Bonnet House Blog

On a garden tour, I stopped the tram near the Baobab tree to explain that in Africa it is known as the “Tree of Life.” My littlest passenger knew the tree from The Lion King. She hopped off the tram and ran to it. Ignoring her parents’ pleas to come back, she faced the Baobab and began to sing in a high pitched voice the “Circle of Life” from that production.

“From the day we arrive on the planet. And blinking, step into the sun, there’s more to see than can ever be seen. More to do than can ever be done.”

In 1996, Evelyn Bartlett ceremoniously planted our little tree in the desert garden. At twenty feet high with a slender trunk, it does not project the Baobab legacy of longevity and size: some trees have been estimated to be up to 4000 years old with girths up to 150 feet. With age, though still alive, the trunk cracks open, exposing a hollow center that can be used for storage and homes for creatures great and small.

“There’s far too much to take in here. More to find than can ever be found. 

But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round. It’s the Circle of Life.”

Universally, there are nine species of Baobab with Madagascar Island home to six. They are found from eastern Africa through Saudi Arabia to India with another species in north-west Australia. Recently, die-offs have been attributed to the Baobab’s lifespan combined with excessive drought and increasing habitat changes.

“And it moves us all through despair and hope. Through faith and love till we find our place on the path unwinding. In the Circle, the Circle of Life.”

The Baobab thrives in arid areas, savannahs, and ocean-side deserts. Sparse rains, stored in its expansive trunk, makes its wood pulpy and moist. When confronted with drought, elephants will tear the trees apart to get to the watery pulp. In the barren deserts, the football size fruit is also a rich source of vitamin C. Interestingly, the ancient trade routes from Africa to India were rediscovered because the traders ate the fruit, spat out the seeds and now mature Baobabs line that trail. 

“And it moves us all through despair and hope,

Through faith and love till we find our place.” 

In Africa, the Baobab tree is considered a sacred tree. Rather than bury family members in arid ground, where night creatures easily dig them up, individuals are placed inside the tree where the interior cocoons their loved one. The Baobab tree truly gives shade, food, and comfort for those that live in its grace.

“On the path unwinding in the Circle. The Circle of Life.”

This article is dedicated to our Bonnet House friends and volunteers 

that have completed their Circle of Life.

Songwriters: Elton John / Tim Rice

Circle of Life lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

This summer at Bonnet House is packed full of fun and exciting events! Regardless of your age or interests, Bonnet House will be offering something you and your whole family will be sure to enjoy. Throughout the summer, Bonnet House will be offering a series of Orchid Classes, monthly Cool Saturday’s, as well as special events to celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and The 4th of July. If you’re interested in Orchid Care, or gardening in general, be sure to attend our popular Orchid Care classes.

This August, Bonnet House will be hosting a series of three classes designed to help you make the most of your orchid growing experience. The first class will cover the basics of orchid care, and will introduce students to the various types of orchids, locations for growing, and more basic cultivation and watering techniques. The second class focuses on repotting and mounting orchids, with an emphasis on specific techniques and the use of different materials for mounting. The final class will go into detail about diagnosing pests and diseases. For more information about our Orchid Care classes or to register, click here.

On the first Saturday of every month, July through October 2019, Bonnet House will be hosting Cool Saturdays to give visitors the chance to view our beautiful estate at half price. Museum guests will be able to explore the whimsical house, our shell museum, and our nature trails throughout the gardens. The admission is only $10 for adults and free for children under 12 on July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th, and October 5th. We hope to see you there!

On the 4th of July, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Bonnet House will be offering discounted admission rates to celebrate the holidays. Admission on these dates will be $10 for adults, and children under twelve are free. Guests will be able to celebrate these holidays by learning about the importance of the estate to not only the South Florida community, but to the rest of the country. Visitors can also enjoy the holidays outdoors by visiting our lush gardens, and seeing some of Florida’s native plants and animals.

We hope you’ll come explore Bonnet House Museum & Gardens this summer. Whether you are a first time guest, or regular visitor, there is something new and exciting to be found at Bonnet House on every trip. For more information about visiting Bonnet House this summer, click here.

When Florida East Coast Railway was completed in the late 1800s, the Fort Lauderdale area experienced its first major land boom, and since then has grown into the large metropolitan city and popular tourist destination that we all know today. By the early half of the 20th century, many wealthy individuals and families moved to the area and built grand estates to accommodate their luxurious lifestyles. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens was one of these large estates located in the center of Fort Lauderdale, however there are many other historic estates in the Broward County community as well. Click here to learn more about Bonnet House history.

