BOK IN BLOOM • CONSERVATION: SUPERPOWERS REVEALED • CREATURE FEATURE: GOPHER TORTOISE
The
Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | Summer 2012
Oasis of Conservation A newsletter from Bok Tower Gardens www.boktowergardens.org
FROM THE PRESIDENT
For 20 years, Green Horizon Land Trust has been working to preserve these wild lands. More than 5,300 acres of open lands in Central Florida have been preserved including the 260 acres Green Horizon helped the Gardens protect in our viewshed and along our entry road that’s now accessible to visitors. We’re adding paths and picnic shelters for visitors and conducting land restoration by planting native grasses, wildflowers and pine trees. Our cover story in this issue of The Garden Path focuses on the good work Green Horizon is doing for our community. As a bird sanctuary and nature preserve, we make wildlife core to our mission and an important consideration as we prepare for projects in our Master Plan. A new garden, The Florida Garden, will be a garden for wildlife that will incorporate Window By The Pond, the Pine Ridge Preserve and our Endangered Plant Garden. In talking to different communities about the Master Plan, I’ve heard stories about the important role Bok Tower Gardens has played in their lives. At a presentation in Tampa I heard several testimonials about the Gardens. John Arthur Jones, an attorney with Holland and Knight who came to our 1929 dedication by President Coolidge, shared how much he cares for the peaceful nature of the Gardens. Board member Bronson Thayer relayed that his mother-in-law, Louise Lykes Ferguson, who turned 100 in May was also attended our
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Photos top left to bottom: Sarah Lingwall, Matthew & Holly Smith, Martin Corbin
Bok Tower Gardens is more than a garden. There is a sense of place here that comes from the wild lands nearby. Birds, insects, reptiles and mammals depend on open lands that offer habitat and food. The wildlife coming and going is easy to take for granted. Last week I saw families of wrens, sandhill cranes and red shoulder hawks teaching their young to hunt and forage. I saw tri-color herons fishing, gopher tortoises crawling and quail scampering about.
1929 dedication. Joshua Webb, an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson, proposed to his future wife here, the same place his parents were married. As we go to press with this newsletter, we’re close to announcing our new carillonneur. We’re also interviewing for the position of Director of Horticulture. Nick Baker has taken an extraordinary position at the Lovett Pinetum in Springfield, Missouri. We’re excited about the new opportunities we have with new staff and new ideas.
David Price, President
Cover photo of the Singing Tower and preserved agricultural lands by David Price.
The
David Price President
Cassie Jacoby Editor
Martin Corbin Graphic Design
Photo by Don Jones
Editorial Contributors
President David Price presents Nick with a framed picture of the Singing Tower in honor of his dedicated service to the Gardens.
Farewell to Our Friend Nick Baker Congratulations to Horticulture Director Nick Baker on 12 years of service at the Gardens and for his exciting new opportunity as general manager of the Lovett Pinetum in Springfield, Missouri. His dedication, hard work and love for the Gardens will be felt for many years to come. We’ll miss you!
Lisa Allen Joy Banks Jennifer Beam Cindy Campbell Jim Carcano Dalia Colon Jean Donaldson Emily Nettnin Earle Chuck Geanangel
Elyse D. Gerstenecker Rachel Henderson Steve Jolley Don Jones Pat Jones Sheila Leavey Katrina Noland Cheryl Peterson David Price Nicole DeMaris Sharp Joan Thomas Cheryl Waters
Mission Photo courtesy Don Jones
To share Edward Bok’s gift of a beautiful and serene garden with music, architecture and nature, so that all who visit will be inspired by his vision:
Tulip Time Cruise I hosted a travel group to Holland and Belgium in April. During our nine day tour we were fortunate enough to tour the Antwerp Cathedral in Belgium with resident carillonneur Geert D’hollander and visit the Floriade International Horticulture Expo.
“Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.”
Bok Tower Gardens, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is supported by tax-exempt gifts and contributions and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. CTP/7.5M/0612
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FROM THE EDITOR
The Garden Path is growing! Each issue turns over a new leaf as more visitors, members and media discover the nature of our experience. And, with this summer issue, we have more great news to share from our partnership with Green Horizon Land Trust (page 14), to our media partnerships with the Ledger Media Group (page 22), to our inaugural 5K with the Florida Public Relations Association Dick Pope Polk County Chapter (page 28). Amazing things are happening here including bringing President Calvin Coolidge (a.k.a. Jim Cooke) back to life for our 83rd anniversary celebration! Got a story idea or want to add your two cents as a guest columnist? We welcome your suggestions as we continue our journey of discovery. Keep the great ideas coming!
cjacoby@boktower.org 863.734.1210 @CassieJacoby
Cassie Jacoby, Editor
The Media Media InIn The The May issue of another national magazine, Food & Wine, featured us as one of the “Great Escapes in the Sunshine State.” HGTV’s Elaine Evans covered us in her online blog after a day-long tour.
