Nature and Animals

This fluffy feline kitten named Finnegan is a Maine Coon. The Maine Coon is the State Cat of Maine! Finnegan is nine months old and weighs 16.7 pounds, but he will continue growing until he is three! Finnegan is a sweet and easy going cat who gets along well with his dog brother and his […]

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. […]

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 […]

VERANDAH’S BALD-HEADED BIRD: THE WOOD STORK There’s something timeless about the sight of a wood stork wading through the ponds of Verandah. With their long legs, slightly hunched shoulders, dark bald heads and heavy, down-curved bills, these prehistoric-looking birds hold a special place in Verandah’s natural world. At first glance, a wood stork might look […]

LIZZIE The adorable Lizzie catches your eye with her warm smile and interesting markings. Lizzie is a 2 year, 7 month old “F1” sheepadoodle (first generation offspring from a purebred Old English Sheep Dog mother and Standard Poodle father). This Southern beauty who was born, raised and trained in North Carolina, loves her daily exercise […]

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 […]

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and the National Hurricane Center began issuing daily “tropical outlooks” on May 15. We can’t stop hurricane season every year, but we can be prepared to keep ourselves and our homes safe. We encourage you to use our helpful tools to stay informed about […]

The Great Blue Heron: Verandah’s Majestic Sentinel When you think of the birds that define Verandah’s ponds, the Great Blue Heron likely comes to mind. Towering and elegant, this bird is a common, yet awe-inspiring sight around the ponds and waterways of Verandah. Whether patiently hunting along the water’s edge or gliding overhead with slow, […]

Lily & Reggie are both rescues from Philadelphia who had a rough start to life, but are now living their best lives in Verandah. These two adorable dogs are Lily who is about 5 and Reggie who is about 10. They love their walks on the nature trails and meeting up with their neighborhood dog […]

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 […]