Bok Tower Gardens

As I have mentioned before, Bok Tower Gardens is one of my favorite places to go in Florida. Today's visit is at least the 12th time I've been here. I keep coming back because there are so many things to see in this 250 acre landmark.

Approaching the visitor's center.

Main entrance to the visitor's center.

Potted plants near the entrance.

Flowers near the entrance.

Flowers near the entrance.

Fountain in the courtyard of the visitor's center.

A bromeliad sculpture.

A view of the grounds.

View of the grounds.

View of the grounds.

Part of the small lake near the tower.

View of the grounds.

The tower.

Base of the tower.

Close view of the top of the tower.

View of the base showing the moat surrounding the tower.

Looking away from the tower to the surrounding area.

Swans on the water near the tower.

Ornate door to the tower.

One of thousands of azalea in the gardens.

More azalea.

Another view of the grounds.

Grounds view.

A very tall stump.

Another variety of azalea.

I thought I was back in Missouri when I saw these oak leaves.

Another one for my dead tree collection. Taken on the Pine Ridge Trail.

Overlooking orange groves facing east on the Pine Ridge Trail.

Central Florida landscape as seen from Pine Ridge Trail.

Return to Bok Tower Gardens

After the Executive Center, I had lunch with an old fraternity brother of mine who lives in Sarasota. Following lunch, I decided to head over to Lake Wales to visit Bok Tower Gardens. Of course, I took the roundabout way - U.S. 301 to State Road 62 to State Road 37 to State Road 60.

Spent a couple of hours at Bok Tower Gardens. They had built a new visitor center since my last visit nearly six years earlier. Very nice - took a few pictures.

New entryway into the Gardens and the visitor center.

Behind the visitor center.


The tower.

More from Bok Tower Gardens

Of course, there is more to Bok Tower Gardens than the tower. Upon the grounds are many acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, with numerous intertwining footpaths. A visitor could spend hours on the grounds and still not see the entire complex.

Throughout the property, one can find secluded enclaves like the one pictured below. Sit down, kick back and enjoy the quiet.













One of the main paths through the gardens.
















A closeup of the intricate detail found within the back of a park bench.














Naturally, within the gardens grow magnificent plant life. The following photos are just a few my favorites, taken over many years of visiting Bok Tower Gardens. There may be a critter or two in there as well.

Enjoying Bok Tower Gardens

I've been to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, so many times I've lost count. It's a place of serene beauty where one can forget the troubles of the outside world. The words of John Burroughs, as expressed on this sign, mirror my thoughts exactly.

These photos are from various trips I made to the Gardens while living in Florida from 1987 to 1995. Not surprisingly, Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark.

This is the tower, actually a 205-foot tall Singing Carillon tower. According to the official Bok Tower Gardens web site (see the links section), the tower was designed by Milton B. Medary and sculpted by Lee Lawrie. Of course, the tower would never have been built had it not been for Edward Bok, who, along with landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. transformed a Florida hilltop into a place of magnificent beauty. Please visit the official Bok Tower Gardens web site to gain a greater appreciation of this wonderful place. Better yet, make sure to include Lake Wales in your itinerary next time you visit Florida.

Here, a fellow visitor is dwarfed by the massive tower.














A prominent feature of the tower is the sundial.

My final photo of the tower provides good indication of the incredible detail that went into the design.