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Bonnet House 2024-2025 Season Preview

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Here at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, we cannot believe how fast 2024 has flown by! So far, this year has been packed full of fun events, educational workshops, artistic classes, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy time with friends and family.

This year, we have proudly continued our legacy as a South Florida treasure, and opened our doors to individuals of all ages from all over the world. We couldn’t be more excited to build upon the momentum of the first half of this year as we move towards the fall and winter seasons, and into 2025! This fall, we will be taking advantage of the cooling temperatures by offering plenty of opportunities to get outside and connect with nature. From yoga to beekeeping, and from birding to painting, Bonnet House truly has something for everyone this coming autumn.

● Yoga On The Veranda: Fridays, September 6th, October 4th, and November 1st – 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
● Watercolor Workshop (6 Weeks): October 1- November 5, 2024, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
● Birding Classes: Sundays, October 6th, November 10th, January 5th, February 2nd, and March 2nd, 2:00 – 4:30 PM
● Is Beekeeping Right For You: October 12, 10am – 12:30pm

As we move away from the fall months, Bonnet House gets ready to shift into high-gear for the holiday season. The holidays give us all a unique opportunity to celebrate the successes and lessons of the previous year, express our gratitude for our loved ones, and show generosity to causes close to our hearts. Here at Bonnet House, we offer a variety of opportunities to celebrate the holidays and make a meaningful impact on our local community. Holiday Magic events will take place on December 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2024.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are thrilled to announce a variety of new and continuing events, exhibits, classes, and workshops. These interesting opportunities are perfect for those looking to start their new year by either starting a new hobby or getting back into an old one.

● Orchid Care Classes (Orchid Basics): Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
● Orchid Care Classes (Orchid Replanting and Mounting): Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
● Oil/Acrylic Painting Workshops (6 weeks): Tuesdays, January 7th – February 11th, 2025, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Tuesdays, February 18th – March 25th, 2025, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
● Forest Forms (Inaugural Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit): January 11th – April 27th, 2025
● Bees In Our Bonnet: April 12th, 10 AM – 12:30 PM
● International Orchid & Garden Festival: Saturday and Sunday, April 5th & 6th, 2025

We are also thrilled to announce that in January 2025, we will be continuing our popular speaker series! On Monday, January 13th, Jason Alvares will be here to discuss the early inhabitants of Florida, colonialism, and Florida in the modern era. On Monday, February 10th, Kent Planck will be joining us for a fascinating discussion on the hidden meanings behind Frederic Bartlett’s paintings. Finally, on Monday, the 10th, Bonnet House Curator, Katie Valli, will be leading a lecture that explores the essentials of caring for both museum as well as private/personal collections.

Getting all of these events on our schedule and executed is no small feat and none of this would be possible without our staff, volunteers, and museum patrons. Without the support of our guests and generous donors, we would not be able to not just preserve the Bonnet House estate, but showcase its beauty and cultural significance for generations to come.

We hope that you consider attending one or many of our upcoming events at the end of 2024 and into 2025. To learn more about specific events, and register, visit our event calendar .

Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM)

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DISCOVER CULTURAL TREASURES IN YOUR BACKYARD!

September 2024

September is Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM), which encourages visitors to experience the diversity of cultural treasures throughout Broward County. During September, visitors may buy one admission and get a second admission for free to 13 participating museums and attractions in Broward County, while seven additional museums offer free admission, as part of the BAMM promotion.

Adventures await you right outside your door! Discover new artists or ancient artifacts, ride on a riverboat or an airboat, explore a botanical garden and historic house or feed a flamingo…and so much more.

Participating attractions and museums include:

  • Art and Culture Center/ Hollywood (BOGO admission)
  • Bonnet House Museum & Gardens (BOGO admission *self-guided tours only)
  • Butterfly World (BOGO admission)
  • Coral Springs Museum of Art (Free admission)
  • Flamingo Gardens (BOGO admission)
  • The Frank Art Gallery (Free admission)
  • Historic Stranahan House (BOGO admission *online reservation encouraged)
  • History Fort Lauderdale (BOGO admission)
  • Island SPACE Caribbean Museum (BOGO admission)
  • Jungle Queen Riverboats (BOGO *90-minute cruises only *online reservation required)
  • Museum of Discovery and Science (BOGO *Tuesdays excluded. Adult purchase required)
  • NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale (BOGO admission)
  • Old Davie School Historical Museum (BOGO admission *online reservation required)
  • Plantation Historical Museum (Free admission)
  • Pompano Beach Historical Society (Free admission *reservation required)
  • Sawgrass Recreation Park (BOGO admission *online reservation required)
  • Stonewall National Museum & Archives (Free admission)
  • Studio 18 Art Complex (Free admission)
  • World AIDS Museum (Free admission)
  • Young At Art Museum (BOGO admission)

