DECEMBER 19, 2015
4th Saturday work morning is from 9 am to noon – It was not as cold as forecast, seldom is at Spring House, and we had a good group; thank you Emily, Judy, Rob, Ben, Anna R, Andrew, Hilary, Diana, Anna F, Patsy, Seth and Byrd! Y'all, WE FINISHED CUTTING AND HAULING THE WILLOWS OUT OF THE POND! It has been a 8 MONTH project! THANK YOU to EVERYONE who helped!
DECEMBER 13, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was special this December. Thank you to everyone who visited with us! We even had a kitty named Clinger visit us on her friend's shoulder! You can't say owner with a cat, as all friends of cats know. It was a pretty day and we always appreciate the people who care enough to help with this important project by donating to be in Mr. Wright's amazing design.
DECEMBER 12, 2015
SPRING HOUSE INSTITUTE was at the SATURDAY "UPTOWN" MARKET Saturday (but not Sunday.) We have our 2nd Sunday Tours Dec 13. We had FUN and a GREAT day today! Talked to so many people and we look for many of you to visit tomorrow from 2 to 4 PM for our 2nd Sunday Tours! No reservations required! Join us!
DECEMBER 4, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up right in front of the "new" office and behind Black Dog Cafe. It was a great spot, we had fun neighbors and Lillian loaned us a light because there are no street lights at the entrance until you get up to Black Dog. Maybe the city could add a couple on the walk into the park? It's always fun though, even in the cold, and IT WAS BOTH! Thanks for stopping by!
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
The Last Regular Saturday in the "Uptown" Downtown Park! This was an exceptionally beautiful day in Tallahassee! I tried to figure out how to describe what felt so different about it, but I think it's that our climate IS changing and so it's really new and unexpected. The crocosmia at Spring House in coming up like it does in the early spring and a Japanese Magnolia I pass walking with Sadie keeps occasionally having a new bloom, one at a time, and hasn't lost all of its leaves yet. Azaleas are blooming in different places....
NOVEMBER 21, 2015 *RE-SCHEDULED from Nov 28
4th Saturday work morning was lots of fun today! It ALWAYS is, even if it's drizzling, even if it's hot, even if it's cold! Today was no exception and we did great work! PLUS we met a little black and white salamander none of us had ever seen before! Mary Beth found him and brought him for everyone to meet, then took him back to his abode. He was sleepy, but perked up after a few minutes and started crawling out of her hand! :)
NOVEMBER 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE today it rained the entire time, but it's always special, no matter the weather. Don't ever let it stop you! When it rains you get to see things you don't at other times, you have to come see to find out what they are. It was a very cozy day, comfortable inside, and we all could feel that the temperature was dropping. Thank you all for your visit during the rain! We enjoyed being with you as our weather changes!
NOVEMBER 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new spot, across from Black Dog Cafe on the corner. It was our first full night since August; September and October were rained out. It seemed like forever since we were there. The sidewalk on the Black Dog side is finished and LOTS of people were using it, and there's sod on that side too, it looks great! An amazing number of folks pouring into Railroad Square! It didn't look like the Fair changed things much on THIS night! Come join the FUN!
OCTOBER 24, 2015
4th Saturday work morning from 9 am to noon. This was a great work morning with a hard working, FUN group of undergraduate and graduate architectural students from FAMU, SHI volunteers and board members! We got the pond down to one more work morning of clearing to finish this exciting project! Thank you everyone! YOU ARE TERRIFIC!
OCTOBER 11, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – A beautiful fall day in the woods, many great people who visited enjoyed Spring House and we enjoyed you! Thank you ALL for coming! It seemed there were more young people and children this day than sometimes and we're always happy for them to come! It's a chance to open up their ideas of the way things are and can be, a new awareness.
OCTOBER 2, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute enjoys being at the park. We got rained out October 1st Friday but these are really fun evenings where thousands of people gather for the good music, fine food, great art and crafts, and making new friends and visiting with old ones. Come join the FUN!
SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 – Our SEPTEMBER CELEBRATION was a great event! Bill Humphries bird photographs are outstanding and spread the word, SHI is fortunate to have them through 2nd Sunday, October 11! Belmont & Jones are awesome musicians and made this a lively occasion, we look forward to their awesome music at Spring House many times in the future! JBs Famous Chicken Stew was a HIT and totally GONE! If I hadn't leaned over the balcony and called for him to save me some, well, he did and I got to share with my brothers! Thank you everyone who came and made this such a special occasion, and to all of you who worked so hard, we can't do these wonderful events without you! You're the BEST!
SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – What a beautiful Fall day, one of the things Tallahassee is loved for, a perfect day at Spring House! Thank you to the great people who attended, and made this such a special time. There were people there from all over the country and everyone seemed to really enjoy the day. Come join us for our next event, September 26, 6 to 9 pm, Bill Humphries' exceptional Bird Photographs, music by Belmont and Jones, and JB's Famous Chicken Stew on the terrace!
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute was fortunate with everyone else Friday afternoon that the heavy rain came and went before 5:30 and we found a spot for our table over by the entrance to The Other Side. We could watch the break dancers enjoying their "duels" and then later the different musicians who took the stage in front of the building. It was a pretty perfect afternoon from then on, not too hot, a bit bright for a while but the sun gets low in the west pretty quickly after 6. Another great evening at RRSquare!
AUGUST 22, 2015
4th Saturday work morning at Spring House – This was just an incredible day! Diana had the idea of inviting, friends, family and co-workers to share her birthday by working at Spring House work morning! Many people joined us, the weather cooperated, it was a good day for August. Everyone worked hard, drank lots of water, had fun and did an AMAZING AMOUNT of what needed doing in the dry pond. The goal was to cut the remaining willows that grew when the pond dried up once years ago, and a huge portion of that was done! Thank you so much Diana, Matt and all of you wonderful, hardworking friends!
AUGUST 9, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was a really nice day yesterday. These tours are always fun, we meet such kind, interesting, and interested people! Thank you all for coming and enjoying Spring House with us. Every tour there are people who have driven and flown to Tallahassee just to see Spring House. Some of them travel all over the country visiting Mr. Wright's work wherever it is open to the public. Spring House is newly available and only just getting known as being open, and people are traveling to visit us!
AUGUST 7, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE we set up our table in a different spot again. The work down there is progressing and right now there are big pipes lying around waiting to go underground. The forecast didn't look good for Friday night, but we went, got everything out, visited with a few people and each other and Lillian came to warn us the radar was looking like it was headed our way. She was right! We got everything back in the truck before it poured! We were all glad we went, good to see each other!
JULY 25, 2015
4th Saturday work morning at Spring House was amazing! We had a great team and jumped right into cutting a fallen tree near the pond, getting all its limbs off and to the road, and then started the job of cutting and removing willows from the pond! The willows grew when the stream dried up twice in the last 20 years; it never had in the previous forty years. Big day at Spring House! More to do next work morning, August 22! Join us!
JULY 12, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE yesterday was an an amazing day, thank you to everyone who came! It was a beautiful, and yes HOT summer day, but it was comfortable inside. The article in the Democrat last week helped bring many people out in spite of the heat and Spring House Institute appreciates that, thank you again! We hope you found our staff friendly, our tour interesting and informative, the house beautiful, the water cold, and the fans sufficient! Great groups of people, many brought their children, from Tallahassee, other cities in Florida, and other states! We are grateful for your interest and support!
JULY 3, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new spot! There is a new entrance into the park, just before you get to the old entrance. The Black Dog Cafe is now open where the Railroad Square office used to be and the office is in a building just before you get to Black Dog. Spring House will have the first spot as you enter the new entrance. We were there last Friday and lots of people came, even with the new free music night at Cascade Park going on at the same time. Many people would like to see the City re-schedule the music night for 1st Saturday, have TWO great weekend nights! Here's hoping they can see the benefit in that!
JUNE 27, 2015
4TH SATURDAY WORK MORNING at Spring House from 9 a.m. to noon! This is a monthly scheduled work morning. We have coffee and breakfast food first thing, plenty of ice water, adult beverages and soft drinks after! When the weather turns cold we may move this to the afternoon, but we'll post it on our workday page! This was our second time doing this, it rained before we got started but that gave time for a tour for our new volunteer who we're so happy has become a FOSH as well! We had a great time of good work on drainage at the from entrance, it looks like it will work well and looks GOOD! Also did "chop and bury" on more poison ivy! Thank you for the very nice morning!
JUNE 14, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE, WE CELEBRATED FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S 148TH BIRTHDAY!
A great day in the country! Thank you everyone who supported SHI by coming out in the near summer heat! We had palmetto fans for everyone, plenty of cold water, ice-cream and cake! Many families with precious children and good hearted folks sharing and laughing! THANK YOU!
JUNE 8 through 12, 2015
B.E.A.T. Week – "Being Extraordinary Around Tallahassee" is St. John's Episcopal Youth Ministry, when 6th - 12th grade students volunteer on projects around Tallahassee. Spring House was blessed to be included in the places where young people from St. John's Episcopal Church WORK and SING June 8 through12! THANK YOU St. John's young people! We enjoyed meeting you, working with you, and being thankful for you! BLESSINGS!