One such home is the Historic Needham Estate , located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This 6,500 square foot estate was built in 1925 by world-renowned architect Francis Luis Abreu for John Wesley Needham, the first manager of the Broward Hotel. The home hosted many elegant gatherings, some were even attended by Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Constructed in the Mediterranean Revival Style, most of the estate is still original and is currently used as an event venue.

The Stranahan House , located on the New River, was built in 1901 by businessman, Frank Stranahan. When the home was initially built, the lower floor served as the trading post for his business, and the upper floor was used as a community hall. But by 1906, his business interests expanded and he was able to renovate the building into a beautiful estate for his family. Throughout the history of the estate, the home was used for multiple public projects, as Mr. Stranahan and his wife, Ivy, took on leadership roles in the community. This estate has been open to the public for viewing as a historic house museum since 1981 and welcomes more than 10,000 visitors annually.

Built in 1908 in Pompano Beach, The Sample-McDougald home was designed based on the Colonial-Revival style made famous in Chester, South Carolina. The grounds were used primarily for agricultural purposes, where the Sample family grew commercial pineapples, as well as greens and peppers. In the early 1940s, the home as purchased by the McDougald family. William McDougald held many prominent positions in the local community, including Constable of North Broward and City Commissioner, while maintaining the homes agricultural efforts. Today, the home serves as a historic house and museum where guests can take tours, and enjoy various classes and concerts.

The Old Davie School, located in Davie, Florida, began accepting students in 1918 and was in continuous use until 1978. Prior to the 20th century, the dense swamp lands made Davie and the Fort Lauderdale area difficult to access. But after the turn of the century, Davie had developed a sizeable population and needed a suitable school that didn’t also serve as the town’s general store. The Old Davie school became the first permanent school in the Fort 5/8/2019 Historic Homes In The Broward County / Fort Lauderdale Area Lauderdale area, and is currently The Old Davie School Historical Museum, housing exhibits about life and agriculture during the development of Davie.

Like the folks at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, all of the individuals involved in the daily operations of these historic homes are passionate about preserving South Florida’s unique history. Our team at Bonnet House encourages you to visit all of the historic estates that South Florida has to offer. If you are interested in visiting Bonnet House specifically, you can purchase tickets online or in person.

Spring has sprung here at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, and with it has come exciting events that you won’t want to miss this season! On March 7th, we opened our 19th Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Fundraiser, Impressions: The New Aesthetic,” and in April, we will be hosting our 12th annual Orchid Festival. Both our Orchid Festival and our new Impressions
exhibition will be fun and enjoyable for all, so be sure to bring your family and friends to help us kick off the new season at Bonnet House!

On March 7th, Bonnet House was proud to host the official opening of our 19th Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Fundraiser. “Impressions: The New Aesthetic” was created to honor the legacy of Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett’s artistic creativity and appreciation for all genres of art. This exhibit, lasting through April 28th, will showcase modern and contemporary artists from across Florida, and highlight different artistic mediums including painting, photography, and mixed media. You can see this exhibit now through April 28th during normal tour hours (between 9:00am and 4:00pm) in our Carl Weinhardt Gallery. If you’d like to see a preview of this year’s selected pieces, click here.

Also this spring, Bonnet House will be hosting the 12th Annual Bonnet House International Orchid & Garden Festival between 9am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday, April 6th and 7th, 2019. This incredibly popular festival will give orchid enthusiasts and plant lovers the opportunity to
view and purchase a diverse array of colorful and fragrant, orchids, tropical plants, herbs, and fruit trees. In addition to over thirty vendors we have from South Florida, we will also be including, for the first time, international vendors from Thailand, Malaysia, Ecuador, and Hawaii.

This two-day festival will include so much more than tropical plants. Bonnet House will also feature plenty of food vendors, libations, garden art, orchid and tropical plant displays, orchid care and general gardening lectures, a book signing with Dr. Martin Motes, and live music by The Pride Steel Band. Entry to the event is $10 and parking is free. You can purchase tickets by clicking this link.

We are proud to host wonderful events throughout the year, but the springtime is truly special for us at Bonnet House. Join us for our Impressions Exhibition and our Orchid Festival to see the changing seasons from a new and unique perspective. We can’t wait to see you there!