After a feature in the June/July issue of Garden & Gun magazine as one of Florida’s best daytrips, we hosted several more travel writers including Tampa Bay Business Journal Deputy Editor Chris Wilkerson. AAA travel writer Katie Broome also posted a rave review online about her daytrip from Orlando.
A frenzy of media coverage across the globe include the February/March issue of Ireland’s Aer Lingus in-flight magazine, Cara; Canadian travel writer Ramona Zacharias; the Thomas Cook Travel Guide and Penguin Books Travel Guide.
Delivering Valentine’s flowers to the media helped promote our peak bloom season especially when TV personalities placed the bouquets on their anchor desks for viewers to admire! Special thanks to WFLATV/8 (Tampa) news anchor Gayle Guyardo, Bay News 9 reporter Cheryl Glassford, and WFTV-TV/9 (Orlando) anchors Vanessa Echols and Marti Salt for the on-air and social media promotions.
Not only did Polk County Commissioner Melody Bell star in a TV spot to promote our A-C-T Carillon Classic 5K, she completed the run along with Polk County Sheriff ’s Department Lieutenant Rodney K. Chauncey.
It took the Florida Quince Guide from dawn to dusk to capture the Quinceañera celebration when girls turn 15. We’re hoping a feature on the Spanish television network, Telemundo, will also promote us to the growing Hispanic market.
Membership Matters Membership Matters
Save the date! RSVPs are required for these events. Contact Christine Foley at cfoley@boktower.org or 863.734.1233 to make your reservations. All Members 20+ years or more:
20+ Year Member Appreciation Event February 1 & 2, 2013
Sustainer level and above:
Founder’s Room Tours November 10 & December 8, 2012 February 15 & March 16, 2013
Board member Robin Gibson speaks to Tower Key Society members during a breakfast and special program at the Olmsted House.
We had a delightful opportunity earlier this year to honor many of our longtime Gardens members (20+ years of consistent membership). Our newly named Tower Key Society members were treated to breakfast and a special program, including a Garden Restoration Project dedication and a private viewing of rarely seen archival items from the Chao Research Center. We plan to make this an annual event in conjunction with our Founder’s Day Celebration weekend. We’re hosting a members-only Boktoberfest Plant Sale Preview on October 19 from 5 to 7 pm. This special event is just for you! Bring your membership card to shop early for the best plants. Be sure to use your membership card when visiting other gardens that may be one of our 300 American Horticulture Society reciprocal admission gardens. Go to www.boktowergardens.org/ahs for a printable guide to member gardens. It’s been a pleasure sharing our Master Plan with you this past year. Exciting times are ahead! But first, take a look back at our 2011 Annual Report: Wayfinding. To access this online report visit www.boktowergardens.org/annualreport.
Bok Tower Club and above:
Private Tour of the Tower Please contact Joan Thomas at jthomas@boktower.org or call 863.734.1213 to schedule your visit.
Sponsor thanks Concert Under the Stars: Bunting Tripp & Ingley, Ledger Media Group, WEDU and WUSF International Carillon Festival: Bronson and Stella Thayer, Paul and Carol Collins, Visit Central Florida, Ledger Media Group, WEDU and WUSF Tower Key Society Member Appreciation Event: Manning & Napier Advisors Thanks to those below who supplied food and beverage for our recent member and special events! Founder’s Room Tours 2012: Florida’s Natural Growers, IHOP, Chalet Suzanne
We owe our success to all of you.
Greenhouse Tour & Breakfast: Chalet Suzanne Joan Thomas, CFRE, Director of Development & Membership
Sponsor Reception: Tapping the Vine Bark Tower Gardens Dog Day: Race Trac Summer 2012 | 5
“As an historian, he paints with words, giving us pictures of the American people that live, breath, and above all, confront the fundamental issues of courage, achievement and moral character.” Citation accompanying McCullough’s honorary degree from Yale
Sharing a Sharing a HistoryLesson Lesson History INSPIRED VISITOR
Photo by William McCullough
by Cassie Jacoby, Director of Communications
A recent tour of our Singing Tower gave one of the world’s greatest historians a history lesson about Edward Bok. After David McCullough spoke with Lake Wales High School’s history students, the famed author’s curiosity was aroused. With more than nine million copies of McCullough’s books printed in ten languages, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author is interested in learning more about Bok, who also won the Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography. Our archives are full of Bok’s published works including 13 books, 40-plus leather-bound journals filled with newspaper clippings dating back the late 1890s and countless newspaper and magazine articles. But, McCullough asks, “Where are Bok’s personal papers?” Imagine the stories waiting to be told about Bok’s relationships with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Helen Keller, and all the artisans involved with the creation of the Gardens! “Chance meetings and influences in life are a large part of history,” McCullough tells the Lake Wales High School students as he encourages them to ask questions, and look for lessons in history to show them how to become leaders. “Curiosity is what separates us from the cabbages.”