JUNE 5, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new space, with brochures, t-shirts, books, cards, bags to help us raise funds to preserve Spring House for public use. These are really fun evenings at the square. People come in walking, running, skate boarding, with their children, dogs, on bikes, with brightly lit hoola hoops, dressed in costumes, dressed like summer, NOW! HOOYAH!
MAY 23, 2015
4th Saturday Work Morning! Saturday morning SHI had our first scheduled work morning! It was a great day for it, pretty cool, early, and we had plenty to do in the shade as the morning warmed up. Seth and Avery came, Cynthia and Lydia and Byrd. We had fruit, coffee, breakfast bread, HB eggs, and plenty of water. We got an amazing amount of yard work done and enjoyed each other and the morning. Seth found two sibling turtles about five inches long that we all enjoyed, specially Avery! Thank you SHI Volunteers!
MAY 10, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
This was a special day at Spring House! When we realized that 2nd Sunday was also Mothers Day this year we didn't want to cancel our tours but we didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be a dear day, so many people came out to visit because it was something nice to do with their mothers to celebrate! We enjoyed every minute! Thank you everyone who shared the afternoon with us, you made it what it was, and it was FUN!
MAY 1, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in front of the almost ready new Black Dog Cafe! They will have a soft opening around May 15, very exciting for them to be opening a second location! We are fortunate to have had the spot we have at Railroad! Friday was the first regular free music night at Cascades Park and it didn't seem to impact 1st Friday at RRSquare. Lots of folks stopped by our table and we let them know about our May 10 2nd Sunday Tours at Spring House, 2 to 4 pm, $15 donation, children under 12 free! TREAT YOUR MOTHER TO A TOUR OF THE ONLY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN FLORIDA!
COME ON OUT!
APRIL 23, 2015
SPRING HOUSE INSTITUTE welcomed New York Artist Dene Ross with her Pulp Paintings and Local Music Duo Seth and Ryals! Dene's beautiful new art, all created since January 2015, filled Spring House! Seth & Ryals have been playing together every week for thirty years, last night was the first time they've "played out" and they played GOOD! Thank you all who attended and made this a special evening for Dene, Seth & Ryals, and SHI! And wasn't the weather perfect the last three days?!
APRIL 12, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE Yesterday we prepared for rain and there was just a light drizzle some of the time. The sun peeked out every now and then and lit the oyster shells on the terrace wall. The rock looks good in the breezeway. WTXLtv arrived at 2:00, a very nice surprise! Thank you for the coverage! A couple came from Arkansas, and another couple wrote in our guest book that Spring House is the most beautiful FLW home they've seen, and they've seen 40! They were from Montana! We continue to get people because of our sign. A luna moth was coming out of its cocoon right about the time people started arriving. It was beautiful and still unfolding its wings after the tours were over. Neighborhood mother and sons rode their bikes over! There was lots of lively activity down at the pond. I wondered what when I saw some pretty big swirls. Nice day!
APRIL 3, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in the bright hot sun! We forgot that the season and light has changed and we needed HATS and SUNGLASSES at 6 pm! I borrowed George3's baseball cap! There were SO many people out. We heard great music over at The Otherside, a band played really cool music for an hour or two, and then later a young man came right next to our table and played an instrument we had never seen or heard before, a "handpan." Incredible, ethereal music. We thought things were winding down and then more and more people stopped by.
MARCH 31, 2015
The Home School Explorers visited Spring House and were so much FUN! They asked lots of interesting questions, did two art projects, and the children discovered iris blooming that we've never seen bloom at Spring House before! It was invigorating, rang with laughter, a running visit! Thank you and please come again HC Explorers! Clifton must have been in 7th heaven!
MARCH 28, 2015
RESIDENTS of Westminster Gardens (formerly Georgia Belle) visited Spring House to learn about Frank Lloyd Wright, the history of the Spring House and hear lewis family stories. Clifton Lewis lived at Westminster Gardens after she could no longer handle the stairs at Spring House. It was a beautiful afternoon, cool breezes through the open balcony doors and windows carried the sounds of the birds in the trees and the red buckeyes were in full bloom on the terrace! Very nice to see so many familiar faces from WG! Thank you all for coming! Let's do this again!
