The Historic Bok Sanctuary is located about an hour southwest of Orlando near Lake Wales, also home to the Florida's Natural Visitor Center that I visited earlier in the day. The sanctuary was founded by Edward W. Bok, who immigrated to America in 1869 from the Netherlands when he was 6 years. With determination and hard work, was a successful publisher and editor of Ladies' Home Journal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected humanitarian and a world championPeace and the environment.
I have always been stories of industry magnates and successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and their products have fascinated the public. Edward W. Bok is definitely one of these fascinating people.
As a successful publisher, Edward Bok used, a resident of Pennsylvania to Florida in winter retreat, and was enchanted by the beauty and views from Iron Mountain, which at 298 meters above sea level, the highest point isFlorida peninsula. Struck by the quiet of the area, wanted a place that "touch the soul created by her beauty and tranquility," and he bought the land, which he transforms designed in a wide area with lush gardens, the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. The bird sanctuary houses 126 different species of birds and a variety of plants and animals threatened with extinction.
The crown jewel of the Historic Bok Estate is the Carillon and Bell Tower, aNational Historic Landmark was built by the finest craftsmen of the day. The magnificent neo-Gothic and Art Deco tower was built using a combination of coquina rock from St. Augustine, Florida, and pink and gray marble from Tate, Georgia. New York sculptor Lee Lawrie sculptures adorn the tower and provide images of native Florida flora and faun as well as images from Greek myhthology and the Bible.
The entrance to the Golden Chimes Tower, the pink and gray marble builtsurrounding the iron tower Beautiful
Edward Bok remembered the music of the chimes of his childhood in Holland and commissioned the famous bell foundry company John Taylor of England to a world-class carillon for his "Singing Tower" to create a focal point of the garden. The carillon is one of only four in Florida and its 60 bells weigh between 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons. Brief recorded carillon music is played every 30 minutes, whereas they are present every day at 1 and 3 clock. Duringmy visit I was able to catch the 1:00 performance, and just outside the Tower Carillon is a screen that a live broadcast of the show chime.
Another National Historic Landmark, Pinewood Estate, Historic Bok Sanctuary, a part of since 1970. And 'one of the best examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture of the State of Florida. The grounds were surrounded also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr.
Originally called "ElRetiro ", meaning" withdrawal "in Spanish, the property was built in the early 1930s for Charles Austin Buck, a vice president of Bethlehem Steel. He had a good fortune in the steel industry and wanted a country estate where he could be surrounded in Winter built by his nine children and 18 grandchildren during the holidays.
The Mediterranean garden has a fountain, a frog leads Spanish guests in an enchanting stone grotto at the front of the house. A moon gate is located far easternthe dining room and veranda reflected in the style English Country Garden with a rolling lawn and pond in the afternoon sunsets.
Charles Austin Buck was a great admirer of the Latin lifestyle and architecture, his "El Retiro" Mediterranean revival home has many characteristics of an ancient Spanish city, wrought iron including a barrel-tile roof, thick walls , carved doors, and joinery Substantial, detailed and complex. The dramatic lobby level offers a different model tileseach riser. Colorful Spanish-style tiles were handmade in Tunisia and most of the original furnishings were produced in Cuba by hand.
From 25 November to 1 January 2006, at Pinewood Christmas Home Tour is available for visitors as a holiday tradition. During my visit I had the pleasure of visiting the villa as each room was decorated with a variety of designers locally sponsored. Each room features teacher, having the ability to give an overview of the unique history, has been fittedand furniture from every room. Surprisingly most of the furnishings and artwork are original to the property.
After visiting Pinewood Estate and the historic Carillon Tower I had the chance to explore the reasons for this amazing sanctuary, and landscaped gardens offer a haven really wonderful in nature.
The Pine Ridge Trail is to experience a unique nature, offers an overview of flora and delicate ecosystem of Florida's Lake Wales Ridge. In ancient times, whenSea levels were, Lake Wales Ridge was above water and formed a chain of islands. As a result, many plants and animals unique Ridge where rare plant species is found nowhere else in the world. Thirteen species are at risk here is the list at the federal level. Many of these plants in the sanctuary's Garden Plant Endangerd grown.
For me the Historic Bok Sanctuary was a feast for the senses, and will architecure and music lovers, history inspireEnthusiasts and nature lovers.
Historic Bok Sanctuary, about 55 miles southeast of Orlando and 60 miles of Tampa, near Lake Wales, Florida area, is open daily from 08.00 bis 18.00 clock. The award-winning Education and Visitor Center is open from 9.00 to 17.00 clock. Admission is € 8 for adults and $ 3 for ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 get in FREE. For more information call (863) 676-1407 or visit http://www.boksanctuary.org.
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