Today we took off to Lake Wales to visit Bok Tower Gardens, a National Historic Landmark. Surprising to me the tower sits on the highest elevation in the state of Florida. We arrived a bit past 11:00 a.m. and watched the orientation movie to learn about Edward Bok, who built the tower and gardens. He emigrated from the Netherlands with his family and settled in NYC. He became editor of the Ladies Home Journal and wintered in central Florida. In 1922 he decided to create a garden (Frederick Law Olmstead designed it) and then he built a carillon(the tower). The tower was dedicated by Calvin Coolidge in 1929.
This is a beautiful spot with winding paths along the reflection pool leading up to the carillon. Concerts were played at 1:00 and 3:00. Included in the music was Ode to Joy. There are lots of benches for sitting and reflecting. Many overlooks with orange groves around the grounds. Heirloom p
lants, native plants, nature trail. Bok was very interested in world peace and offered a prize for ideas that would further that goal. An interesting place, built by an interesting man.We left at 3:30. It was a lovely day.
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