Olmsted's plan included the planting of 1,000 large live oaks, 10,000 azaleas, 100 sabal palms, 300 magnolias, and 500 gordonias, as well as hundreds of fruit shrubs such as blueberry and holly. The first year was spent digging trenches and laying pipes for irrigation, after which soil was brought to the site by thousands of truck loads and plantings began. to transform what then was an arid sandhill into 'a spot of beauty second to none in the country'. They commissioned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The Boks loved the beauty of the area, and created a 25 acres (10 ha) bird sanctuary on the ridge's highest hill to protect the land from being developed. Bok, editor of the magazine The Ladies Home Journal, and his wife, Mary Louise Curtis Bok, spent the winter of 1921 in Florida, near Lake Wales Ridge. The adjacent Pinewood Estate is separately listed on the National Register as El Retiro.īok Tower Gardens is open daily and an admission fee is charged.Įdward W. The national significance of the gardens and its tower come from their associations with Edward W. The 205-foot (62 m) Singing Tower was built upon one of the highest points of peninsular Florida, estimated to be 295 feet (90 m) above sea level, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Formerly known as the Bok Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower, the gardens' attractions include the Singing Tower and its 60-bell carillon, the Bok Exedra, the Pinewood Estate, the Pine Ridge Trail, and the Visitor Center.īok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark. Gothic Revival, with Art Deco detailing īok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre (100 ha) contemplative garden and bird sanctuary located atop Iron Mountain, north of Lake Wales, Florida, United States. The architectural treasure has tile mosaics, sculptures, carvings and custom iron-work. The 205-foot marble and coquina Singing Tower is the focal point of the National Historic Landmark dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1929. The splendor of nature provides an exquisite backdrop for your wedding, making memories that last forever. The gentle sound of the wind carries the songs of many birds as the enchanting sounds of 60 carillon bells resonate throughout the gardens.īok Tower Gardens invites you to celebrate your wedding day and reception in a truly natural setting. The sun streams through a canopy of trees to illuminate lush plants and delicate blooms. Imagine a secluded garden where beauty and serenity combine to provide the perfect setting for your wedding day.

Boc towers