A recent survey from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reported that one in five Americans has an active interest in bird watching. If you’re one of the many who enjoy the infinite beauty and variety of our winged friends in South Florida, the next few months will provide you with a great deal of joy at the beautiful Bonnet House Estate. Our extremely popular Birding Classes return, led by birder extraordinaire Paddy Cunningham, who has been a professional Naturalist in South Florida for over two decades. The first of the individual Birding Classes, “Hawks Galore,” will take place Sunday, September 20 from 2pm to 5pm. Subsequent classes, also taking place on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm, will be held on November 8 (“Ascend to Better Birding”), January 10 of 2016 (“Birding by Season”), and March 6 of 2016 (“Birding by Ear & Habitat”). The cost of Birding Classes is $20 for Bonnet House Members, and $25 for non-members. To register, call the Bonnet House Education Department at (954) 703-2606. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304.
Our world-famous orchid collection is one of the many reasons why a visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Beginning on the first day of August, Bonnet House will once again be offering its popular morning orchid care classes in our lovely air-conditioned Island Theater. Come learn how to care for your orchids with orchid curators from Broward Orchid Supply. Each class is followed by a tour of the orchid greenhouse, lathe house and display house. Orchid supplies will be available for purchase at all classes.
All classes take place on Saturdays from 10am – 12pm. The schedule is as follows:
Orchid Basics – August 1, 2015
Orchid Repotting – August 8, 2015
Orchid Mounting – August 15, 2015
Diagnosing Pests & Diseases – August 22, 2015
The cost of each class is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information or to register, visit www.bonnethouse.org or contact Linda Schaller at [email protected] or (954) 703-2606.
If you are looking for a unique venue for your wedding ceremony and reception, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens offers the perfect South Florida location. Originally built in 1920, and embodying a unique combination of old-world charm and understated elegance, Bonnet House exudes classic and eclectic taste, with artwork and decorative flourishes seen at every turn and an evident love for nature reflected in the beautifully manicured grounds surrounding its 35-acre estate.
Whether you are planning a close and intimate gathering or a grand and lavish affair, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens sets the scene for romance and timeless memories. Our dramatic spaces, such as the Hibiscus Garden, fountain courtyard, water front veranda and tree-lined alee all provide memorable possibilities for a truly unforgettable wedding.
A very unique venue – listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale – Bonnet House was awarded Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award for 2014, with the maximum 5.0 score for all reviewable aspects: Quality of Service, Responsiveness, Professionalism, Value and Flexibility. For additional details, rental information or a tour, please contact Nicholle Maudlin, Events Manager, at 954-703-2608 or at [email protected].
Guests attending Bonnet House’s “Cruisin’ Down The River: Historical Adventures of Dreamers and Schemers” will cruise the New River in style aboard the famous “Carrie B” paddlewheel boat to enjoy a most entertaining evening with former Bonnet House Curator, Stephen Draft, as he shares some of the fascinating history of Fort Lauderdale’s New River and the dreamers and schemers who had a hand in establishing this historic stretch of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event, co-sponsored by Kelly’s Landing Restaurant, takes place at 5:00 p.m. on July 25, 2015.
Admission is $45 for members and $55 for non-members and includes two glasses of wine along with a lite snack generously sponsored by Kelly’s Landing. A cash bar will also be available onboard. The yacht embarkation site is 3440 North New River Drive East, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. For more information and to reserve your seat, please call (954) 653-1554 or visit BonnetHouse.org/calendar.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens kicks off its Cool Saturdays Summer Special on July 4th this season. Cool Saturdays take place the first Saturday of the month July through October – specific dates are July 4, August 1, September 5 and October 3. Visitors can explore the whimsical house where fish sculptures rise in the air, shells have their own museum and shady nature trails invite you to search for playful monkeys in the trees and majestic swans in the fresh water lakes. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under from 9am to 4pm on these days. Tour admission is always free for Bonnet House members.
A visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please call (954) 563-5393 or visit BonnetHouse.org.
The official start of summer is almost here, that time of the year when all the amazing colors of South Florida become even more intense. And you won’t find a more colorful, beautiful or fascinating place to visit during the summer months than Historic Bonnet House, one of our nation’s most popular historic houses and gardens. This colorful and airy plantation-style house, located on a 35-acre slice of breathtaking waterfront property in Fort Lauderdale, magically transports visitors to the days when Florida was one of the nation’s last frontier outposts.
Built in the 1920’s by artist and art collector Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife, Helen, Bonnet House shines with the vibrant colors and myriad decorative elements that delight visitors to this very day. Bartlett’s vivid artistry is fully reflected throughout the house, as he painted faux marble floors, and murals on walls and wood ceilings in major rooms. Extensive areas of native vegetation – including a hardwood hammock – were preserved, with a marshy area to the east of the house transformed into lagoons. The gardens and winding nature trails surrounding the house, and the wildlife inhabiting the grounds, are every bit as colorful, with swans and other waterfowl gliding in the ponds, and raccoons and even South American squirrel monkeys adding to the vibrant palette.
The story told here spans and parallels a wide swath of American history and makes a visit both to these pages and to the estate a uniquely educational, entertaining and truly unforgettable experience, which is why a summer visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, Bonnet House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is recognized as a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please call (954) 563-5393 or visit BonnetHouse.org. Come experience the beautiful colors of Florida at Bonnet House!
Truly unique among our nation’s historic houses and gardens, Bonnet House is also one of its most beautiful and popular visitor destinations. Located in a 35-acre slice of breathtaking waterfront property in Fort Lauderdale, this bright and airy plantation-style house magically transports visitors to the days when Florida was one of the nation’s last frontier outposts. The story told here is every bit as magical as the house itself, and it spans and parallels a wide swath of American history, making a visit to the estate a uniquely educational and entertaining experience.
