Bonnet House Blog

If you’re looking for a way to get out of the house with the little ones this weekend, look no further than the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Bonnet House is one of the last examples of a native South Florida barrier island habitat and is home to five distinct ecosystems and three curated gardens. With so much to explore and uncover, the gardens promise a full day of fresh air at the center of Fort Lauderdale, but Bonnet House offers even more.

Running now through April 27th, Bonnet House boasts its first-ever outdoor sculpture exhibit: Forest Forms by Huelani Mei. Placed along the ground’s nature trails, the towering line-work style sculptures accompany you on your stroll, inspired by the nature around you. Adults will love taking in the stunning exhibit that includes sculptures of foxes, flowers, snakes, and much more.

While the adults enjoy taking in the breathtaking Florida habitat and art installation, children can test their knowledge by participating in the Xavier Riddle and the Barefoot Mailman Scavenger Hunt, in partnership with the Museum of Discovery and Science. Kids will walk some of the very same paths as the Barefoot Mailman as he hiked and rowed along the coast of Florida to deliver early settlers their mail. Along the way, they can learn about indigenous animals, plants, and the historical significance of the land we live on. An educational challenge that can engage the whole family, the Barefoot Mailman scavenger hunt is the perfect opportunity to foster an appreciation for Florida’s history and habitat.

After you finish exploring, stop by The Little Gift Shop for snacks and drinks, and find us featured in the Ft. Lauderdale Monopoly game also sold there. Get lost in the past with the historical architecture, and art through the ages, learn more about Xavier Riddle’s scavenger hunt, and Huelani Mei’s Forest Forms exhibition. Don’t let another beautiful weekend pass you by; Bonnet House is here for the full family experience.

By John Lucas

The centerpiece of Helen’s Music Room is the 1872 Steinway piano. Guests frequently recognize that the piano shape is nearly “square” and that the keyboard is shorter than modern pianos. In the 19^th century, the square piano was the entertainment heart of many affluent homes. Families and friends would surround the piano spending their evenings singing or listening to compositions. Piano lessons for children was often part of their upbringing with the expectation of family performance.

The piano’s small size, construction, and shape did not allow a large sound but was suitable for family gatherings. In the late 19th century, composers wanted more composition versatility, and the keyboard was expanded from the standard 84 up to 88 black and white keys. The keyboard expansion required a piano that was no longer box-shaped but was like a prone harp. The grand piano has a larger soundboard to accommodate more and longer steel piano wire with pedals to dampen or free the sound. These changes provided a louder and richer sound that can fill an auditorium.

When Steinway encouraged trading in the squares for a new grand piano, the square was condemned to history. After upgrading, Steinway had too many squares and publicly burned them in 1904 at Atlantic City; a blaze that could be seen in Manhattan.

Thanks to Helen, Bonnet House is fortunate to have a square piano that is still playable though admittedly it needs tuning.

Helen Birch Bartlett (1883-1925)

Helen was Frederic’s second wife. She was a published poet and composer. A friend of Frederic and Dora Bartlett, she consoled Frederic when Dora unexpectedly died in 1917. Two years later, at the age of 37, Helen married Frederic. As a wedding present, Helen’s father gave her 35 oceanside acres that became the Bonnet House. In 1925 Helen died of bilateral breast cancer.

With 2025 on the near horizon, it is time for us to highlight some of the fun and unique ways in which we will be ringing in the new year here at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. As the holiday season comes to a close, and we get back into our regular routines, we wanted to make sure that we could offer some interesting opportunities to keep your spirits bright well into 2025. This January we will be hosting a variety of speakers, classes, interactive workshops, and so much more. Whether you are interested in history, art, gardening, or food, we have something enjoyable for everyone!

To kick off January, we are excited to announce the return of our popular Orchid Care Classes! These classes are designed for both beginners and experienced growers, and will cover both the basics of orchid care as well as more advanced techniques. These classes will be taught by our Orchid Curator, Jose Exposito, and his fantastic team of orchid care experts on staff at Bonnet House. The first class will take place on Tuesday, January 7th, from 9:30 am-11:30 am. This class will cover the basics of orchid care, and will include helpful information on the various types of orchids, growing locations, and basic cultivation techniques.

To learn about more advanced orchid care techniques, our Intermediate Orchid Care Classes will take place on Tuesday, January 14th, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. These classes will cover all aspects of transplanting orchids, with a special emphasis on the techniques and uses of different materials including cork, driftwood, plaques, baskets, and more. Both of these classes are followed by an informative guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well as our Orchid Greenhouses. Each course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Additionally in January, we will be starting our annual lecture series! Beginning on January 13th, Bonnet House will be hosting bi-monthy lectures highlighting fascinating aspects of the Bonnet House estate, and Florida history. To start us off, Jason Alvarez will be discussing the Legends of Long Key, including a special presentation on the Tequesta People. Each lecture can be attended both in-person and via zoom. These lectures are free to all Bonnet House members, and $5 for non-members. To purchase tickets, click here , and view our event calendar to explore more topics.

Last but certainly not least, we could not be more thrilled to announce our first-ever outdoor sculpture exhibit! Starting on January 11th, we will be welcoming Forest Forms in its debut to South Florida. In this unique exhibition, artist Huelani Mei brings her visions to life through impressive works that include a fox family, flowers, rabbits, a snake archway, a peacock and more. These stunning larger-than-life metal sculptures of flowers and animals will be placed throughout the winding nature trails on the vast Bonnet House estate.

To kick off this exciting exhibit, we are hosting a Forest Forms Artist Meet & Greet with Huelani Mei and VIP Opening Reception on Sunday, January 12th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. The VIP Reception will include light fare and cocktails catered by Hugh’s Catering. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased here.

Following this opening event, on Saturday, January 18th, we will be hosting a Forest Forums Food Truck Kick-Off Event that is open to the public! Guests can enjoy the new exhibit while munching on delicious local faire from a variety of popular food trucks.

2025 is sure to be a fantastic year at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. We hope that you and your loved ones are able to attend some of these truly unique opportunities in the new year and beyond!