We’re back home in snowy, cold, shades of white Michigan this evening. But I have so much more to show you from sunny, warm, colorful Florida, so let’s pretend we’re still there, shall we?
I last left you with a tease about Bok Gardens, a wonderful place full of magical gardens, a winter mansion and an amazing bell tower. I don’t want to leave you hanging, so here we go!
Bok Gardens is a 7 acre slice of heaven, including several types of gardens designed by Olmstead brothers landscaping company (the same that designed the gardens at Biltmore in North Carolina, and Central Park in New York City), a new children’s play and educational area, what seems like acres of azaleas, a Florida desert trail, and towering live oaks covered in lichen and ferns.
The home, built in the center of all of this beauty, was the winter home of industrialist Charles Buck (not Bok, I know, it’s confusing) from 1932 to 1945. After that it was purchased by a couple of families before being acquired by Bok Gardens in 1970.
The house, with over 12,000 square feet, feels much more intimate than many of the seasonal homes of the wealthy back in those days.
The rooms were smaller, and many had lower ceilings.
There wasn’t gold gilding, unlike many homes of this vintage, but there were plenty of wonderful details.
Tilework acted as wainscoting throughout the first floor, and ran up the stairs to the less public rooms.
The floors on the main level were covered in handmade red tiles, each room with it’s own pattern.
The docents told us the gardens were put in first, and then the house was built so that each area had a different garden view. Pretty spectacular.
And then there’s the bell tower, with it’s huge carillon and sixty tons of bells which are played regularly. It is absolutely stunning.
There were two concerts the day we were there, one we heard as we wandered the garden, and another that we purposely sat and listened to.
Bok Tower Gardens is located between Tampa and Orlando, and I think time spent there is well worth the admission for you and your family. Kids can play in the kid garden and run on the lawns up by the tower.
Parents can let the beauty wash over them…and I guarantee everyone will smile.
And after all that, we made it over to the Gulf for the sunset.
I’ll post more about the beaches in another post. We did spend a bit of time walking those white sands. After all…it’s Flordia.
March 5, 2019 at 5:08 am
The sugarcane looks like glass!
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March 5, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Yes it does, I hadn’t noticed that until you pointed it out.
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March 5, 2019 at 5:21 am
The places you discover make it onto my bucket list. What sumptuous gardens.
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March 5, 2019 at 5:41 am
Dogs are allowed but they each would have a $5 entrance fee.
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March 5, 2019 at 7:47 am
Looks like a wonderful place to explore. Surprising it is all on only 7 acres.
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March 5, 2019 at 12:57 pm
I thought that too….
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March 5, 2019 at 8:03 am
This looks beautiful. I have the brochure from when I was in Orlando, but never did make it to the gardens, so I really enjoyed this. Thanks, Dawn!
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March 5, 2019 at 12:58 pm
You are welcome. Maybe you can go next time!
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March 5, 2019 at 8:38 am
Oh my gosh, that is so beautiful. I love those stairs.
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March 5, 2019 at 12:58 pm
I did too. Wonder why we don’t do something similar more often on our stairs? Even paint would be cool.
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March 5, 2019 at 11:20 am
Thank you for including that lovely photo of magnolia! I realize I’m missing seeing the gorgeous flowers and flowering bushes in bloom at this time of year — doggone it! Even a few days away from all this cold and snow can do wonders for one’s spirit, can’t it?!
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March 5, 2019 at 12:59 pm
Wasn’t that pretty? Only a few of those in bloom, but the blossoms up here always get frozen by a late frost, so it was nice to see one in full bloom.
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March 5, 2019 at 8:56 pm
What a nice place to visit! 🙂
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March 5, 2019 at 9:45 pm
It was really cool.
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March 5, 2019 at 10:11 pm
Wow that red sugar cane is beautiful, I’ve never seen that before! A Florida break from the midwestern cold is good for the soul❤️😊❤️
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March 5, 2019 at 11:16 pm
I’d never seen anything like it before. There was black sugarcane too.
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March 11, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Some beautiful places!
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