 Visitors just need to mention “BAMM” or inquire about the offer at the facility’s ticket booth to purchase one regular price admission and get a second admission of equal or lesser value for free. (Some organizations may offer the discount online using BAMM as the promotional code.)

Participating organizations may have additional restrictions or blackout dates that apply, as well as additional discounted offers available. No other offers, discounts or coupons may apply. Visitors should check each attraction’s website or call for details, hours of operation, and other updates before visiting.

Broward Attractions and Museums Month is September 1-30, 2024. Click here for additional information.

All-New Fine Artist Member Exhibit At Bonnet House

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It is no secret that the Bonnet House estate has an extensive history here in South Florida. Most of us are already familiar with the artistic influence of the Bartlett and Birch families, as well as the fact that Bonnet House continues to serve as an important artistic and cultural hub of the Fort Lauderdale community. But despite the prolific artistic influence that the original owners had right here in Florida and throughout the country, they all had to work their way up from amateurs to become the renowned artists that they are known as today.

It is for this reason that we do our best to celebrate the variety of talented artists we have right here in our local community. Each quarter, Bonnet House showcases art created by amateur, semi-professional, and professional artists in South Florida. This quarter, from August 27th – November 24th, you can visit our Middle Gallery to explore mixed-media artwork created by Howard Blacker, Pam Breitberg, Ellie Davis, George Dolan, Sandy Dolan, Claudia Hafner, Cindy Jenkins, Carol Moore, Gerard Pastor, Barbie Pearson, Phoenix, Kent Planck, Dianna Silvagni, and Melissa Zanni.

Highlights of this quarter’s Fine Artist Member Exhibit include nature, still life, fictional and nonfictional subjects, and even our favorite historic home, Bonnet House. Each piece is for sale and supports both our talented local artists, and our museum. We encourage everyone to not only view the artwork, but consider purchasing a unique piece to decorate your home, or give to a loved one.

With so many fantastic local artists, there is no shortage of unique art for us to display. We hope that you take advantage of these rotating opportunities to support and enjoy the talents of local artists and creators. To learn more about visiting our quarterly Fine Artist Member Exhibit, or to see how you can have your art featured, click here!

Bonnet House & Orchids – A Unique Connection

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If you’ve ever visited Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, you may associate our historic estate with the beautiful and unique orchid flower. This is no doubt because, included on our vast property, is an Orchid House that houses a stunning variety of orchids from all over the world. Additionally, we have been hosting an annual International Orchid Festival as well as beginner & intermediate Orchid Classes for over a decade.

Many may be wondering, “Why do we place such a specific emphasis on orchids?” This is an excellent question. While our gardens contain a multitude of plants from a variety of climate zones (including our Desert Garden, Maritime Forest, and much more), we do place a particular emphasis on orchids. This is due to the fact that Evelyn Bartlett, one of Bonnet House’s original owners, was a prolific collector of orchids.

We pay homage to Evelyn and her interests by not only offering opportunities for guests to view orchids from around the globe in full bloom, but also to purchase and learn more about caring for orchids on their own. This August, we are happy to announce that we will be starting our popular Orchid Care Classes!

The first class will take place on Tuesday, August 6th, from 9:30-11:30am. 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. Each class is followed by an informative guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well as our Orchid Greenhouses. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

For advanced orchid care techniques, our intermediate classes will take place on Tuesday, August 13th, 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. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To secure your place in the class, click here.

You can join us in celebrating the legacy of Evelyn Bartlett by attending our Orchid Care Classes. Regardless of your knowledge of orchid care techniques, we hope to see you at our upcoming orchid classes this August. These classes are very popular and will fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot today!

Don’t Miss Out On The Family Summer Special

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Is it just us or has this summer flown by? The fact that we are already mid-way through July is astounding to us here at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens! But it is no shock that this summer has gone by in a flash. With all of our fantastic events, classes and workshops, it is no wonder why the summer season has passed by so quickly!

