Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida ~ Water & Vistas

Swan swimming under the bridge in the moat at Bok Tower Gardens

These photos are from the visit that my husband and I took to Bok Tower Gardens in 2009. It is located just two hours south of Orlando, Florida amid the beautiful orange groves of Lake Wales, FL. The setting is amazing - especially in February, when fleeing from a snow-bound Pennsylvania!

An excerpt from Bok's about the garden:

In 1921, Edward W. Bok was spending the winter months in the residential mountain lake community located adjacent to one of the highest hills of Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge, 298 feet above sea level. He enjoyed taking evening walks to the top of “Iron Mountain,” among the virgin pines and sandhill scrub, to enjoy Florida’s dramatic sunsets and bird life. The idea came to him to preserve this hilltop and create a bird sanctuary – a place of beauty, serenity and peace.

In Part 1: Paths & Plantings, I shared some of the beautifully designed paths by renowned American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.. In Part 2, I have included photos of the calming pools and also of the distant views provided from the garden's high vantage point.

Part 2: Water & Vistas

The vista/approach to the garden is beautiful from a mile away; the carillon Tower rising above the orange orchards.

After you have climbed the hill, through winding paths, you are greeted by the reflection in the Tower moat.

The banks are lush with azaleas, palms and other tropicals, all draped in misty Spanish moss.

Following the azalea-spotted paths to the left, through a palm grove.

A view of a palm-covered island is seen from the left side of the moat.

Walking further on, you can see the front bank and peep at the garden swans.

View of the left side of the Tower. It was completed in 1929, using neo-Gothic and art deco styles, with a sort of Florida fusion.

Mr. Swan caught showing off in the moat.

The moat is truly captivating in its garden-refined reflections.

Strolling along behind the tower, you begin to notice some distant views...

A collection of live oaks (Quercus virginiana) create a cathedral effect right up to the edge of Iron Mountain.

The orange fields below stretch as far as you can see in all directions.

  
One last water view before leaving Bok...

Great Blue Heron landing silently on the wildlife pond, just beyond the lookout. 

It appears that Mr. Bok was successful in his dream of creating a place of peace for birds and people alike.

See Part 1: Paths & Plantings

Cherry Corner Garden in May, July, September and November 2011

May

July

September

November

For the complete succession planting, read Cherry Corner Succession Planting 2011.

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida ~ Paths and Plantings

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, USA

The Bok Tower Gardens are just south of Orlando, Florida. Made by Edward Bok during the 1920s, it contains an amazing tower with carillon bells, a moat, topical garden paths, huge collections of azaleas, camellias and other plants.

My husband and I were so excited to discover this garden in 2009 when we took an extravagant winter get-away. This garden was by far our favorite outing! With balmy weather in February, all the azaleas in bloom and an al fresco lunch at their cafe, it was a peaceful retreat and a delightful day spent.


I have decided to break this post into two parts.  There is just too much to appreciate all in one sitting. Such a beautiful location! This post will focus on the paths and plantings at Bok Tower Gardens.   The second post will focus on its use of water and vistas over the orange fields of southern Florida. 

Part 1: Paths & Plantings
Above is a glimpse of the majestic Bok Tower, which contains an instrument called the carillon, which is like an organ of bells.  The tower was also Edward Bok's study in his lifetime; a beautiful, creative and extravagant place to work. Bok employed renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to lay out his scheme. Olmsted is also famous his work on the Biltmore Estate, which we visited this past summer.

A person who is wandering around this area certainly can not help but be drawn exactly where the famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., wished you to go.

This path by the cafe was draped with tiny bromeliads such as the pink flowering Tillandsia stricta.

This path and stair case from the visitor center was one of the most formal in the whole design, being rigidly symmetrical.

After leaving the visitor center, a series of informal, winding paths begin to lead you to the top of the hill.

The planting is entirely magical to a gardener from Pennsylvania... palms, azaleas and ferns with Spanish moss sprinkled about.

You pass a broad lawn on your left as you continue your ascent.

One hedge leads off to the side to a properly place Japanese lantern.

Live oak trees, Quercus virginiana, spread out over a path that seems to more straight and formal.

And then the tower peeks out from behind.

Front view of the tower with surrounding moat. You can see the gold-leafed door at its base.

Garden in front of the tower: full of pink azaleas in February.

A single Verbascum

One of the intricately carved tower windows.

Pretty garden gate.

A(n) historic tree from the garden's dedication.

More lush paths lead you to with Camellia bushes on the right.

One of many beautiful camellias in February.

A series of other paths lead you to the Azalea Garden.

This was a wonderful garden to stroll and enjoy a good sit.

The paths to the left of the tower have a wilder feel to them, though they are still gardened beautifully.

Palms and fern trees abound in these areas.

A perfect pairing of pink-blooming bromeliads and ferns.

One glimpse of the path around the moat and the view to the orange fields in the background.

Part 2: Water & vistas at Bok Tower Gardens (coming soon)

The Hill Garden Succession 2011

The Hill Garden is located in a raised area at the front left corner of our house. (See the map in "about the garden.") It overlooks the driveway and is a wonderful welcome home with its planting that lasts at least ten months of the year. The photos are group by date taken, which is listed on the left.

The succession in this area should be even grander this year with the addition of a classic combination: Crocus vernus 'Grand Maitre' and Narcissus 'Tete-a-tete'.


March 18th

I love this quiet combination at one side of the Hill: Crocus vernus 'Jeanne d'Arc' with hens and chicks and Ajuga reptans.