I’m excited to be starting the Florida Master Naturalist program tonight! This is the Coastal Systems Module. There will be multiple field trips during June. If there’s opportunity to take photos during this adventure (I *am* supposed to be learning something) you can be sure I will share!
Tag Archives: Fort Myers
Hey, #SWFL – Edison & Ford Winter Estates Groupon Deal!
My Mobile Adventures *~*~* mobile blogged a visit to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates earlier this month. At $24 for the garden tour, I thought it was a BIT pricey, but $12 is a GREAT bargain! So if you’re interested, jump on this deal – I think it will only be good for two more days (Until Monday May 30th 2011).
CLICK HERE to get a GROUPON for Edison & Ford Winter Estates Tours
Slideshow: MORE from the Edison-Ford Winter Estates
© Copyright 2011 Tink *~*~* | http://MyMobileAdventures.com
Here are some more photos from our great ramble around the Edison-Ford Winter Estates here in Fort Myers, Southwest Florida. The place was lively with school tour groups, flowering trees and shrubs bursting into bloom, bees bumbling, water fowl foraging – and mangoes dropping out of the trees.
I like that you’re encouraged to walk on the lawns, and that it’s not that perfectly manicured golf course stuff. Loved the story of the Edison Botanic Research Co., which was formed because both Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone needed a domestic source of rubber. The location just can’t be beat – with the beautiful Caloosahatchee River spread before them, why would they want to spend their winters anywhere else? All in all, a splendid morning.
There’s a slide show below. If you want to read the detailed commentary that goes with each photo, CLICK HERE to visit the set on Flickr. Enjoy the photos 🙂
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Exiting the Edison-Ford Estates
We grabbed a turkey wrap from the concession and now we are headed our separate ways – Christene to go shopping and me to go excavate my home from the wreckage known as "finals week" 😉 What a wonderful morning this was – definitely want to come here again!
Looking very GQ
Mr. Henry Ford vogues for us
ADDED FOR PHOTO FRIDAY: Great timing – I just finished touring the Edison-Ford Winter Estates here in Fort Myers, Florida. Henry Ford is generally acknowledged as the father of modern manufacturing, having pioneered use of the assembly line for the making of his automobiles. This statue lives on the Ford winter estate in Fort Myers, Florida, where he lived next door to other luminaries of his time (no pun intended… well maybe just a little) such as Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone.
For more pictures from this week’s tour of the Edison-Ford Estates here in Fort Myers, Florida, CLICK HERE
Pond in the butterfly garden
This appears to be a children’s section of the garden, with contributions by various schools
Golden Dewdrop
Yeah, I know – it’s purple. No, I dunno why, either!
View from the Ford’s back porch
Not so shabby!
Massive mysore fig from India
Another massive rubber tree, this time on the Ford side of the historic site. Another name for this tree is Brown Wooly Fig. It has been growing here since the 1920s
Hunter in the shallows
A great egret looks for lunch in the Caloosahatchee River. I’m getting closer to the Ford Estate now
Let’s be safe out there! #swfl
I guess they don’t want anyone taking a dunk in the river without any lifeguards on duty LOL
Convergence of trees
Let’s see – palm. Pine, live oak, bamboo and strangler fig, all against the same beautiful Southwest Florida sky. Where’s better than here? 🙂
Edison Pier
It’s a quarter mile long and really rickety! That’s what low tide on the Caloosahatchee looks like.
Non-native species
I see South American anoles everywhere in Florida. But the native Florida anole (entirely green) is a rare sight. There’s one living in my garage at the moment; he’s endangered and doesn’t try to come in, so he can stay, I guess 😉
Giant mysore fig
The audio tour device says this fig tree was planted in the 1920s as part of Edison and Ford’s experiments with making rubber
Citrus harvest
A small room off the caretaker’s house is filled with citrus fruits – it’s actually called a cracker house 🙂
Buds on a black olive tree
This is near the swimming pool – in addition to experimental exotics, there are also lots of edibles here
Mango season is coming to #swfl soon!