This is why we wanted to take some time to remind you all about The Family Summer Special. This fantastic annual deal begins on June 1st, and continues through September 1st. During this time, Bonnet House is happy to offer reduced rates to our guests that includes $25 admission for adults and free admission for anyone 17 and under. Guests will have the opportunity to not only take a self-guided tour of the estate, but also spend time searching for birds, and other interesting wildlife in our lakes, ponds, and gardens.

Our expansive 35-acre estate contains a large Main House which features a unique collection of decorative and fine art, as well as a secluded nature trail that is perfectly suited for families. While visiting, guests are invited to walk a one-way route around the beautiful Main House and take a self-guided tour through our expansive gardens. You never know what interesting wildlife you may experience on our property.

To give our guests an optimal experience, we have developed audio recordings that can be accessed from mobile devices as you walk through our estate. This artful and educational audio tour features information about each room, significant items from the collection, and the families responsible for the estate’s creation.

The Family Summer Special is available Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and tickets can be purchased at the Welcome Center. To learn more about the Family Summer Special, click here.

We hope that you consider visiting the Bonnet House estate this summer. With free admission for the kids, you and the whole family can spend a beautiful day learning about the historical and ecological significance of South Florida without breaking the bank. Plan your visit today!

Orchid Care Classes Returning This August

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Summertime has once again returned to South Florida! If you think the summers are hot and humid where you live, it’s probably not even close to the heat and humidity that we experience here in Fort Lauderdale. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we welcome and embrace the hot sticky climate this time of year! This is because, here at Bonnet House, we are passionate about growing and caring for a variety of tropical plants, including orchids. In fact, we center many of our annual events and workshops around these unique, eye-catching plants.

This August, we are excited to announce the return of our popular Orchid Care Classes! These classes are designed for both beginners and experienced growers. These interesting classes 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. Our greenhouse is filled with a variety of perfectly cared for orchids, and more. During this tour, guests will learn exclusive details about our orchid care techniques and have the opportunity to ask our expert Orchid Curator questions.

The first class will take place on Tuesday, August 6th, from 9:30-11:30am. 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. Each class is followed by an informative guided tour of our Orchid Display House as well as our Orchid Greenhouses. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members.  To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

To learn about more advanced orchid care techniques, our intermediate classes will take place on Tuesday, August 13th, 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. This course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Whether you are new to orchids, or have been growing them for decades, these classes are sure to offer new and interesting insights into the exciting world of orchid care. Regardless of your knowledge of orchid care techniques, we hope to see you at our upcoming orchid classes this August. These classes are very popular and will fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot today!

Make Memories As A Family: Bonnet House Family Summer Special

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Summer is finally here and school is out! That means that many families are searching for activities to keep their kids and loved ones occupied, and make meaningful memories before the new school year begins. Here at Bonnet House, we work hard to ensure that our historic estate and vast gardens are enjoyable for all, and are also accessible to families of all shapes and sizes.

Starting on June 1st, 2024, Bonnet House is excited to announce the return of our popular Family Summer Special! This special deal includes $25 admission for adults and free admission for anyone 17 and under through September 1st. Guests will have the opportunity to not only take a self-guided tour of the estate, but also spend time searching for birds, and other interesting wildlife in our lakes, ponds, and gardens.

Our 35-acre estate contains a Main House which features a whimsical collection of decorative and fine art, as well as a nature trail that is perfectly suited for families. While visiting, you are more than welcome to enjoy walking a one-way route around the beautiful Main House and taking a self-guided tour through our expansive gardens.

To give our guests an optimal experience, we have developed audio recordings that can be accessed from mobile devices as you walk through our estate. This artful and educational audio tour features information about each room, significant items from the collection, and the families responsible for the estate’s creation.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is the perfect place to bring your family to make lasting memories this summer. With free admission for the kids, you and the whole family can spend a beautiful day learning about the historical and ecological significance of South Florida without breaking the bank. We hope to see you and your family at Bonnet House this summer!

FROM THE COLLECTIONS VAULT

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Fine Artist Member Art Exhibit and the Guest House/Carl J. Weinhardt Gallery

An all-new Fine Artist Member Art Exhibit is up in the middle room of the Gallery! The quarterly rotating exhibit features art created by amateur, semi-professional, and professional artists local to the area. The show is mixed media with subjects being whatever the artist is inspired by. Nature, still life, fictional and nonfictional subjects, a popular one of course being our favorite historic home, Bonnet House. And all are for sale! Your purchase benefits both the artist and the museum. This exhibit features art created by local artists Howard Blacker, Jason Bollack, Anna Collins, Eleanor Davis, Barbara DiMartini, Sandy Dolan, George Dolan, Ruth Logan, Barbie Pearson, Phoenix, Kent Planck, and Karen Tondiglia.