MARCH 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was another pretty day! The pink azaleas were blooming out in the woods by the pond and trillium is up and has its dark blooms. Trillium is a rather rare native plant, but not at Spring House. When you see a trillium that's 10" around the edge of the three leaves, it's probably about ten years old. They appear in late winter and bloom a couple of weeks after they are up out of the ground. This was a special 2nd Sunday. Many of the people who attended were from other states. Two sisters we know of came from Richmond, VA just to see Spring House! Minneapolis, MI, Fort Worth, TX, Appleton, WI, Maple Grove, MN, and Wapakoneta, OH were also represented! GO SPRING HOUSE!
MARCH 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table with brochures, t-shirts, books, cards, bags, and talked with many new friends. Most of them said they'd be at 2nd Sunday March 8! Linda Hall has a new show up at 621 and people who have been taking a class with her, and other friends, came in costume and had a parade around the circle, stopping to cheer and clap for musicians and dancers along the route. If you weren't there, it was probably the coldest night of any 1st Friday we've been to, but it didn't stop thousands of people from coming! AMAZING! And FUN! HOOYAH!
FEBRUARY 28, 2015
Spring House Institute and St. Francis Wildlife hosted a fundraiser at Spring House with a highlight of "Lake Jackson Neighborhood Birds of Prey.” Awesome day with Sandy Beck and the great birds! Old friends and new friends, precious children and well behaved dogs visited! People from California and Wisconsin came because of our sign on Monroe Street, that were staying at the motels at the top of the hill! What a treat! Good people, thank you for coming out in the cold and rain! You made it a wonderful day!
FEBRUARY 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE yesterday was really nice. The day was perfect by all accounts! People came out on such a pretty day, and the WTXLtv news spot Frost did such a great job on was a PLUS in letting more people know about the regular 2nd Sunday (of every month) tours at Spring House. Tell your friends! Help this project happen so Spring House can bring more people to Tallahassee! Every tour we have there are people who have come from other states to Tallahassee just to see Spring House! Believe it folks, it's important!
FEBRUARY 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table with information about who we are, what Spring House is, and what we are doing. Carolyn helped Pat and Byrd as the crowds rolled in. So many people came out in the cold, and it got cold, believe me! We were amazed, but if you dressed for it, and most folks did it seemed, it was nice, surrounded by good people, good music and dancing right across the way, the smell of delectable deliciousness wafting on the winds!
JANUARY 31, 2015
Spring House Institute hosted our 2nd Annual FOSH Party for 2014 Friends Of Spring House! It was a pretty afternoon, and a cool last day of January. Some people arrived early so those who hadn't visited Spring House before could see the house in daylight. Their visit got us off to a great start as other people began to arrive. 3/5ths of Two Foot Level brought their great acoustic music to the supportive and encouraging FOSH and SHI members who attended. We had a grand fire in the fireplace, the food and drink were awesome, and we thank Ramsay Sims for being our perfect barkeep! Thank you ALL for making it an interesting and fun evening for everyone! We appreciate your continuing support for this important project and for attending our THANK YOU Party!
JANUARY 24, 2015
Spring House Institute hosted a workday on the grounds for the third year to dig the very invasive coral ardisia. This plant is a problem all over Tallahassee. We all learned from the experts! Karen Berkley headed the whole event. She recruited Evan from six State Parks and St. Mark's Trail, Chris and Kei for Lake Jackson Indian Mounds State Park, Brian from Nature Conservancy, Bob from DOT, Mike and Keith from FNPS. It was a good time to learn about it for a group of hard working students from IDSO, an interior design student organization at FSU led by president Rebecca. Okeeheepkee neighborhood was represented by Cheryl, and Martha and Jill came and worked in the nandina patch. The sun came out at lunchtime, and blue skies were complete by afternoon! Thank you ALL for your great help everyone! We have a truckload of ardisia, nandina, English ivy and Japanese climbing fern to be burned or deeply buried at the landfill this week.
JANUARY 11, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE, we had a great 2nd Sunday, the weather cooperated, there was occasional blue sky and sunshine. We were very grateful for that! Even more, people came out! After gray days and rain, it's very encouraging to see people interested, enthusiastic and wanting to help. We always get volunteers from 2nd Sunday folks, so thank you! Join the team and become a Friend Of Spring House for 2015!
JANUARY 2, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE the evening after the Rose Bowl, Spring House Institute attended not knowing what to expect after such a heartbreaker, but people came out and it was a very encouraging night, to talk with people and get the feeling of continuing and resilience. We had lots of interest in Spring House and the next 2nd Sunday public tour January 11 from 2-4pm. Hope to see many of you we talked to at the tour! Visited 621 thanks to Carolyn and got to see Teri Lindbloom ad her show! Go see the great work there!