Built in the 1920’s by artist and art collector Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife, Helen, Bonnet House is embellished with the myriad decorative elements that delight visitors to this day. After Frederic’s death in 1953, Evelyn Fortune Bartlett continued visiting her Fort Lauderdale home every winter, and in 1983, she gave Bonnet House to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. At that time the largest charitable gift in Florida history, her contribution ensured that the site would be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations.
Frederic Bartlett’s vivid artistry is fully reflected throughout the house, as he painted faux marble floors, and murals on walls and wood ceilings in major rooms. Extensive areas of native vegetation including a hardwood hammock were preserved, and a marshy area to the east of the house was transformed into lagoons. The gardens and winding nature trails surrounding the house, and the wildlife inhabiting the grounds, are every bit as colorful, with swans and other waterfowl gliding in the ponds, and raccoons and even the occasional South American squirrel monkeys adding to the vibrant and diversified palette of flora and fauna.
A visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please call (954) 563-5393 or visit BonnetHouse.org.
Historic Bonnet House, one of our nation’s most popular historic houses and gardens, will be hosting a very special Spring Fling celebration on Saturday, April 25, from 9am to 4pm. Besides touring the historic Bonnet House museum – filled with a delightful collection of art and personal treasures from the Bartlett family – and exploring the spectacular nature trails filled with native plants and trees (and the occasional monkey or swan), visitors will enjoy beautiful music with the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra performing excerpts from their upcoming concert, including the Suite for String Orchestra by Janacek and Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances Suite III. There will be two separate morning performances – the first one starting at 10:30 and the second one at 11:30, each lasting approximately 30-35 minutes.
In addition, the day’s activities will be highlighted by a live presentation of two birds of prey on the veranda lawn, at 1:30pm, with presenter Rey Becerra providing interesting insights about the habitat, feeding and nesting of these majestic animals. And to top it all off, you can savor delicious food to delight all your senses, provided by Flour Power Food Truck.
Admission is $10 for adults, and free for children 12 and under. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please contact Linda Schaller at (954) 703-2606 or online at [email protected].
Reprinted with permission
Among the watercraft rentals and spring break parties of Fort Lauderdale lies a safe haven for nature and art: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Bonnet House was the winter home of artist and Chicago native Frederic Bartlett, his second wife Helen Louise Birch, and third wife Evelyn Fortune Lilly. Named for the vibrant bonnet lilies found on the grounds, the house remains a direct reflection of the Bartletts’ enthusiasm for creative expression and passion for the preservation of the untouched Florida landscape of the 30s and 40s.
Monica Estevez, Marketing Manager with Bonnet House, notes, “People are amazed at what a tranquil and secluded place it is, even though it is located in the middle of Fort Lauderdale beach.” Estevez believes the loyalty to the vision of the Bartlett family is a unique part of its charm. “They loved life and each other and created a unique winter home that was reflective of them and their interests.”
Today, Bonnet House is maintained by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and is dedicated to serving the community as a place of artistic expression and preservation. The grounds, brimming with fauna and spanning 35 acres, host a variety of Florida’s native ecosystems, from beachfront dunes to mangrove wetlands; the gardens serve as a conservation of Florida’s ever-decreasing barrier island habitats. The interior of the House itself remains virtually untouched, offering a window into the lives of the Bartletts. Each room has its own role and personality, developed over time through the eclectic tastes of Frederic, Helen, and Evelyn. Galleries are filled with the art collected by the Bartletts, as well as a collection of Evelyn Bartlett’s personal work.
Every year, Bonnet House hosts a wide array of events, ranging from live music series to educational programs. Estevez estimates that, “11,000 participate each year, including about 8,500 youth who come on school field trips or participate in distance learning programs sponsored by the museum.” A particularly popular program, “An Eco Here, An Eco There,” invites students to perform a field study of the rich habitats surrounding the Bonnet House. The House also hosts widely attended community events such as the Orchid Festival, which is held annually at the beginning of Florida’s cool winter season. The Orchid Festival brings together local vendors featuring exotic plant life, garden art, and gourmet food trucks for a weekend of mixed drinks, green markets, culinary demos, and garden lectures. This affords visitors the opportunity to curate their own garden collection, taking the Bonnet House experience into their own homes.
The Bartlett legacy is one of artistic investment and devotion to creative expression. The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Bonnet House is loyal to that vision through both the upkeep of the grounds and the devotion to the display and stewardship of the house’s interior. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens remains a refuge for creative souls, inquisitive students, and those with the desire to experience the rich artistic and cultural history Fort Lauderdale has to offer.
About Florida State Homes: Florida State Homes is a full service brokerage firm serving all of Florida, priding itself in having the best real estate agents in the state who value honesty and integrity above closing a sale.
Our world-famous orchid collection is one of the many reasons why a visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Our greenhouses and display house hold approximately 1,200 stunning, exotic plants in various stages of development. Truly a special treat for orchid enthusiasts and novices, our Orchid Greenhouse Tours take place on the second Tuesday of each month, with our Bonnet House Orchid Curator showing you around our greenhouses and discussing how our beautiful orchids are bred and cultivated – including our impressive seedling program, with orchid seedlings available for purchase. These popular tours are offered from 11am to 12pm, in groups of 15 to allow for questions and discussion, for $20 per person.
The story told at Bonnet House Museum and Gardens spans and parallels a wide swath of American history and makes a visit both to these pages and to the estate a uniquely educational and entertaining experience. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Limited reservations are available for the Greenhouse Tours, and pre-registration is required. To register, please call (954) 703-2606 or visit BonnetHouse.org.