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McCullough’s writing process involves soaking up so much information about his subjects that he says he puts himself under a spell. “And this spell, if you will, is so real to me that if I have to leave my work for a few days, I have to work myself back into the spell when I come back. It’s almost like hypnosis.” Once intrigued, the so-called “master of the art of narrative history” throws himself into the research of subjects. He traces the roads they traveled, books they read and homes in which they lived to capture the true essence of the character. The untold story of Bok as an American hero written by McCullough certainly would be a spellbinding tale!
Photos by Martin Corbin
Texas Olive
Pineapple Guava
Cordia boissieri
This small tree is native to Southern Texas into Central Mexico. The attractive trumpet-shaped white flowers bloom throughout the year and have a bright yellow center. The Texas Olive has a small, olive-like fruit, slightly toxic when fresh that is not recommended to eat. Butterflies frequent its blooms.
Yellow Plume Flower Justicia aurea
The large, long-lasting yellow feathery flowers of the Yellow Plume Flower make it perfect for planting in areas of semishade. Its flowers, which are attractive to hummingbirds, bloom year-round. The tropical shrub grows up to eight feet tall with large, 12 inch, bright green lanceolate leaves.
Acca sellowiana
Native to Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, this flowering plant is a member of the myrtle family. Both its flowers and fruit are edible and the plant is cultivated widely for the latter in New Zealand. The clustered flowers are white and purple with a set of red stamens coming from the center. The cinnamon-flavored petals are sometimes used as a garnish.
Loblolly Bay Gordonia lasianthus
This native of Florida is grown for its glossy, evergreen foliage and showy blossoms. Related to the camellia, this tea family member has white flowers all summer.
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Volunteer Spotlight Volunteer Spotlight
by Lisa Allen, Visitor Services and Volunteer Program Manager
Gloria Wurth Gloria, a volunteer since 1999, has donated more than 4,000 hours of service in the gift shop and Visitor Services helping with record keeping and special events. Gloria received her Crystal Bell for 1,000 hours of service in 2002. We thank her for her many hours and dedicated support throughout the Gardens!
The Crystal Bell award is given to volunteers who complete 1,000 hours of service.
Congratulations to this year’s Crystal Bell Award winners! David Albertson George Blackstone Lynn Burdeshaw Diana Dean Lois Duel Barbara Edwards
Carol Engwall Dale Gruhn Don Jones Carmen McCarty Jo Rene Nevitt Mae Peterson Stella Read Janet Robinson Mary Lee Weimer Barbara Wustefeld
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Hear about volunteering directly from our volunteers at www.boktowergardens.org/volunteer
Photo courtesy Don Jones
Our Pinewood Estate Holiday Home Tour volunteer design team received special recognition at this year’s Volunteer Banquet. Their work preparing designs, finding decorations and generating ideas for the Holiday Home Tour begins in August. In addition to designing rooms, they also lead tours through the home during the event. Their personal touch and love for Pinewood Estate makes each year’s design special to more than 13,000 visitors who tour the home.
Don’t take our word for it! See why our volunteers love spending their time with us!
BRAVO!
Secret Pinewood Estate Secret Shopper’s Shopper’s Pinewood Estate Marks LookBook Book Wins TopTopmarks Look Wins ADDY Award ADDY Award Perfect! That’s our score from a recent visit by a secret shopper from the Florida Attraction Association. Member attractions agree to adhere to a five point code of practices that includes hospitality, cleanliness, truthful advertising, safety and complaints reviewed during an annual monitoring program. We were rated 100, the highest grade possible! “The facility was in excellent condition. The gift shop displays were well maintained and attractive. The cafe tables were clean and ready for guests. The displays in the museum were well laid out and informative. Signs throughout the attraction directed guests to areas of interest. The short film in the theater was informative. The gardens were well laid out and attractive. The paths meandered through the gardens. The map given to us at the visitor center made traversing the gardens easy. They were in good condition. We enjoyed the sprawling vistas that were visible from the crest of the hill. The Tower itself was outstanding.”