4th Saturday work morning is from 9 am to noon – It was not as cold as forecast, seldom is at Spring House, and we had a good group; thank you Emily, Judy, Rob, Ben, Anna R, Andrew, Hilary, Diana, Anna F, Patsy, Seth and Byrd! Y'all, WE FINISHED CUTTING AND HAULING THE WILLOWS OUT OF THE POND! It has been a 8 MONTH project! THANK YOU to EVERYONE who helped!
DECEMBER 13, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was special this December. Thank you to everyone who visited with us! We even had a kitty named Clinger visit us on her friend's shoulder! You can't say owner with a cat, as all friends of cats know. It was a pretty day and we always appreciate the people who care enough to help with this important project by donating to be in Mr. Wright's amazing design.
DECEMBER 12, 2015
SPRING HOUSE INSTITUTE was at the SATURDAY "UPTOWN" MARKET Saturday (but not Sunday.) We have our 2nd Sunday Tours Dec 13. We had FUN and a GREAT day today! Talked to so many people and we look for many of you to visit tomorrow from 2 to 4 PM for our 2nd Sunday Tours! No reservations required! Join us!
DECEMBER 4, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up right in front of the "new" office and behind Black Dog Cafe. It was a great spot, we had fun neighbors and Lillian loaned us a light because there are no street lights at the entrance until you get up to Black Dog. Maybe the city could add a couple on the walk into the park? It's always fun though, even in the cold, and IT WAS BOTH! Thanks for stopping by!
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
The Last Regular Saturday in the "Uptown" Downtown Park! This was an exceptionally beautiful day in Tallahassee! I tried to figure out how to describe what felt so different about it, but I think it's that our climate IS changing and so it's really new and unexpected. The crocosmia at Spring House in coming up like it does in the early spring and a Japanese Magnolia I pass walking with Sadie keeps occasionally having a new bloom, one at a time, and hasn't lost all of its leaves yet. Azaleas are blooming in different places....
NOVEMBER 21, 2015 *RE-SCHEDULED from Nov 28
4th Saturday work morning was lots of fun today! It ALWAYS is, even if it's drizzling, even if it's hot, even if it's cold! Today was no exception and we did great work! PLUS we met a little black and white salamander none of us had ever seen before! Mary Beth found him and brought him for everyone to meet, then took him back to his abode. He was sleepy, but perked up after a few minutes and started crawling out of her hand! :)
NOVEMBER 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE today it rained the entire time, but it's always special, no matter the weather. Don't ever let it stop you! When it rains you get to see things you don't at other times, you have to come see to find out what they are. It was a very cozy day, comfortable inside, and we all could feel that the temperature was dropping. Thank you all for your visit during the rain! We enjoyed being with you as our weather changes!
NOVEMBER 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new spot, across from Black Dog Cafe on the corner. It was our first full night since August; September and October were rained out. It seemed like forever since we were there. The sidewalk on the Black Dog side is finished and LOTS of people were using it, and there's sod on that side too, it looks great! An amazing number of folks pouring into Railroad Square! It didn't look like the Fair changed things much on THIS night! Come join the FUN!
OCTOBER 24, 2015
4th Saturday work morning from 9 am to noon. This was a great work morning with a hard working, FUN group of undergraduate and graduate architectural students from FAMU, SHI volunteers and board members! We got the pond down to one more work morning of clearing to finish this exciting project! Thank you everyone! YOU ARE TERRIFIC!
OCTOBER 11, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – A beautiful fall day in the woods, many great people who visited enjoyed Spring House and we enjoyed you! Thank you ALL for coming! It seemed there were more young people and children this day than sometimes and we're always happy for them to come! It's a chance to open up their ideas of the way things are and can be, a new awareness.
OCTOBER 2, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute enjoys being at the park. We got rained out October 1st Friday but these are really fun evenings where thousands of people gather for the good music, fine food, great art and crafts, and making new friends and visiting with old ones. Come join the FUN!
SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 – Our SEPTEMBER CELEBRATION was a great event! Bill Humphries bird photographs are outstanding and spread the word, SHI is fortunate to have them through 2nd Sunday, October 11! Belmont & Jones are awesome musicians and made this a lively occasion, we look forward to their awesome music at Spring House many times in the future! JBs Famous Chicken Stew was a HIT and totally GONE! If I hadn't leaned over the balcony and called for him to save me some, well, he did and I got to share with my brothers! Thank you everyone who came and made this such a special occasion, and to all of you who worked so hard, we can't do these wonderful events without you! You're the BEST!
SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – What a beautiful Fall day, one of the things Tallahassee is loved for, a perfect day at Spring House! Thank you to the great people who attended, and made this such a special time. There were people there from all over the country and everyone seemed to really enjoy the day. Come join us for our next event, September 26, 6 to 9 pm, Bill Humphries' exceptional Bird Photographs, music by Belmont and Jones, and JB's Famous Chicken Stew on the terrace!
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute was fortunate with everyone else Friday afternoon that the heavy rain came and went before 5:30 and we found a spot for our table over by the entrance to The Other Side. We could watch the break dancers enjoying their "duels" and then later the different musicians who took the stage in front of the building. It was a pretty perfect afternoon from then on, not too hot, a bit bright for a while but the sun gets low in the west pretty quickly after 6. Another great evening at RRSquare!
AUGUST 22, 2015
4th Saturday work morning at Spring House – This was just an incredible day! Diana had the idea of inviting, friends, family and co-workers to share her birthday by working at Spring House work morning! Many people joined us, the weather cooperated, it was a good day for August. Everyone worked hard, drank lots of water, had fun and did an AMAZING AMOUNT of what needed doing in the dry pond. The goal was to cut the remaining willows that grew when the pond dried up once years ago, and a huge portion of that was done! Thank you so much Diana, Matt and all of you wonderful, hardworking friends!
AUGUST 9, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was a really nice day yesterday. These tours are always fun, we meet such kind, interesting, and interested people! Thank you all for coming and enjoying Spring House with us. Every tour there are people who have driven and flown to Tallahassee just to see Spring House. Some of them travel all over the country visiting Mr. Wright's work wherever it is open to the public. Spring House is newly available and only just getting known as being open, and people are traveling to visit us!
AUGUST 7, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE we set up our table in a different spot again. The work down there is progressing and right now there are big pipes lying around waiting to go underground. The forecast didn't look good for Friday night, but we went, got everything out, visited with a few people and each other and Lillian came to warn us the radar was looking like it was headed our way. She was right! We got everything back in the truck before it poured! We were all glad we went, good to see each other!
JULY 25, 2015
4th Saturday work morning at Spring House was amazing! We had a great team and jumped right into cutting a fallen tree near the pond, getting all its limbs off and to the road, and then started the job of cutting and removing willows from the pond! The willows grew when the stream dried up twice in the last 20 years; it never had in the previous forty years. Big day at Spring House! More to do next work morning, August 22! Join us!
JULY 12, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE yesterday was an an amazing day, thank you to everyone who came! It was a beautiful, and yes HOT summer day, but it was comfortable inside. The article in the Democrat last week helped bring many people out in spite of the heat and Spring House Institute appreciates that, thank you again! We hope you found our staff friendly, our tour interesting and informative, the house beautiful, the water cold, and the fans sufficient! Great groups of people, many brought their children, from Tallahassee, other cities in Florida, and other states! We are grateful for your interest and support!
JULY 3, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new spot! There is a new entrance into the park, just before you get to the old entrance. The Black Dog Cafe is now open where the Railroad Square office used to be and the office is in a building just before you get to Black Dog. Spring House will have the first spot as you enter the new entrance. We were there last Friday and lots of people came, even with the new free music night at Cascade Park going on at the same time. Many people would like to see the City re-schedule the music night for 1st Saturday, have TWO great weekend nights! Here's hoping they can see the benefit in that!
JUNE 27, 2015
4TH SATURDAY WORK MORNING at Spring House from 9 a.m. to noon! This is a monthly scheduled work morning. We have coffee and breakfast food first thing, plenty of ice water, adult beverages and soft drinks after! When the weather turns cold we may move this to the afternoon, but we'll post it on our workday page! This was our second time doing this, it rained before we got started but that gave time for a tour for our new volunteer who we're so happy has become a FOSH as well! We had a great time of good work on drainage at the from entrance, it looks like it will work well and looks GOOD! Also did "chop and bury" on more poison ivy! Thank you for the very nice morning!
JUNE 14, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE, WE CELEBRATED FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S 148TH BIRTHDAY!
A great day in the country! Thank you everyone who supported SHI by coming out in the near summer heat! We had palmetto fans for everyone, plenty of cold water, ice-cream and cake! Many families with precious children and good hearted folks sharing and laughing! THANK YOU!
JUNE 8 through 12, 2015
B.E.A.T. Week – "Being Extraordinary Around Tallahassee" is St. John's Episcopal Youth Ministry, when 6th - 12th grade students volunteer on projects around Tallahassee. Spring House was blessed to be included in the places where young people from St. John's Episcopal Church WORK and SING June 8 through12! THANK YOU St. John's young people! We enjoyed meeting you, working with you, and being thankful for you! BLESSINGS!
