Do I Hear Bells?

It’s six in the morning and the sun is breaking the horizon atop Iron Mountain. The morning dew settles, hugging the Spanish moss draped over the limbs of oak trees. Swans glide along the pond and rabbits dart in and out of shrubs. This scene wasn’t plucked from the pages of a fairytale. It’s from Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, a place where serenity is so strong it reverberates through the soul. 

This excerpt is taken from an article in South Tampa Magazine and I used it because I could not have said it better. Bok Tower is one of our favorite places to go for a day trip, especially in the Spring. It's only a two hour drive, and we always take a picnic lunch…and our little doggie, Tiki. 

Lake Wales is home to Bok Tower Gardens, which stands on the highest point in the state of Florida. A Singing Tower with a 60-bell carillon, and a haven for birds, plants and wildlife will entrance you. Built in 1929 by Edward W. Bok, the tower was constructed of pink and gray marble from Georgia and coquina stone from St. Augustine. The tower is rich in carvings depicting the flora and fauna of Florida. 

The tower houses a carillon of fifty-seven bronzed bells ranging in weight from 17 pounds to nearly 12 tons. Surrounding the tower are 157 acres of landscaped gardens. The gardens took over five years to complete and President Coolidge dedicated them in 1929. He called it Bok’s gift to the American people.

Carillons are typically found in towers or churches. The historic Bok Singing Tower is 205 feet tall. And then there’s the carillon. A carillon is kind of like an organ, but powers the bells which will serenade you several times a day. A keyboard and pedalboard are connected between key and bell clappers that respond based on the amount of force applied. The carillon plays concerts at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily and brief digital performances fill the garden every 30 minutes. Be sure to view the video below for a close-up look at the bells, the carillon, the tower and the gardens.

At Bok Gardens, something is always in bloom. Among its many resting spots, shady recesses,

sweeping lawns and meandering paths, there are acres of flowering foliage, such as camellias, azaleas and magnolias. I can barely get my wife away from the plants. Liz has even emulated the air plant display they have (see photo) and the 'living screen' hangs on our lanai. 

It’s easy to walk the gardens and they also have a shuttle. The gardens are paved or mulched, and the are broken into nine unique zones:

• The River of Stone
• Pollinator Garden
• Kitchen Garden & Outdoor Kitchen
• Endangered Plant Garden
• Window by The Pond
• Wild Garden
• Exedra & Sunset Overlook
• Reflection Pool
• Peace Lantern

Bok said his goal was to create a place that would “touch the soul with its beauty and quiet.” The end result, Bok Tower Gardens, is considered by some to be among the nation’s most inspiring and uplifting attractions, one where time seems to stand still. “This is nature’s show, not ours,” reads a sign outside the Window by the Pond observatory. To fully enjoy the garden’s beauty, one only needs to sit still long enough to smell the grass, listen to the wildlife or stop and smell the flowers.  

Gardens may or may not be your thing. You may not have a burning desire to explore them, but you would be making a mistake if you don’t. Every inch of the garden is pristine. The colors pop out, and the sweet scents pierce your nose. Everyone will appreciate the design, and for sure, you will feel a calmness. It’s not just about a tower. It’s a historical landmark, a sanctuary, a park, and most important, it’s divine. Well worth the admission cost and well worth the drive to Lake Wales. If you’re a Floridian like me, and you’ve not visited, shame on you…GO!!

Click Here for info about visiting and definately take a look at this great video about Bok Tower Gardens! Happy Spring!

"Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it."

-------Edward W. Bok