Florida’s Bok Tower Gardens Has Something For Everyone

If you’re thinking gardens plus 9-year-olds might not add up to a whole lot of fun, you’d be as happily surprised as we were that they actually can, when it’s the beautiful 250-acre Bok Tower Gardens, in Lake Wales, Fla.

We were camping at nearby Lake Kissimmee State Park, when we decided to take the short trip to check out this Polk County city and its renowned garden and Singing Tower, so-called because of its chiming bells that play throughout the day.

As adults, we love “boring” stuff like gardens and such, so were were hoping it would also be a good experience for the kids, since there were no rides or Disney-like attractions in sight!

And guess what?

They loved it. And the reason why?

It turns out it has a large garden within a garden, called Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, that drew them in, sparking their imaginations along with their love of play and real-life, not virtual, wonderment.

I have to say it drew us all in with its outdoor art area, winding boardwalk, River Walk with cooling water features, Fairy House Trail, Sable Stage, a pavilion complete with costumes for little performers, a sand area for tots, clever pebble mosaics and giant acorn sculptures scattered under shady, Spanish moss-covered trees.

Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden

At Doodle Bug Art Place, the kids sat at pint-sized tables to draw, then hung up their creations on a line alongside artwork from a group of other kids who had just passed through.

Near the art area, we all tried our hands at playing some outdoor acoustic instruments at the Songbird Music Tree.

They climbed on logs at the Fox Den and clambered across a big spider-web rope net, called Spider Climb.

Also nearby, we walked through Fairy House Trail, where little fairy houses made out of stone nestled snugly among a blanket of leaves.

The Tower and Gardens

All this and we hadn’t even walked through the rest of the gardens or explored the tower, both built between 1927-29 by Edward W. Bok, a successful publisher and Pulitzer-prize winning author and his wife, Mary Louise Curtis Bok.

Bok became enamored with the area’s beauty during winter visits to the region and set about creating the gardens with the help of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., whose namesake father designed New York City’s Central Park.

Perched on one of the highest hills in peninsular Florida, the 205-foot tower, designed by Milton B. Medary, is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge.

We made our way up to the tower on one of the winding paths, through woodlands planted with hardy vegetation that can take the hot Florida sun, including sabal palms, live oaks and exotic purple passion vines.

If you don’t want to walk or have special needs, there’s a seasonal shuttle available from the Visitor Center to the tower and Pinewood Estate, also located on the property.

Bok became enamored with the area’s beauty during winter visits to the region and set about creating the gardens with the help of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., whose namesake father designed New York City’s Central Park.

The garden is also a site on the Great Florida Birding Trail.

We didn’t get to see the inside of the tower since it’s not open to the public. We did learn it houses a 60-bell carillon, which is a musical instrument made up of bells.

The tower is surrounded by a moat-like pond filled with large koi.

Just past the tower, the view from the top of Iron Mountain to the valley below is beautifully unusual, given Florida’s mostly flat landscape. We sat on a bench and took in the tranquil panorama of the ordered rows of orange groves below.

If You Go …

Also look for these attractions at the gardens:

Pinewood Estate: This striking Mediterranean-style mansion is also part of the gardens. We didn’t go inside for a guided tour because there was lots to see outside so we decided to keep on chugging.

Built in the 1930s by an executive of the Bethlehem Steel Company in Pennsylvania, the estate makes you feel as if you’ve just stepped into Italy.

Pine Ridge Nature Trail: The 3/4- mile walking trail is home to the longleaf pine and turkey oak, many species of birds and the threatened gopher tortoise.

Since the garden is located on the ancient Lake Wales Ridge, almost 300 feet above sea level in the area of the garden, many species of plants and animals are unique to this area.

Butterfly Garden: Check out the Butterfly Garden, home to two common butterfly species: the Gulf Fritillary and the Zebra Longwing, which turns out to be the state butterfly of Florida. Yeah, we felt like fourth-graders again!

We saw loads of these Zebra Longwings fluttering about the day we were there. A sign in the garden says the passion vine provides food for the larvae of both species of butterfly.

It also tells visitors: “At dusk you might observe the Zebra Longwing clustered together or roosting. This provides protection from predators and warmth during the cooler months.” I also didn’t know that butterflies roost? It’s a thing!

Visitor Center: The center is located right at the entrance to the gardens. It includes a gift shop and restaurant, where we bought bottled waters to see us through the hot summer day.

With all the trees there though, it’s really well shaded, so we had some respite from the Florida heat.

If you go, do bring sunscreen, a hat and stay hydrated as you stroll around. Comfy shoes also help.

As of September 2019, adult admission to the garden is $15, $5 for children ages 5-12 and children under 5 are free. Parking is free. Combo admission to Pinewood Estate and the garden is $21 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5-12 and under 5s are free.

Edward Bok’s belief that “wherever your lives may be cast, make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it,” surely lives on in these beautiful gardens, teeming with natural and man-made beauty.