Catch The Action
NOVEMBER ON THE WATER This month we have days with pleasant weather and often combine summer and winter fishing conditions from week to week. As cool fronts drop down the state our coastal waters are cooling down. With the change, fish are transitioning from summer to winter patterns. November brings a mix of warm and […]
Catch The Action
SEPTEMBER ON THE WATER With the arrival of September, the end of summer is in sight as we gradually break away from long, hot, muggy days, and slowly transition to shorter, cooler days of autumn. This is welcoming news for anglers fishing around Southwest Florida. Days become less humid with a slight drop in temperature, […]
The Solidago Solution
Visitors that stroll around the east side of the Estates will find the fall bloomer, goldenrod (Solidago). This simple, omnipresent “weed” became Thomas Edison’s obsession later in life, literally, until the day he died. In the northern hemisphere, the arrival of autumn showcases 120 species of goldenrod, responsible for turning fields and hillsides into brilliantly […]
The Good, Bad And Ugly Of The Nightshade Family
Back in the 1900s, the Edisons grew many fruits and vegetables to capitalize on the mild winter weather in Fort Myers and compensate for limited options to purchase fresh produce. The excess harvests were sold or shipped north to friends and family. Though the local Heitmans opened a grocery store downtown in 1898, it was […]
The Amazon Moonflower
Researching the history of plants takes me down many roads, and the most interesting paths include the trials and tribulations of special people who are driven by an obsession, a desire or simply a need to advance knowledge for the rest of us. This is a story about two people, born nearly 100 years apart […]
What’s Blooming At Edison And Ford Winter Estates?
VISITORS TO THE ESTATES CAN FIND BOTH PINK AND WHITE OLEANDER BLOOMS Edison’s Oleander Thomas Edison had many research beds on the south side of the property, teemed with goldenrod, rubber vine and crown-of-thorns. These, and more, were planted in the late 1920s-1930s by the Edison Botanic Research Corporation and were tested for latex content. […]
Gulf Coast Humane Society Breaks Ground On New State-Of-The-Art Veterinary Clinic
GROUNDBREAKING The Gulf Coast Humane Society has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art veterinary clinic that will provide lifesaving treatment and expand access to care for countless Southwest Florida pets who might otherwise go without. Located at 2010 Arcadia St. in Fort Myers, the future clinic will serve as a critical resource for wellness services, […]
Catch The Action
AUGUST ON THE WATER On the water around Southwest Florida in August means dealing with steamy hot weather and the possibility of daily thunderstorms. Fishing can be good for the month If you don’t mind working around the weather. Summer days give us flat calm seas over the morning hours, perfect for running offshore. Our […]
Saving Citrus – One Tree At A Time
A CITRUS TREE ON THE FORD PROPERTY AT THE ESTATES WITH LAST YEAR’S FRUIT Recently, a team from the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) in Immokalee visited Edison and Ford Winter Estates to discuss the work they are doing on behalf of the estates to save the Henry Ford citrus grove […]
What’s Blooming: Crape Myrtle
Often mistaken for dead trees during the winter season, the family of Lagerstroemia, Crape Myrtles, are bursting forth with blooms ranging from white to deep magenta. At Edison and Ford Winter Estates, we have an unusually rare collection of species, as well as some uniquely tropical specimens. The old-world spelling of crape probably originated in […]