Our winter road trip continues in Clermont, Florida. We were pretty lazy during our short stay in Clermont, but our only outing was a beautiful one! Bok Tower Gardens was a very unique stop on yet another fabulous afternoon in February.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit Seeking the Sun 2023.

The Best Laid Plans

Our next stop was supposed to be a cute and colorful little hotel in Matlacha, FL, where we could have really experienced the local vibe of a funky little Florida community. Where we could have been sitting on the dock of the bay watching the tide (and dolphins) roll away.

But Ian had other plans in September of 2022. Ian was a Cat 5, and the deadliest hurricane to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane (whose memorial I just posted about in Turtles, Floaties, & Beer).

Few cities in the U.S. have been dealt the level of destruction that Ian brought to Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding area. Matlacha was devastated. There was no way they could be ready for our reservation just five months later, and it broke my heart.

It Pays to be Flexible

Left with a hole in our perfect itinerary, the obvious choice was to add those four nights to our next stay at The Fountains, but there was no room at the inn. Summer Bay Orlando came to the rescue thru RCI, with a week in a very nice 2BR, 2Bath condo in Clermont. Although it was not the funky little community we were looking forward to, it was a place to call home for a few days.

Only needing four of the seven nights, there was some waste, but the exchange fee for the whole week was cheaper than the other places we considered – especially for a two-bedroom condo! We took advantage of the overlap and checked into the Fountains one day late so we could head over any time we wanted and avoid the usual six-hour gap between check out and check in.

Only One Day Trip

If I’m being honest, we didn’t do a whole lot on our four days in Clermont. We had dinners at home, caught up on laundry, and watched an entire season of Treason on Netflix (in our defense, it was only five episodes). We didn’t go for a swim, or try our hands at Bingo, or the scavenger hunts. The only day trip we took was a fantastic one though, and I’m being totally honest about that!

What a Day!

Today’s mid-70 temps and bright sunshine topped off a wonderful stroll around Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida. This “Singing Tower” houses its Carillon, with 60 bells of varying sizes. Weighing in at 60 tons and housed inside the Bell Chamber near the top of the tower, it is played by a carillonist in the Playing Chamber one floor below.

There are concerts at specific times with shorter ringings throughout the day. Hearing the bells was wonderful, especially when strolling through the beautiful Historic Olmsted Gardens.

“Established in 1929 by Edward W. Bok as a gift to the American people, this 70-acre garden was designed by noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to be a contemplative and informal woodland setting.” ~ from the Gardens brochure.

Exquisite Details

Surrounded by a moat, the iron gates leading to the Tower were hand-wrought by Samuel Yellin, who also created the door to the tower. There is another reflecting pond that’s big enough for a total reflection of the tower, but the sun was brutal at this time of day and I needed the tower to block out the sun to get a good picture.

Built by architect Milton B. Medary on the highest point in the state of Florida, the neo-Gothic and Art Deco tower is 205 feet tall and made of marble and coquina. The colorful mosaic tiles found in the top third of the Tower were designed by J. H. Dulles Allen and were so beautiful.

Samuel Yellin created the 12-foot high door of teakwood overlaid with yellow brass. to depict the Book of Genesis, starting with the creation of light and ending with Adam and Eve. This is the only door in or out of the tower. The grave of Edward Bok is located in the grassy area in front of the door.

Bronze Snake Sundial

As we worked our way around the back side of the tower, there were fantastic views from this highest point. Dogs are welcome for a $5 entry fee (just like children), and many folks brought their furry friends and babies in strollers. The huge trees provided a great place to picnic out of the sun.

The sundial was also around back and is made with a bronze rod supported by a bronze snake (the ancient symbol of time). The sundial was added in 1928 and indicates the time by casting a shadow on the dial face. The hours are marked by the signs of the zodiac.

The inscription below the sundial indicates that the tower was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge on February 1, 1929, and that it is a National Historic Landmark.

A Lush Backdrop

Acres of ferns, palms, oaks, and pines create a gorgeous backdrop of flowering foliage. We had perfect timing with the sun adding a special glow to the beautiful landscaping. The Quesnelia (second photo) were vibrant and beautiful, and I don’t think truer words were ever spoken than in the third photo below.

“Olmsted Brothers retained the existing pine stands and added thousands of large live oaks, Sabal palms, magnolias, gardenias, azaleas, and Sword and Boston ferns to create the desired naturalistic hammock scenery and provide food and shelter for the 100+ bird species living within the sanctuary.” ~ READ MORE

Break Time!

Located in front of The Shop at Bok, and near the Visitor Center, The Blue Palmetto Café had a wonderful selection of healthy and beautiful (and delicious!) sandwiches and salads. Perfect weather and perfect timing allowed us to enjoy our lunch outside, but in the shade for some people-watching as we relaxed.

El Retiro at Pinewood

When we pulled up at the gate to purchase our tickets, they asked if we wanted to bundle the Tower and Gardens with the mansion tour. Since we didn’t even realize there WAS a mansion tour, of course we added it! I found it very interesting that Charles Buck built his house right beside the Bok Tower Gardens – Buck and Bok.

“STEP BACK IN TIME AT EL RETIRO. Nestled in the heart of seven and one-half lush acres at Bok Tower Gardens is enchanting 20-room Mediterranean-style mansion that transports visitors back in time to the 1930s, a distinctive period in American history. Originally named “El Retiro,” meaning “retreat” in Spanish, the home was built for Charles Austin Buck, a Bethlehem Steel executive. To preserve this architectural, cultural, and historic landmark, El Retiro was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.” ~ READ MORE

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Charles Buck also used landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to design his winter estate. Buck was a nature lover, and he wanted the gardens designed first “and the house was positioned later to provide a natural flow from garden to house.” In 1930 architect Charles Wait designed the house, and it has become one of the finest examples of Mediterranean-style architecture in the state of Florida.

“Buck was a great admirer of the Latin lifestyle and architecture, and he wanted “El Retiro” to be reminiscent of it. Wait designed the 12,900 square foot Mediterranean-style home with many characteristics of an antique villa, complete with a barrel-tile roof, thick walls, substantial carved doors and woodwork, and intricately detailed wrought iron.

Wait also included a series of three large porches to provide Buck and his guests with uninterrupted views of the sweeping vistas and a wonderful view of the Tower. The team worked to situate the entire house so that fantastic views from the house were framed by the surrounding tall pine and live oak trees.” ~ READ MORE

Enjoy the Splendor

We came out of the house just as a group was leaving, so we were able to sit on a bench and gaze out over a fabulous back yard. Clearly we were in the wrong line of work.

“Make your world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” ~ Originally, these were the words of Mr. Bok’s grandmother, but were adopted by Edward Bok.

Up next: Blue Spring State Park

Happy trails,
Barb