The exhibit recently moved into the Gallery, which was a former guest house of the Bartletts. According to our files, “it consisted of two bedrooms, a sitting room (where the exhibit is), and two bathrooms. This was where guests stayed when visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett. In the “master plan”, Carl Weinhardt, the first Director at Bonnet House, had projected that someday these rooms would make a perfect art gallery for the museum. In the spring of 1986 Mr. Weinhardt passed away suddenly. At this time a memorial fund was established, and plans began to turn the guest wing into the Carl J. Weinhardt Memorial Gallery. In September of 1986 Jack and Mary Wilcox, long-time friends of Mrs. Bartlett, became Directors at Bonnet House. Their first accomplishment as directors was to open the Carl J. Weinhardt Memorial Gallery.”

You will notice that the Bartlett’s whimsical tastes extended to the three main rooms of this guest house, with each room themed in the primary colors of red, blue, or yellow. This is still evident in the window and door frames. Featured in the two former bedrooms is a selection of art by Evelyn Fortune Bartlett, including beautifully crafted pastel works, watercolors, and oil paintings created in the 1930s. Photographs in this blog post show how the guest rooms once looked, as well as how the new Fine Artist Exhibit looks today. Come on over and check it out – this Fine Artist Exhibit will be running through August 26th, 2024.

Bonnet House’s Wheelchair Accessible Golf Cart Spreads Smiles to Children with Disabilities

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Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is an essential part of Fort Lauderdale. The historic site, dating to 1920, is a popular destination for Florida tourists and a welcome reprieve for locals from the active Fort Lauderdale scene. While the city landscape looks entirely different than it did 100 years ago, the Bartlett’s artistic estate looks very much the same, making Bonnet House and its gorgeous natural land a popular destination for field trips.

Friday, April 12th was a busy morning for field trips at Bonnet House. That morning, staff and volunteers were preparing to welcome groups of children from a local school. Linda Schaller, Director of Education and Volunteer Programs, was at the helm, with Tour Coordinator Randy Mayweather and Volunteer Bonnie Lundy, all ready to receive the groups pouring out from the buses and guide field trips that engage students in a fun day of learning.

“There are different kinds of programs for school children,” Randy explained, “sometimes schools want art programs, sometimes science.” Recently, Bonnet House has been taking steps to increase STEM education. “This school was here for our Eco Program. This program gives kids the opportunity to learn about several types of waterways, about what Indigenous peoples and settlers had to do to make water drinkable and learn about water quality using a hydrometer. We go on nature walks, watch the birds, turtles, and fish. Just a couple of weeks ago, a group of students enjoyed watching a manatee under the bridge near the boat house. These children might get to see an anhinga (a kind of waterfowl) catch a fish for lunch. Children come here to be in nature and learn from experience – in a way they can’t anywhere else.”

The buses arrived and the field trippers, eager to enjoy their day, organized into groups. “I always know ahead of time how many students are coming,” Linda said. “Teachers fill out a registration form, and I usually communicate with them via email as phone calls are tough when they are teaching. I give a list as to how to pack lunches to make them animal proof, what to wear and how to dress – no flip flops etc. – and ask about physical disabilities so we can make appropriate accommodations.”

Including Linda, some of Bonnet House’s other staff and volunteers also have previous careers in education. Bonnie is one of the volunteers at Bonnet House who specializes in tours for children. In her career, Bonnie worked many years as a special needs educator; she has the skillset and experience to work directly with children who have a disability. She knows how to read their cues and help facilitate understanding. Bonnie’s experience was especially needed on this particular Friday; not only did Bonnet House welcome seventy students, but seven of these students had mental disabilities, and one young girl was wheelchair-bound due to physical impairment.

Much of Bonnet House’s grounds are natural, Florida land. Unpaved dirt, mulch, or gravel paths are difficult to navigate for anyone who cannot walk unaided. In years past, a child who was not able to move their limbs would have to be carried out of their wheelchair by their aide and transferred to a golf cart. This can be distressing for the child, and, in recent years, has been discouraged for health and safety reasons. Consequently, Linda recalled, “We came to understand very quickly that we needed to make a change to better accommodate guests with diverse needs.