The mango trees on the Edison Estate in Fort Myers are heavy with still-green fruits, but they’ll be ready to pick pretty soon, I reckon
The Moonlight Garden
Just outside the door of Edison’s little office building, this would be a great place for a night owl to "go to work" each night
Edison’s “Little Office”
There’s a "moonlight garden" outside, planted with fragrant, night-blooming things
Dwarf poinciana
I didn’t know poinciana came in a dwarf variety. I will have to investigate planting one of these on my front lawn. Look at that color!
Mountain Aloe on Edison Estate
This is a giant – one of the biggest I’ve seen. edison was always growing exotics for his experiments
Back Porch River View
Here’s what Edison saw when he sat on this wide back porch. That’s the Caloosahatchee River as it runs past McGregor Blvd. In Fort Myers.
Calamondin mitis from China
Aka little baby oranges that are bitter. That’s a cinnamon tree in the background
Mina Edison in the Garden
We’re going across the street now to see the gardens and the river
Mr Edison and his banyan tree
This tree is … Well, you have to see it to believe how huge it is
Today’s Adventure: Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers
Upcoming Adventures: Flowers, Festivals, Walt and Wizards!
© Copyright 2011 Tink *~*~* | http://MyMobileAdventures.com
Friendship can be a motivator, a mover and a shaker. I am fortunate to be blessed with some really cool friends who’ve made adventurous plans for the month of May and they want me to tag along – w00t! Well you know my motto –Have Signal, Will Blog! Here’s what you can expect to see here at My Mobile Adventures *~*~* during the month of May:
The Edison-Ford Winter Estates
Fort Myers, Florida
My friend Christene is an avid Florida gardener who blogs at The Great Wall Of Lutz. She’ll be driving down to spend some much-needed vacation time on Sanibel Island. While she’s down this way, she’ll be indulging in her passion a bit by visiting some local gardens. Among her selections is the Edison-Ford Winter Estates, situated on the bank of the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. There, we’ll tour the beautiful gardens and check out a festive bromeliad event that’s about to begin starting May 1st. We’ll go during the week, though, to avoid crowds.
Naples Botanical Garden
Naples, Florida
About a half hour or so down the interstate (or down the Tamimami Trail/Route 41, take your pick) is the city of Naples, Florida. Naples can boast of several nature-related attractions, including the Corkscrew Swamp (on my “bucket list”) and Rookery Bay (been there, done that – check it out!). For this particular outing, Christene has selected the Naples Botanical Garden. I’ve checked out the map, and the place looks SWEET! Not only that, but our mutual friend Snowbird recently spent some time there and returned singing the praises of the place. I’m hoping this is a good time of year to visit and that there are lots of photo opportunities.
Walt Disney World – EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
Orlando, Florida
Yep, I was just there, in February and in March. Yep, we’re going to do it again 🙂 This is one of my favorite events at Walt Disney World. For years, I dreamed of going to EPCOT during the Flower and Garden Festival. When I finally got my chance, it became an annual habit that was broken only in the year I moved to Florida (the move stepped all over the Festival in a big way, timing-wise). I’m especially looking forward to all the amazing scents – gardenia, jasmine, magnolia and many more. But more importantly, I’m looking forward to some quality time with my “sistas”, an amazing collection of women, all of whom I am privileged to call “friend”. AND, all of whom have a penchant for the Grey Goose/Grand Marnier Slushie kiosk in EPCOT’s France, not to mention the tequila bar in Mexico. Happy times, straight ahead!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando Resort
Yes, we were just here as well – ides of March, picked up Niece No. 1 at MCO and away we went for several days. This time, a couple of the “sistas” want to do only one day here, primarily to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I imagine there’s butterbeer in our future, and I know I’m kinda looking forward to the ribs at the Three Broomsticks again 😉 What can I say, I’m a creature of habit and when I find a habit that I like a lot, I stick with it! I’m happy to go for one day and hit the highlights – Spiderman, Jurassic Park, maybe The Hulk if they are feeling adventurous, and of course, the entire Hogsmeade/Hogwarts compound, complete with a turn on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey as well as at least a walk through the queue for The Dragon Challenge. Should be a fun day!
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So, it looks like May will be packed with mobile adventures. I need to get over the school hurdle first – it’s the end of the semester and I have papers to write. Guess I’d better get to it – SEE YA REAL SOON!
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