JUNE 5, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in a new space, with brochures, t-shirts, books, cards, bags to help us raise funds to preserve Spring House for public use. These are really fun evenings at the square. People come in walking, running, skate boarding, with their children, dogs, on bikes, with brightly lit hoola hoops, dressed in costumes, dressed like summer, NOW! HOOYAH!
MAY 23, 2015
4th Saturday Work Morning! Saturday morning SHI had our first scheduled work morning! It was a great day for it, pretty cool, early, and we had plenty to do in the shade as the morning warmed up. Seth and Avery came, Cynthia and Lydia and Byrd. We had fruit, coffee, breakfast bread, HB eggs, and plenty of water. We got an amazing amount of yard work done and enjoyed each other and the morning. Seth found two sibling turtles about five inches long that we all enjoyed, specially Avery! Thank you SHI Volunteers!
MAY 10, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE – A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
This was a special day at Spring House! When we realized that 2nd Sunday was also Mothers Day this year we didn't want to cancel our tours but we didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be a dear day, so many people came out to visit because it was something nice to do with their mothers to celebrate! We enjoyed every minute! Thank you everyone who shared the afternoon with us, you made it what it was, and it was FUN!
MAY 1, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in front of the almost ready new Black Dog Cafe! They will have a soft opening around May 15, very exciting for them to be opening a second location! We are fortunate to have had the spot we have at Railroad! Friday was the first regular free music night at Cascades Park and it didn't seem to impact 1st Friday at RRSquare. Lots of folks stopped by our table and we let them know about our May 10 2nd Sunday Tours at Spring House, 2 to 4 pm, $15 donation, children under 12 free! TREAT YOUR MOTHER TO A TOUR OF THE ONLY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN FLORIDA!
COME ON OUT!
APRIL 23, 2015
SPRING HOUSE INSTITUTE welcomed New York Artist Dene Ross with her Pulp Paintings and Local Music Duo Seth and Ryals! Dene's beautiful new art, all created since January 2015, filled Spring House! Seth & Ryals have been playing together every week for thirty years, last night was the first time they've "played out" and they played GOOD! Thank you all who attended and made this a special evening for Dene, Seth & Ryals, and SHI! And wasn't the weather perfect the last three days?!
APRIL 12, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE Yesterday we prepared for rain and there was just a light drizzle some of the time. The sun peeked out every now and then and lit the oyster shells on the terrace wall. The rock looks good in the breezeway. WTXLtv arrived at 2:00, a very nice surprise! Thank you for the coverage! A couple came from Arkansas, and another couple wrote in our guest book that Spring House is the most beautiful FLW home they've seen, and they've seen 40! They were from Montana! We continue to get people because of our sign. A luna moth was coming out of its cocoon right about the time people started arriving. It was beautiful and still unfolding its wings after the tours were over. Neighborhood mother and sons rode their bikes over! There was lots of lively activity down at the pond. I wondered what when I saw some pretty big swirls. Nice day!
APRIL 3, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table in the bright hot sun! We forgot that the season and light has changed and we needed HATS and SUNGLASSES at 6 pm! I borrowed George3's baseball cap! There were SO many people out. We heard great music over at The Otherside, a band played really cool music for an hour or two, and then later a young man came right next to our table and played an instrument we had never seen or heard before, a "handpan." Incredible, ethereal music. We thought things were winding down and then more and more people stopped by.
MARCH 31, 2015
The Home School Explorers visited Spring House and were so much FUN! They asked lots of interesting questions, did two art projects, and the children discovered iris blooming that we've never seen bloom at Spring House before! It was invigorating, rang with laughter, a running visit! Thank you and please come again HC Explorers! Clifton must have been in 7th heaven!
MARCH 28, 2015
RESIDENTS of Westminster Gardens (formerly Georgia Belle) visited Spring House to learn about Frank Lloyd Wright, the history of the Spring House and hear lewis family stories. Clifton Lewis lived at Westminster Gardens after she could no longer handle the stairs at Spring House. It was a beautiful afternoon, cool breezes through the open balcony doors and windows carried the sounds of the birds in the trees and the red buckeyes were in full bloom on the terrace! Very nice to see so many familiar faces from WG! Thank you all for coming! Let's do this again!
MARCH 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE was another pretty day! The pink azaleas were blooming out in the woods by the pond and trillium is up and has its dark blooms. Trillium is a rather rare native plant, but not at Spring House. When you see a trillium that's 10" around the edge of the three leaves, it's probably about ten years old. They appear in late winter and bloom a couple of weeks after they are up out of the ground. This was a special 2nd Sunday. Many of the people who attended were from other states. Two sisters we know of came from Richmond, VA just to see Spring House! Minneapolis, MI, Fort Worth, TX, Appleton, WI, Maple Grove, MN, and Wapakoneta, OH were also represented! GO SPRING HOUSE!