Our Pinewood Estate “look book” is the winner of a local American Advertising Federation Silver ADDY award. The world’s largest and most competitive advertising competition, the award is one of the industry’s key creative awards programs “representing the true spirit of creative excellence.” Located in our Visitor Center, volunteers use the book to encourage visitors to purchase tickets to tour Pinewood Estate. Not only has the book been an effective sales tool, now visitors want to buy their own copy so we’re planning to make the books available for sale in the future.
View the Look Book online at www.issuu.com/boktowergardens
TMP TMP Certifi cation & Certifi cation & Leadership Winter Groupon Leadership Winter Haven Groupon “BestOf” Of ” Award Award Haven “ Best It’s no wonder we won a “Best Of ” award for the admission deals we offered through the online deal-of-the-day. Our Groupon offer of a buy-one-get-one free admission ticket in Orlando, Tampa and Lakeland generated $53,000 in revenue and does not include the additional café, gift shop and Pinewood Estate tour revenue.
Cassie Jacoby believes it’s never too late to educate! A recent graduate of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Leadership Winter Haven Class 32, our Director of Communications received her Tourism Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society after attending three years of STS Marketing College. With a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Florida, Cassie plans to attend the Rosen College of Hospitality Management this fall to complete her master’s degree.
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The TheDish Dish Chef onon Chef Cory Reynolds Cory Reynolds by Nicole DeMaris Sharp, Administrative Assistant
A passion for food and family inspired Cory Reynolds to study the culinary arts. A passion for Bok Tower Gardens led him to his job as our Blue Palmetto Café Chef. Visiting his grandparents’ farm in Indiana was a great adventure for a city boy like Cory. His grandfather was involved in the local farmer’s market, which introduced him to great locally grown food. Cory was inspired to pursue his interest in cooking and serving fresh food, especially when his family would gather for big, traditional Sunday dinners. “I’ve always seen food as a medium for bringing families and friends together,” Cory explains. Cory began a career with Hallmark and was very successful, but was not fulfilled. His family supported his decision to follow his passion for cooking while he attended the Chef ’s Academy in Indianapolis. “With three girls at home, my wife and family made many sacrifices to support me, but loved it when I had three barbeque grills going or experimented with new recipes,” Cory remarks. After receiving his associate’s degree, Cory started at the bottom and worked his way up to Garde Manger Chef under the direction of award-winning Chef David Tallent at Restaurant Tallent in Bloomington, Indiana. When he and his family moved to Central Florida, they appreciated the mission of the Gardens and became members, enjoying many family outings.
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Some seasonal specials will include the Giant Strawberry Shortcake as featured this spring.
“We have begun to work with area farmers and growers,” Cory says excitedly as he admires his newly planted fresh herb garden. “Not only does buying locally stimulate the local economy, but there’s nothing like cooking with fresh fruit and produce to achieve the best taste and help people eat more sensibly.” The Café, already renowned for fresh, nutritious and healthy creations, now has more specialties than ever, from homemade fresh soups, to gourmet selections, to a new children’s menu. “We’re also feeding hungry minds as we partner with Roosevelt Academy’s agri-science program and farmer’s market in Lake Wales,” Cory adds. “It’s encouraging to see their concern about improving food technology through their efforts in teaching and promoting naturally grown produce.”
Fairchild Fairchild Challenge Challenge Winners Winners
by Jennifer Beam, Director of Visitor Services & Programs
Congratulations to the winners of the Fairchild Challenge! Southwest Middle School of Lakeland was awarded $1,000 to further their science programs. Second runner up, McLaughlin Middle School won $750 and Bok Academy won the third place prize of $500. Roosevelt Academy and Jewett Academy Middle School are the two other Polk County Schools that participated in our inaugural year. Funded in part by TD Charitable Foundation, Target, Florida’s Natural Growers Foundataion and Publix Charities, the program was started in 2002 by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami. Its goal is to encourage teachers, students and local conservation organizations to integrate the study of nature, science and art. Because it’s voluntary, students choose to participate. Because it’s competitive, students are motivated. Because it’s free, cost does not limit participation.
From the Chef!
We’re proud to recognize all five schools for submitting many entries and engaging more than 1,700 students in this program. Entries included outstanding art, creative writing, school garden and graphic design projects. Next year’s Fairchild Challenge will include new projects and Central Florida Ecosystems Logo winner by Christian Lara, launch in the fall of Southwest Middle School. 2012.
