Tuesday themed teas starting at Burroughs Home
Lavender is the first theme in a series of themed teas to be held at the Burroughs Home & Gardens on Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 14.
The teas will be held at the historic Burroughs Home, located at 2505 First St., in downtown Fort Myers.
Local author and tea maven Laurie Nienhaus will host the teas. A Fort Myers Beach resident, she has written several books, including “And Then It Was Teatime.”
She has a very Victorian flair, which perfectly suits her for this role at the Burroughs Home.
Right over the Edison Bridge from Business 41, many North Fort Myers and Cape Coral residents frequent the historic home for the holidays and other celebrations.
Besides being a published author, Nienhaus is a local speaker and playwright and will present the weekly programs for the Uncommon Friends Foundation, which is based out of the Burroughs Home.
“Lavender not only offers a very olfactory experience, which helps you sleep and has a lot of health benefits, but it is also a very interesting herb to cook with, but you do need to be careful when you cook with it,” said Nienhaus.
She said it is among the most versatile of herbs, possesses a wide array of uses and has a fascinating history.
The Tuesday Teas will start at 1 p.m. and last one hour.
“Every week there will be a different and entertaining program with the tea,” she said.
The first three events will feature The Garden Tea Series.
Following “The Lavender Tea,” on Tuesday, Sept. 21, the next tea will be “Tisanes to Tickle Your Fancy,” which will explain the difference between a tea and a tisane, with samplings of five different styles.
“A Fairy Tea” will then be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Even grown-ups can enjoy a fairy tea, officials said.
A display of Victorian fairy paintings will be provided at this event.
“We would like to make this a permanent event at the Burroughs Home,” said Event and Property Manager Christine Forbes. “We also have Living History Tours and the home is available for special events, such as weddings, birthday parties and corporate events.”
Forbes said she is already working on the extremely popular holiday tours of the site.
“We do this in a combined tour of the Burroughs Home and the Langford-Kingston House, decorated by The Fort Myers Women’s Community Club,” she said.
The Uncommon Friends Foundation, established in 1993, is a character education foundation whose mission is to instill ethics, moral values and a sense of purpose in tomorrow s leaders.
The foundation is based on positive values promoted by author James D. Newton and his works on Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Dr. Alexis Carrel, and Charles Lindbergh — intellectual giants, officials said, who helped shape the 20th Century.
Reservations are required for each Tuesday Tea and can be made by calling 337-0706. The cost for each tea is $25.