MARCH 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table with brochures, t-shirts, books, cards, bags, and talked with many new friends. Most of them said they'd be at 2nd Sunday March 8! Linda Hall has a new show up at 621 and people who have been taking a class with her, and other friends, came in costume and had a parade around the circle, stopping to cheer and clap for musicians and dancers along the route. If you weren't there, it was probably the coldest night of any 1st Friday we've been to, but it didn't stop thousands of people from coming! AMAZING! And FUN! HOOYAH!
FEBRUARY 28, 2015
Spring House Institute and St. Francis Wildlife hosted a fundraiser at Spring House with a highlight of "Lake Jackson Neighborhood Birds of Prey.” Awesome day with Sandy Beck and the great birds! Old friends and new friends, precious children and well behaved dogs visited! People from California and Wisconsin came because of our sign on Monroe Street, that were staying at the motels at the top of the hill! What a treat! Good people, thank you for coming out in the cold and rain! You made it a wonderful day!
FEBRUARY 8, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE yesterday was really nice. The day was perfect by all accounts! People came out on such a pretty day, and the WTXLtv news spot Frost did such a great job on was a PLUS in letting more people know about the regular 2nd Sunday (of every month) tours at Spring House. Tell your friends! Help this project happen so Spring House can bring more people to Tallahassee! Every tour we have there are people who have come from other states to Tallahassee just to see Spring House! Believe it folks, it's important!
FEBRUARY 6, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE Spring House Institute set up our table with information about who we are, what Spring House is, and what we are doing. Carolyn helped Pat and Byrd as the crowds rolled in. So many people came out in the cold, and it got cold, believe me! We were amazed, but if you dressed for it, and most folks did it seemed, it was nice, surrounded by good people, good music and dancing right across the way, the smell of delectable deliciousness wafting on the winds!
JANUARY 31, 2015
Spring House Institute hosted our 2nd Annual FOSH Party for 2014 Friends Of Spring House! It was a pretty afternoon, and a cool last day of January. Some people arrived early so those who hadn't visited Spring House before could see the house in daylight. Their visit got us off to a great start as other people began to arrive. 3/5ths of Two Foot Level brought their great acoustic music to the supportive and encouraging FOSH and SHI members who attended. We had a grand fire in the fireplace, the food and drink were awesome, and we thank Ramsay Sims for being our perfect barkeep! Thank you ALL for making it an interesting and fun evening for everyone! We appreciate your continuing support for this important project and for attending our THANK YOU Party!
JANUARY 24, 2015
Spring House Institute hosted a workday on the grounds for the third year to dig the very invasive coral ardisia. This plant is a problem all over Tallahassee. We all learned from the experts! Karen Berkley headed the whole event. She recruited Evan from six State Parks and St. Mark's Trail, Chris and Kei for Lake Jackson Indian Mounds State Park, Brian from Nature Conservancy, Bob from DOT, Mike and Keith from FNPS. It was a good time to learn about it for a group of hard working students from IDSO, an interior design student organization at FSU led by president Rebecca. Okeeheepkee neighborhood was represented by Cheryl, and Martha and Jill came and worked in the nandina patch. The sun came out at lunchtime, and blue skies were complete by afternoon! Thank you ALL for your great help everyone! We have a truckload of ardisia, nandina, English ivy and Japanese climbing fern to be burned or deeply buried at the landfill this week.
JANUARY 11, 2015
2nd SUNDAY TOUR at SPRING HOUSE, we had a great 2nd Sunday, the weather cooperated, there was occasional blue sky and sunshine. We were very grateful for that! Even more, people came out! After gray days and rain, it's very encouraging to see people interested, enthusiastic and wanting to help. We always get volunteers from 2nd Sunday folks, so thank you! Join the team and become a Friend Of Spring House for 2015!
JANUARY 2, 2015
1st FRIDAY AT RAILROAD SQUARE the evening after the Rose Bowl, Spring House Institute attended not knowing what to expect after such a heartbreaker, but people came out and it was a very encouraging night, to talk with people and get the feeling of continuing and resilience. We had lots of interest in Spring House and the next 2nd Sunday public tour January 11 from 2-4pm. Hope to see many of you we talked to at the tour! Visited 621 thanks to Carolyn and got to see Teri Lindbloom ad her show! Go see the great work there!