Edison & Ford Winter Estates offer ‘Beyond the Garden Gates’ tour
D A S WEBSITE. LOVE THAT SWEET LITTLE PUPS. ALRIGHT, FORT MYERS IS ABOUT TO FLOWER WITH SOME FUN. THE EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES ARE ROLLING OUT THERE BEYOND THE GARDEN GATES, PRIVATE TO IRAN. >> WE CAN DID RIGHT. I LOVE THAT. YEAH. THERE 7 BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED GARDENS FOR YOU AND THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY THIS MORNING. JASON JURORS, GULF COAST IN FOR US. >> THERE IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS, GETTING US A PEEK OVER THE JASON. >> WELL, GOOD MORNING, GULF COAST HERE ON THE ESTATE OF THE EDISON FORD WINTER ESTATES FOR A GREAT EVENT. THAT’S COMING UP. WE GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TOUR EARLIER THIS MORNING AND IT WAS ACTUALLY. KIND OF NICE TO BE OUT HERE IN THE DARKNESS. BUT HERE WE ARE IN THE DAYTIME AND THIS IS THE STUDY. THIS IS ALL THE ALL THE ALL THE INGENIOUS MISSES TAKE PLACE. AND THEN BACK HERE, WE’VE GOT THE LADIES WHO ARE GETTING READY TO INVITE YOU HERE FOR THE BE ON THE GARDEN GATES, PRIVATE DOOR. WE’VE GOT SOMETHING COMING UP ON SATURDAY, RIGHT? YES, YES, WE DO BY RIGHT. GOOD HAVE A GO 7 GARDENS THAT I ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM. AND THEY’RE AMAZING THAT THEY CAN’T WAIT TO SHOW EVERYBODY. >> HOW MUCH WORK THEY’VE DONE. THEY CAN LEARN FROM GOING IN THE GARDEN GET INSPIRED BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INSPIRED, YOU SEE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS. I WANT TO GO HOME AND DO THAT TO RIGHT. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY SEEING ON THE 7 GUARDS ARE GOING TO DRIVE ON THEIR OWN. BUT DEFINITELY THEY GET TO SPEND TIME IN EACH GARDEN AS LONG AS THEY WANT. AND SO HOW DID THEY GET INVOLVED WITH A CHOSEN OR LYNN TEAR? THEY VOLUNTEERED? YES, BECAUSE I KNOW I KNOW THE GARDEN GROUPS. YOU I KNOW PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED THEIR GARDEN. AND I SAID, HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN THIS GARDEN TOUR? THEY AGREED AND WE’RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IS SO NICE THAT THEY’RE OPENING UP THEIR YARDS AND THEIR LAWNS AND THEIR HOMES BASICALLY FOR EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND JUST SHOULD ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL UNLESS YOU ARE ON THIS TOUR. NOW. THIS IS ALL THANKS TO MINA BECAUSE SHE DONATED THIS LAND PRETTY MUCH. AND YOU GUYS HAVE MAINTAINED. >> AND ONE THING THAT I I DIDN’T REALIZE IS THERE IS NO STATE. THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING. IT’S ALL US THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER, EVENTS LIKE THIS. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY LEARN BY COMING HERE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW THIS IS TO ME HAVING THIS. IT REALLY IS. THERE’S A NICE SPIRIT AROUND ON THIS PROPERTY. EVERYWHERE YOU GO, WHETHER IT’S THE HOUSES OR THE GARDENS, IT’S BEAUTIFUL SO THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS, IT IS A FUNDRAISER. SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PER KILO, WE’RE TRYING TO EXHIBIT A AND EXHIBIT A A. >> LOOK AT THIS WAS JUST AROUND THE POOL AREA THAT WE SAW A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO. AND THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO. JUST EXPANDING THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE YES, YES, WAS THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE DESIGN A NATHANIEL WALKER AND IT’S A ARTS AND CRAFTS AND YOU START AT THE POOL AND YOU SEE IT ON THE LINE ON HIS STUDY SOME STUDY AND THEN WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK. IT WAS HERE. THIS IS AN IMAGE FROM 2007, BUT WE LOST IT WITH THE HURRICANE DAMAGE. SO WE’RE HOPING PEOPLE WILL SIGN UP. TAKE THIS TOUR GO ONLINE. THEY CAN STILL SIGN UP. I THINK WE STILL HAVE A FEW SPOTS AND COME ON IN AND THAT HELP TEACH YOU THE HISTORY HERE, RIGHT? AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON. YOU CAN TAKE SOME GREAT GARDENING CLASSES TO ALL THE TIME ALL YEAR ROUND. YOU HAVE SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY GREAT GOING ON HERE AT THE GARDENS. AND THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS THE MOONLIGHT GARDEN. YEAH. AND THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD SPEND THEIR EVENINGS TOGETHER. DID THIS WAS DESIGNED AND AS A >> BIRTHDAY GIFT TO THOMAS EDISON FROM MINA EDISON. DEBUT THIS IN. >> HIS BIRTHDAY IN 1929. AND THEY WOULD SIT OUT HERE. IT WAS AN EXTENSION OF THEIR LIVING SPACE AND SIT OUTSIDE. ENJOY THE NIGHT AIR THE FRAGRANT FLOWER YEAH, IT’S VERY IT IS BEAUTIFUL. IT’S DELICIOUS. YOU SEE ARE GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR. THEY