors will have unusual orchids available for sale, and experts from the Southwest Florida Orchid Society and Lee County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

Entry to the event and presentations is free (does not include admission to the museum, laboratory or riverside of the property). Seating under the tent for the presentations is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit EdisonFord.org.

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE

Saturday:

My Favorite Orchids – John Hampton, SWFOS and AOS

Unusual Staghorn Ferns – John Cassani, Owner, Cassani Nursery

Growing Vandas – Mickey Parnell, Owner, Blue Pagoda Orchids

Native Cacti – Reed Gilmore

Care of Epiphyllums (Jungle Cactus) – Graciana Parker, Owner, Florida Greenery

Sunday:

Conversations with My Orchids – Jim Davison, Owner, Jim-N-I Orchids

Fun with Orchids – Gary Sims, SWFOS and AOS

Growing Hoyas – Graciana Parker, Owner, Florida Greenery

Caring for Tillandsias and Cryptanthus – Anthony Warfield, Grower, Tropiflora