Chicken Orzo Soup Serves about 4
Ingredients
Directions
2 tsp. olive oil 1 cup onion, small dice 1/2 cup celery, small dice 1/2 cup carrots, small dice 1 tb. garlic, minced 32 oz. chicken stock 1 lb. cooked chicken breast, large dice 1 lb. fresh spinach, chopped 1/2 cup orzo, uncooked 1 lemon 1 tb. fresh parsley, chiffinade 1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped salt & pepper to taste
1. Add olive oil to a soup pot set on medium-high heat and allow to heat for a minute before adding your mirepoix (onion, celery, carrots). 2. Allow your mirepoix to cook for a few minutes, stirring, and lower heat to medium. Add garlic and continue to cook until onions are slightly translucent. 3. Add stock and chicken. Bring to a boil. 4. Add chopped spinach and orzo. Bring back to a boil and then simmer several minutes until orzo is cooked. 5. Once orzo is cooked squeeze fresh lemon juice in, making sure seeds don’t go in. Add fresh herbs, salt, and pepper.
CHERYL PETERSON, Rare Plant Conservation Program Manager Photo credits: Cindy Campbell, Juliet Rynear and Cheryl Peterson Although we don’t have Wonder Woman’s indestructible bracelets of victory or a magic lasso, our Rare Plant Conservation Program team has demonstrated super-speed, super-stamina and super-agility in the conservation of Florida’s rarest plant species. Our normal work hours for the most recent four month period of time would amount to 1,920 hours. However, we totaled more than 2,983 work hours, far exceeding the expectations for three full-time staff members. We sowed 28,127 seeds, collected 958 cuttings to propagate new rare plants, collected and hand-cleaned 370,407 seeds from populations throughout Central Florida, introduced 2,500 seeds and 1,852 plants onto protected lands to create new populations, continued hybridization trials on eight species, collected and analyzed population demographic and survival data for 25 locations, organized a statewide professional conservation meeting, designed a new conservation brochure, helped undergraduate students prepare their research posters (including one that won the Provost Award for best poster at a research symposium), supported one graduate and three undergraduate student 12 | Summer 2012
research projects, gave three behind-the-scene tours of the program and gave three presentations to local groups on rare plant issues. The secret to our super-human strength and superpowers? Volunteers! Preventing extinction of rare species cannot be done without those who dedicate their own time and energy to help programs like ours. These generous folks join us for projects in the greenhouse or at locations throughout Central Florida where species are found. Volunteers collect demographic data such as plant size and number of flowering branches, or count new seedlings to help us track population dynamics. Volunteers help plant propagated plants into conservation lands to create new populations, or spend time in the greenhouse sowing seeds. We make an effort to make each project rewarding, informative and enjoyable for our volunteers. Rare plant conservation happens only through their efforts. They possess the superpowers that make our program a success.
BOK TOWER GARDENS COMICS PRESENTS
VOL. 1 ISSUE 1
VOLUNTEERS SAVE THE DAY! THEY ARE SUPER-STRONG...
! ! W O P SUPER BRAINY... WE SUMMON THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PREVENT EXTINCTION OF RARE SEPECIES
“IT IS A FACT THAT IN THE RIGHT FORMATION, THE LIFTING POWER OF MANY WINGS CAN ACHIEVE TWICE THE DISTANCE OF ANY BIRD FLYING ALONE.“ - AUTHOR UNKNOWN
“A SINGLE LEAF WORKING ALONE PROVIDES NO SHADE.” - CHUCK PAGE
AND THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND ALL SIZES...
SUPER DEDICATED...
TO HELP US SAVE THE DAY!
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Oasis of Conservation
by Cassie Jacoby, Director of Communications
Photo by David Price
There is no other place like our oasis of conservation. Reminiscent of a land time forgot, a visit to the unspoiled wilds and agricultural lands that surround the Gardens is like stepping back in time to old Florida. Saving Central Florida’s open lands is the key to saving wild life. Our partnerships with Green Horizon Land Trust and other keepers of the land will ensure that Edward Bok’s vision of conservation is preserved.
