Bok Tower Gardens Entrance
December 16, 2011
We enjoy doing a bit of sightseeing each time we stay at our vacation home in Florida. During our stay last December we visited Bok Tower Gardens located at 1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, Florida. This beautiful 250-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary is a must to see when traveling in the Central Florida area. The crowning feature of the gardens is the 205 foot neo-Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon, a national historical landmark designed by famed architect Milton B. Medary and ornately crafted by noted stone sculptor Lee Lawrie. The singing tower is located on Iron Mountain which is about 295 feet above sea level making it one of the highest peninsular points in Florida. Construction of the tower began in 1927, taking almost two years for completion. The carillon house 60 bells that perform daily at 1 PM and 3 PM.
It was a beautiful warm day, perfect for enjoying the many beautiful plants and lush growth in the gardens. We visited the Exhibit Hall and Museum as well as the mansion built by C. Austin Buck , vice president of Bethlehem Steel Company in Pennsylvania. The 22 room mansion sits on an 8-acre parcel of land known as the Pinewood Estates within the gardens. It was built between 1930 and 1932 as a winter home for the Buck family. The Bok Tower Garden Friends had decorated the mansion for the holiday season. It was spectacular to say the least!
Garden Gnome
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