Bok Tower Gardens - A Peaceful Corner of Florida

Sitting in the shade of the live oaks draped with Spanish moss and looking at the sun dappled grass is very quiet and relaxing.  Then comes the gentle sound of music from the nearby carillon.

This is Bok Tower Gardens which were created by a gentleman called Edward Bok. He was born in the Netherlands in 1863 and went to the United States at the age of six, eventually becoming a well respected publisher and philanthropist.  Remembering something that his grandmother told him about helping to make the world a more beautiful place he caused the Gardens to be created.  They cover 63.53 hectares, are said to be the highest point of Florida, and are filled with trees, shrubs and fragrant flowers. 

You can stroll along the winding paths enjoying the gentle breeze soughing through the trees, the bird calls, the rustling in the foliage from squirrels or maybe raccoons – or other wild life.  There are many seats located throughout the gardens and, after what seems to be five minutes of relaxing, you discover that time has slipped away.  The perfume from the nearby flowers – gardenia, azalea and other flamboyant blooms – is heady and the butterflies simply gorgeous.  Some are small black and yellow striped tigers and others are large gaudy yellow creations.  Among the trees there are palms of various shapes and sizes, pines and the oaks.

The Carillon Tower is 62.50m high, made of pink and grey marble from Georgia and local coquina (a mix of shell and limestone).  The delicate hues set off by friezes and window decorations showing some of the Florida wild life which includes pelicans, flamingoes, geese and swans.  Higher are the large coloured grilles through which the music of the carillon can be heard.  And, returning to Florida wild life, the finials are of herons.  The door is a brass of the Creation and is made up of thirty panels.

A magnificent edifice for a magnificent instrument with 57 bells, which were struck by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd., of Loughborough.  They are tuned bronze bells and have a range of nearly five octaves.  The largest (the Bourdon) weighs over 11 tons while the smallest (a treble) is 17 pounds.

Every afternoon at 1pm and 3pm the Carilloneur plays an hour’s recital.  During the rest of the day there are brief selections of music – usually appropriate to the season.

In Bok Tower Gardens you can enjoy a truly peaceful afternoon away from the theme parks, which only half-an-hour to an hour’s drive away.