LAKE KISSIMMEE AND BOK TOWER GARDENS

We found campsites in a nice park on the way to Lakeland. As a matter of fact, we feared Lake Kissimmee State Park, nine miles from the highway, might be too far out of our way. 

The exit for our campground just added to our concern that it was in an out of the way place.

Entrance sign. The image is of a Cow Hunter from the 1870's, counterpart of the Western Cowboy. Cow Camp in the park demonstrates life from those years.

Even though it was another 4 miles from the entrance to the campground, we had found our favorite campsite so far. It was in a beautiful wooded area and very private. There were paths all around the loop that led to the immaculate restrooms, so that no one cut through other campsites. There was even a washer and dryer! 

Site #29 in Lake Kissimmee State Park. No noise, no bright lights.

Out of curiosity Linda Googled the nearby town of Lake Wales. She swears she only wanted to know what the population is. You know how Google puts a row of images at the top of the results page? One of those pictures was of an interesting looking tower. She clicked on that and it was identified as Bok Tower Gardens. Following a link to that, it was described as a botanical garden and bird sanctuary. How could we not go find out more? 

Tiles at the base of the columns in the entry area. Tiles were incorporated into many areas of the building.

On reaching the Visitor Center we saw several women arranging flowers and labels on a table. It was a thoughtful guide to what was currently in bloom. A quick picture with our iPhones provided us with a "field guide".

The women arranging the flowers wore shirts with "Bok Dirt Devils" on them. 

We had stumbled on a treasure. The garden was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., son of the architect of New York's Central Park. The meandering landscape garden was intended to slowly reveal beautiful vistas, cozy nooks and planted beds of color. He laid out the paths so as to conceal the tower from view until one reached the reflecting pool and the first sight of the tower reflected in it. 

Learning that there was a observatory called Window by the Pond, we headed for it first. We were nearly overrun by the voracious squirrels. The "window" is in a small building with screened windows shielding viewers from being seen by the animals. It was peaceful watching birds feeding and bathing in the water. 

"This is nature’s show, not ours. No scheduled performances.” said the sign at the Window by the Pond.

Camellia japonica. 'Betty sheffield Pink' Camellia. It was the end of the camellia bloom.

Staghorn fern.

Poncirus trifoliata. "Flying Dragon" Trifoliate Orange.

The azaleas were at the peak of their bloom.

The 250 foot neo-Gothic and art deco tower houses a 60-bell carillon. We listened to short pieces played on the hour and half-hour as we wandered the grounds.

Glazed ceramic mosaics ornament the upper third of the tower.

The tower is built of pink and gray marble and Florida coquina stone.

Sundial on the South side with hours marked by the 12 signs of the Zodiac.

The sculptor of the statues on the tower was Lee O. Lawrie, whose work includes the 'Atlas'  statue at Rockefeller Center.

Edward Bok is buried in front of the tower door. The brass door depicts the creation story.

"Edward Bok, born October 9, 1863, at Den Helder, The Netherlands died within sight of the tower January 9, 1930. At his request his family placed his grave in the lawn in front of the great brass door. Coming to the United States as a poor immigrant boy of six, he achieved success as a writer and editor. Late in life he created this sanctuary as a place of repose for the human spirit, built the tower with the great carillon as its central accent and presented them to the American people for visitation as his thanks for the success they had given him."

Peace lantern.

We had brunch in the garden's Blue Palmetto Café.

The patio overlooked colorful flower beds.

Edward Bok was brought to America from the Netherlands as a child. He became a successful publisher, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and respected humanitarian. His grandmother told him to “make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it,”

President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the tower and gardens to the American people on February 1, 1929.

Produce stand beside the road. We bought our first Florida strawberries here. Linda tasted them first.