Trip to Bok Tower

Ed and I went for a day bus trip to Bok Tower Gardens.  It was a 2 hour drive from Port St. Lucie to Lake Wales.

Our friends, Bobbie and Ron, also went.  In fact, it was Bobbie's idea to go. 

Bok Tower Gardens, a national historic landmark, was founded by Edward Bok in the 1920’s. 

Where did he get his money? 
Edward Bok founded Ladies Home Journal magazine.  

Why did he build in Lake Wales?
Bok chose the location because it’s the highest point in Florida and he enjoyed the views.    

He dedicated 50 acres of gardens with the bell tower as the focal point of the gardens. 

It was a shock for us when the alarm went off at 5:15 a.m.  (We get spoiled living this great life of retirement where you get up when you wake up.)  In the rush to get ready on time, Ed forgot his hat so this gave me an excuse to buy him a new one.

Paul Cahill (a new friend from Savanna Club), Ed and Ron.

Bobbie and I thought it was neat that the greens for the salads we had at the cafe were all grown on the property.

After lunch we had a tour by one of the botonists on staff.  She spent a lot of time in the garden of endangered plants.  That gal must have degrees of all kinds.....she comfortably discussed the DNA of various plants and lots of other details.

Here's a paw paw plant, which will become a tree.  I remembered the song about "...way down yonder in the paw paw patch."

The 205 foot tower was completed in 1929 and is known for its Mediterranean architecture.  


The tile mosaics are lovely and colorful.

 
I was amazed to learn that the animal carvings were sculpted in place.  

How would you like to carve a marble eagle at 205 feet?

 

This beautiful brass door depicts the story of creation.

The Singing Tower houses a carillon, which is played several times daily.  (I had to look up what a “carillon” is.  It is a stationary set of chromatically tuned bells in a tower, usually played from a keyboard.)

There is a moat around the base of the tower where two swans kept us highly entertained.

 
I thought the photos below were pretty, if I say so myself!

And so ends another adventure with the Angelils!