HAVE OUTDOOR SPACES BECAUSE YOU CAN LIVE. SO SO MUCH OUTSIDE IN FLORIDA. YOU MIGHT AS DO OUTSIDE GARDEN AND NOT FOR NOTHING. GREAT PLACE TO RIP OFF SOME IDEAS RIGHT AND FORD ESTATES AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING ONLINE FOR YOUR GULF COAST NEWS NOW DOT COM. >> THAT WAY YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION REGISTER TO COME OUT TO THIS EVENT. IT IS ON SATURDAY FROM. A TENT, ANDREW 3. BUT YOU COME TO THE STATES AT 9 O’CLOCK. RIGHT? AND THIS IS WHERE PARTY AND AFTER YOU GO AROUND AND SEE EVERYBODY’S AMAZING GARDENS. THIS IS THE FINAL STOP WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY SOME REFRESHMENTS AND SOME FUN. YES, AND OF ALL, THE GUESTS WILL GET A BOOKLET, A GUIDE TO ALL THE GARDENS. AND WE HAVE A LITTLE SECTION TO MAKE NOTE OF FAVORITE PLANTS AND WE’LL HELP YOU PARK YOUR WHATEVER YOU SEE OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK CHAIR. AND SO GREAT MORNING AND WE’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. GUYS WILL BE OUT OF TH
Edison & Ford Winter Estates offer ‘Beyond the Garden Gates’ tour
Updated: 1:24 PM EDT Mar 26, 2026
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Have you ever wondered what’s hidden behind the private garden gates along McGregor Boulevard or tucked behind historic homes in Downtown Fort Myers? The “Beyond the Garden Gates” private Garden Tour offers a rare chance to step inside these normally unseen spaces — and this week, Jason Drew went “Gulfcoasting” with Debbie Hughes and Karen Maxwell of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates for an exclusive preview.Local residents are opening their homes for this special event, inviting guests to explore beautifully designed private gardens that reflect the charm, creativity, and history of the community. Each stop on the tour offers something different — from lush plantings to unique layouts and personal touches that you won’t find anywhere else.Jason’s sneak peek wrapped up inside the iconic Moonlight Garden, which will serve as the final stop on tour day. After exploring the private gardens, participants will gather here for a reception with refreshments, surrounded by the same historic landscape that inspired Thomas Edison nearly a century ago.Proceeds from the event will support restoration efforts to re‑create the original 1929 Arts & Crafts-style garden trellis and pergola that once framed the Moonlight Garden, helping preserve this beloved space for future generations.Packets with garden locations will be distributed at 9 a.m. on March 28 at the Banyan Café in the Edison & Ford Winter Estates parking lot. Carpooling is encouraged, and registration is required. For more information and to register, check out their website at “Beyond the Garden Gates” Private Garden Tour – Edison and Ford Winter Estates.WATCH THE FULL STORY ABOVEDOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Have you ever wondered what’s hidden behind the private garden gates along McGregor Boulevard or tucked behind historic homes in Downtown Fort Myers? The “Beyond the Garden Gates” private Garden Tour offers a rare chance to step inside these normally unseen spaces — and this week, Jason Drew went “Gulfcoasting” with Debbie Hughes and Karen Maxwell of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates for an exclusive preview.
Local residents are opening their homes for this special event, inviting guests to explore beautifully designed private gardens that reflect the charm, creativity, and history of the community. Each stop on the tour offers something different — from lush plantings to unique layouts and personal touches that you won’t find anywhere else.
Jason’s sneak peek wrapped up inside the iconic Moonlight Garden, which will serve as the final stop on tour day. After exploring the private gardens, participants will gather here for a reception with refreshments, surrounded by the same historic landscape that inspired Thomas Edison nearly a century ago.
Proceeds from the event will support restoration efforts to re‑create the original 1929 Arts & Crafts-style garden trellis and pergola that once framed the Moonlight Garden, helping preserve this beloved space for future generations.
Packets with garden locations will be distributed at 9 a.m. on March 28 at the Banyan Café in the Edison & Ford Winter Estates parking lot. Carpooling is encouraged, and registration is required. For more information and to register, check out their website at “Beyond the Garden Gates” Private Garden Tour – Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
WATCH THE FULL STORY ABOVE
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
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