Salute to Conservation Hero Luther Parrott “Love what you do and do what you love.” That’s Luther Parrott’s advice for success. During almost 18 years as director of Green Horizon Land Trust, his passion for the environment grew as he helped preserve more than 5,300 acres of land in Central Florida. “It wasn’t just a job,” Lou says, “it was a way to give back and feel good about your own accomplishments.” His greatest achievement was acquiring 260 acres to protect the Gardens’ viewshed from development.”Negotiating the deals was like a dance,” Lou recalls. “The complexity of the whole process was fascinating and I loved every minute of it. We were niche players finding little properties in which big land trusts had no interest.” After his second grant application, the Florida Communities Trust awarded $6.5 million for land purchases. However, only $2.5 million was used to acquire land due to the unwillingness of owners to sell in a rising real estate market. In the joint effort with the Gardens, Green Horizon shares a contractual arrangement 14 | Summer 2012
for the restoration of all fee simple lands to natural habitat as well as building trails and educational facilities on the site for the use and benefit of the public. Not bad for someone who came out of retirement to begin work on April 1, 1994, hired even after admitting he knew little about land trusts. “I simply told them I was perfect for the job.” As a boy in the panhandle city of Port St. Joe, his heart was nearly broken when he saw the development of his beloved Mexico Beach destroy beautiful 40 foot dunes of white sugar sand. His plan to study forestry and wildlife management at the University of Florida was interrupted by the Korean War and he returned to UF to earn a bachelor’s degree in management from the college of business when his enlistment in the Navy ended. Lou launched his first career when Southern Bell selected him for an intensive 18 month management training program. While serving as a manager in West Palm Beach, he was hired by General Telephone Company as district commercial manager in Bradenton. Lou’s banking career started in Bradenton and continued in Winter Haven when he became CEO and president of Haven Federal Savings and Loan. “That was when
New Horizons for Green Horizon
banking was fun and so rewarding. We developed subdivisions, provided loans and put people in homes. I couldn’t wait to get to work every day.” A quiet man with steel determination, Lou will remain on Green Horizon’s board and may return to work after he gets all the wanderlust out of his system. “I love being outdoors and am busy walking, hiking, bike riding, fishing, reading books and thoroughly enjoying life.”
Green Horizon was started as an idea from Ken Morrison. “More than 20 years ago we met on Ken’s screened porch overlooking Crooked Lake talking about how we could save environmental lands that were being passed over by larger trusts” David Price recalls. David and past Gardens’ presidents, Ken Morrison and Jonathan Shaw, all served on Green Horizon’s board. Visit www.greenhorizon.org to become a member or donate to support Central Florida land conservation.
Naming her 18 month-old daughter River is just one example of how Rachelle Coleman Selser walks her talk. The new executive director of Green Horizon Land Trust makes her love of the environment very clear. The Florida native who was born in Winter Haven grew up in an environmentally active family. Her devotion to the environment was inspired by her late father, Richard Coleman. The longtime Sierra Club activist and boater, Coleman was best known for his decades of advocacy for the restoration of the Kissimmee River. A 136-acre park on Lake Kissimmee, Coleman Landing, is named in his honor. “I’m excited to be a part of one of the most well respected land trusts in the state,” she says. “I look forward to working for conservation in partnership with the community, various governmental agencies and Green Horizon’s board of directors.” Her strong interest in the natural world and passion for the environment aligns with the mission of Green Horizon: preservation of environmentally valuable or sensitive lands and open space in and around the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida, for the benefit of the public and to educate the public as to the importance of such lands and their need for preservation. “Sharing my love of nature with others through exploration and enjoyment will lead to preservation and protection,” she adds. “Green Horizon is the perfect organization for linking individuals, agencies, and businesses for preservation and protection of wild lands through acquisition or donation.” A lifelong learner who believes “we are all students our entire life and we never stop learning,” Rachelle has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management and Conservation Planning and a master’s degree in public administration. She served as coordinator of the Lakes Program for the Natural Resources Division of the City of Winter Haven for several years until the birth of her daughter in early 2011, and is an adjunct professor for Polk State College’s Bachelor of Applied Science Public Administration Program. In addition to serving on the boards of directors for Lakes Education Action Drive (LEAD) and Friends of Charlotte Harbor National Estuary, Rachelle works with her husband, Ben, with his business, Amphibious Aquatics Aquascaping. Being parents has given new importance to preservation of the environment for the young couple. “What is life without clean water, fresh air and wild places to commune with nature?”
What’s New at the Gardens! Be the first to hear what’s new at facebook.com/boktowergardens
What’s New at the Gardens!
Singing Tower Tour Video
Lights! Camera! Action! The Singing Tower is the star of a new seven minute video. Our mini-documentary provides a sneak peek inside the 205 foot architectural treasure. Guest carillonneurs Geert D’hollander and Lee Cobb demonstrate how to play the 60 bell Taylor carillon and describe why our grand carillon really is the grandest in the world. It premiered during the International Carillon Festival and will be part of a documentary on the Gardens that will be available for sale in our gift shop and online in the near future.