For a non-profit organization like Bonnet House, funding the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible golf cart is no small feat. Yet, the need for a golf cart that could accommodate a wheelchair without transferring its occupant between seats struck a chord with Bonnet House donors. “It was a fast fundraiser!” Linda remarked. “Many of our staff and volunteers work directly with the kids and guests of all ages. They see the need firsthand and many of them contributed. I’m so proud of them…always! Along with our donors and members who made this possible, we are very, very lucky to have such caring people supporting Bonnet House!”

The new golf cart was invaluable that Friday morning. Bonnie recalled, “For physically disabled children, their chair is their comfort zone. That day, the young girl who used a wheelchair was upset, frightened, and crying when she arrived – distressed and scared to be out of her known environment. Her teacher was wonderful, though.”

Linda and Randy agreed. Randy recalled, “that teacher was amazing! She teaches the kids compassion, kindness, how to be friendly and nice. The other kids went up to hug the girl when she was crying and said, ‘don’t cry! It’s okay!’”

“With the wheelchair-accessible golf cart, now people with physical disabilities can stay right in their own wheelchairs where they feel the most secure.” Linda recalled, “Her aide wheeled her to the golf cart, and we tried to help her feel comfortable, calling her by name saying, ‘this is a cart just for you and your aide. We are going to put down a ramp and get you on so you can be with everyone else.’ As we put down the ramp, she looked up and smiled. We got the chair secure with hooks and straps and talked as we put up the ramp, and off we went to the house. When it came time for the grounds, we did the same. We made sure each of the students got to ride in the cart too!”

“It’s so good to have that wheelchair tram,” Randy said. We drove her all around the grounds, the trails, the beach path up to the fence before A1A so she could look out over the ocean.”

Bonnie said, “As soon as she got in the golf cart and realized she could be in her own chair, she stopped crying. By the end of the field trip, the young girl was smiling, looking around and enjoying herself, rather than being scared or stressed. She never cried again; she smiled and was still smiling as they got on the bus.”

“The teacher told us she had been afraid to bring this little one,” Linda recalled, “because she was not sure how she would react to such a big change. By the end of the field trip, she let us know that this was a wonderful experience for the child and her whole class. This little girl is the reason for the wheelchair-accessible golf cart. She could not use arms or legs; she could not talk, but that smile on her face meant everything to us.”

Darla Stanton, Director of Development added, “we have the best donors. They are all so generous, have a genuine love of Bonnet House, and understand what this historic property means to Fort Lauderdale. It takes a lot to preserve the home and estate! Then, there are additional needs that come up like this wheelchair-accessible golf cart. We told them what we needed, how much it would cost, and they came through. I’m so very thankful for all we can accomplish due to their generosity.”

2024 Volunteer Appreciation Event at Bonnet House

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Each Spring, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens recognizes the great efforts of our fabulous volunteers by celebrating with an evening in their honor.  On Thursday, April 18th, Bonnet House staff and the Board of Directors joined to personally thank the many volunteers for their generous donations of time and talent guiding tours, field trips, and making our guests feel welcome in our Old Florida setting.  Did you know that some of our volunteers complete 200 – 400 hours of service each year?

Local restaurants and hotels donate gift cards and hotel stays for these extraordinary human beings. It’s impossible to explain the amount of joy our volunteers express when receiving these wonderful gifts of gratitude. This year, our grand prize from The Capital Grille in the Galleria Mall, went to a volunteer who completed over 1,000 hours!

Our Bonnet House Education and Visitor Services Department would like to thank these amazing businesses who so generously donated to this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Event.  We know how wonderful they are and ask that everyone continue to support these local businesses in our Fort Lauderdale neighborhood!

Angelo Elia Pizza, Aruba Beach Cafe, Big Time Restaurant Group: City Tavern, Louie Bossi’s, Rocco’s Tacos; Croissan’Time French Bakery, Greek Islands Taverna, J. Mark’s Restaurant, PF Chang’s, Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine, The Parrot Lounge, Pelican Grand Beach Resort, Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard, Stork’s Café and Bakery and The Capital Grille.

Thank you to Barbie Pearson for capturing the evening so beautifully.  Click here to view all the photos.