Bok Tower Gardens

While driving into “POLK COUNTY” from “LAKE COUNTY” where Clermont is, we found out we just had
no use for the mapping and the directions I printed off and saved to my phone. Only because the county did such a wonderful job of marking this attraction with huge “GREEN” attraction signs. Why heck we weren’tin “POLK COUNTY” long before we had to make our couple of turns and we were right at the entrance to “BOK TOWER GARDENS”.

The Gal working at the entrance gave us complete instructions as to how and where to park, and that
made things ten times easier. In fact, she was quite the helper in that she called ahead and had Ms. Cassie Jacoby,(Director of communications) meet us directly at the welcome center. Finally, we left the entrance and drove past the spacious gardens to the entry point and parking which seemingly was right down a well maintained pathway from the entry point, we found a spot for the Harley right up front unloaded our gear and off we went to enjoy the days festivities.

While in the welcome center there was a couple of great photos of the man Edward Bok, whose names sake is on this establishment, now he was a great fellow in his time, he was an industrialist and a humanitarian, which in all terms just a great guy who knew true beauty when he saw it, and it was evident when walking these spacious gardens and grounds in which he preserved for the enjoyment of future generations such as we did that day while there.

From the welcome center we went on to visit the “WINDOW BY THE POND”, which is a great escape from the heat and it provides views from a waterside ecosystem, that when sitting in this little exhibit, you find yourself in such peace and wonder of the nature of things going on around you. Below is one of the views from window by the pond.

When you go there be sure and sign the guest book on the table inside the exhibit and also take note of
other travelers and where they are from, as my wife and I noticed people traveled from as far away as
Japan and Germany, to come and visit these gardens and grounds along with that magnificent bell tower, after the view by the window we had to scurry the rest of the way up the path as the afternoon bell concert was just starting.

While walking towards the tower we saw a young girl feeding the “COI FISH’ in the reflecting pond in
front of the bell tower, she looked plenty entertained as she listened to the towers bell concert, and fed the fish, as seen below.

Philip Dresko Sr. “Freelance Travel Writer/ Photographer”
“SCENES FROM THE SEAT”.

P-M Copywriters service June 20th, 2012
Use of script and or photos from this article must be obtained in writing by the author at:
Philip Dresko Sr.
10301 US HWY 27 UNIT 9
Clermont, FL. 34711