See it online at www.youtube.com/boktowergardens
The Olmsted House A new name and new look gives a fresh start to our Olmsted House, named in honor of our landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The new awning over the doors of the rental hall will provide coverage during rain as well as update the exterior look of the building. We added new gutters on the roof and privacy screens next to the bathroom doors. New wood baseboards, wood window trim and wood column details updates the interior, along with new paint on the walls. Caterers will appreciate changes in the kitchen area that will make events easier to service. New table layouts will provide comfortable seating for 60 guests along with a food line plus a dance and DJ area. Future plans include building an outdoor covered area to seat another 60 guests with access through the side doors. Bathrooms have been greatly improved with new paint, toilet partitions, bathroom fixtures and, for the first time, air conditioning.
What’s Your Story? Do you remember your first visit to the Gardens or a special visit? What memory sticks out in your mind? Was it the serene beauty of the azalea garden, the picturesque view of the landscaping and architecture of Pinewood Estate, or the enchanting music of the carillon? Perhaps it involves a picnic with your family, joining your loved one in wedded bliss or a moment of silence and remembrance for one who has passed. When Edward Bok “shared his gift” of the Gardens with the American people, the gift was meant to serve as a source of personal, spiritual and cultural enrichment to all who visit,
16 | Summer 2012
to celebrate milestones and create lifelong memories. As we continue to grow, one of our Master Plan goals is to tell our story. What we have found is that our story is your story. Your memories are part of what makes the Gardens so special. You can help us tell our story! Visit the Membership Cart in the Visitor Center to complete our new What’s Your Story? comment card. We hope to use these cards in future exhibits and publications to begin documenting the rich story of the Gardens. Thank you for sharing your memories with us and helping us tell our story!
Singing Tower Suncatcher Our new Singing Tower suncatcher is created by AMIA Studios, the nation’s top-selling designer and maker of exquisite, innovative glass window art and other handpainted glass. Once produced, the tempered glass is painted by hand with the world’s highest-quality paints. Using original Singing Tower postcards for the design, the suncatcher is a one-of-a-kind treasure available in our gift shop or online.
Visitor Center Theater Video
In Concert With Nature A B R I E F V I D E O I N T RO D U C T I O N TO T H E G A R D E N S
Pick up this nine minute video introduction that is featured in our Visitor Center theater showing the beauty of the historic landscape gardens, unique Singing Tower and palatial 1930s winter estate. This DVD is a perfect way to share the beauty of the Gardens with your friends and family from the comfort of your own home.
INSPIRED VISITOR A surprise visit from Bok family members Hans and Peggy Bok with their grandson Conner from North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, enhances our connection to Germany. Hans’ branch of the Bok family includes many German relatives who did not come to the U.S. in the 19th Century. After visiting 20 years ago, Hans returned with his family for a tour of the Singing Tower. “I believe it gave my grandson… a better sense of family identity that I feel will remain with him.”
Summer 2012 | 17
Boktoberfest Plant Sale After eating so many brats last year, our mascot Eich the squirrel has to let out his lederhosen to get ready for the 4th annual Boktoberfest Plant Sale on Saturday, October 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s bigger than ever with a plant sale preview for members on Friday, October 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. With free gate admission, the celebration kicks off the start of Florida’s gardening season featuring live entertainment, craft beers and German food from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wackie Jackie’s been voted in as the mayor of our Biergarten bringing all his Polka Party Express Polkateers along with his wife, Mrs. Wackie. Check out their new show every Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. on Sarasota’s 96.5 FM WSLR.
Members will receive first pick during this year’s Boktoberfest Plant Sale preview on October 19.
Florida’s foremost expert on lawn and garden issues, Tom MacCubbin will return with his wife Joani to share his green-thumb wisdom and monthly “gotta-do’s.” The UFIFAS Extension Service agent emeritus hosts “Better Lawns and Gardens” every Saturday morning on radio stations throughout Florida. Back by popular demand, Alpine Express will play those long Swiss alphorns the size of trees along with cowbells, “wooden laughter,” shoes for shoe-slapping rhythms, “singing saws” and more. Plants for sale include begonias, bromeliads, butterfly plants, camellias, Florida natives, hibiscus, olive trees, orchids, water lilies and more. Lots of vendors have already registered including Almost Ancient Pots, Decorative Glass Globes, Eden’s Nectar Honey, Florida Native Plant Society, George Griepenburg, Golden Gate, Gross Orchids, Hands of Man Pottery, Hopkins Nursery, It’s Our Nature, J.G.’s Tropical Plants, Magic Nursery, Mitch Armstrong Nursery, Shirah’s Camellia Nursery, Unbelievable Hibiscus, Russell’s Bromeliads, J & P Nursery, Tropical Glass Creations and Our Vital Earth.
