Submitted By: Sara Wolf
Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island – Publicity Chairperson
Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island members Gadabouts group visited Fort Myers on Tuesday, December 9, 2021 to enjoy a docent-led tour of the Ford and Edison Estates. The Gadabouts group visits destinations of interest to garden club members every month. The Gadabouts chairmen Susan Oldershaw and Jenn Ferrier choose the destinations due to their environmental impact, their botanical interest, or their flower or floral design displays.
At the guided tour of the Ford Edison Estates on Tuesday, members were treated to a botanical tour by Ford Edison Estates horticultural staff. Of particular interest in the staff members recounting of the history of the botanical work done there was the endeavor by Henry Ford to find a North America source of latex to produce rubber: the best candidate was goldenrod! Another highlight was Mina Edison’s moonlight garden, which features mostly white flowering plants that can be seen after dark by the light of the moon. After the guided tour, Club members enjoyed lunch at Pinchers, where they sat outside and watched the boats on the Caloosahatchee River.
Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island is a Section 501(c)3 organization and is a member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. Membership is open to persons interested in horticulture, floral design and environmental matters residing 5 months or more in Collier County.
Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island meets the second Monday of each month, October through April at Wesley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. If you are interested in membership, please contact the Garden Club at calusagardenclub@yahoo.com. For updates and information, please visit the Garden Club’s website, calusa.org, or visit the Club’s Facebook page Calusa Garden Club.
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Sara Wolf and Claudia Bruni took the photos.