Look for more details this summer on www.boktoberfest.com! 18 | Summer 2012
Photo by Martin Corbin
Save the Date: 10.20.12
“I got the bell because it looked old and interesting and I’d never seen anything like it.” -Tyler Gardner
Refl Reflections ections From the From the Singing Tower Singing Tower by Joy Banks, Librarian
Sorting out rare collectibles from the vast array of souvenirs that feature Bok Tower Gardens can become quite a treasure hunt and even a mystery to solve. As our destination grew in popularity over the past 83 years, we started producing travel memorabilia for guests to purchase to remember their visit. Our archives contain a number of these items ranging from plates to playing cards to salt and pepper shakers shaped like the Singing Tower. As we recently discovered, however, our archive collection is in no way complete. Inspired by a scholarship competition sponsored by the History Channel show American Pickers, Tyler Gardner of Ohio started looking in yard sales for a unique item he could write about. What he found was a small bell with a miniature Singing Tower on top. When
asked what caught his eye, Tyler says, “I got the bell because it looked old and interesting and I’d never seen anything like it.” His purchase prompted his mother, Kelly Welsh, to provide us with pictures to find out more about the item. The markings on the bell led me to believe that it was most likely from the 1950s or 1960s, but we had no such bell in the archives. As our sleuthing continued, I contacted Sandra Dent, our director of retail services, who had never seen such a bell either. The next research stop was the American Bell Association (ABA). Carillonneur George Gregory, recent International Carillon Festival guest performer, led me to his fellow ABA member Kay Weaver who happened to have the same bell in her collection and helped to date it to
around 1958 based on records her aunt kept. Not only did Tyler have his questions about the history of the bell answered, but we also discovered a new souvenir from our own history. Not every souvenir mystery can be solved so seamlessly, but we were happy to uncover this!
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T
here’s a lot of truth to the adage, “home is where your heart is.” Our Pinewood Estate volunteers are living proof. They make Pinewood Estate a home and thoroughly share the history of Pinewood Estate, fascinating visitors. Visitors want to know everything from the story of its gardens, design and use as a winter retreat for Bethlehem Steel Vice President Charles Austin Buck in the 1930s and 40s, to its transition through the decades and its other occupants, Esther Slater Kerrigan and the William Woodward Keen family. Our curious guests ask any number of questions, from “What is a ‘Moongate’?” to “Does this house have ghosts?”
Elyse shares new historical information on Pinewood Estate with volunteer Jo Rene Nevitt.
Home is Where the Heart Is! by Elyse D. Gerstenecker, Pinewood Estate Coordinator
We are able to successfully answer most of these questions and convey the story of Pinewood thanks to the tireless effort of our volunteers. The primary representatives of the estate, volunteers serve as docents for the self-guided tour. They are familiar with, and in many cases are fully immersed in, the history and stories of this place. They provide introductory information to all visitors, helping them understand who lived here and giving them some idea of how they lived. They are able to answer most visitors’ questions and engage in lively conversations with those individuals who exhibit particular interest in the
Special thanks to the following donors of Florida native plants and the property owners who allowed us to survey for and collect native plants from January through April: Stellen-Hoven Inc., Palm Beach Gardens USDA, STARS, Brooksville Ron Myers, Weeki Wachee Chris Bertoch, Winter Park We’re especially grateful to Mitch Sheets for his generous donation of hand tools. This gift will help us with our maintenance efforts in the National Collection beds.
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house. Docents also ensure that both our visitors and the estate’s collection are kept safe. Because of their devotion to Pinewood and appetite for history, there will be additional projects made available to Pinewood volunteers in the future. Such projects could include assisting in routine historic housekeeping, helping conduct annual inventories, and performing research about more specific aspects of Pinewood and its contents. More special events and field trips may also be on the horizon. Of course, there is our annual Holiday Home Tour, during which volunteers design and decorate many spaces in the house, serve as Angels, and assist with the tour’s daily operations. If you are an outgoing individual with a love of history and time to spare,
Introducing: Elyse Gerstenecker
consider joining us and volunteering at Pinewood. We would most certainly love to have you!
If you’re interested in volunteering at Bok Tower Gardens please contact Lisa Allen at 863.734.1211.
A Lakeland resident, Elyse joined the Gardens last October. She also teaches art history courses at Florida Southern College. With a bachelor’s of arts in Historic Preservation and Art History from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Elyse earned her master’s in History of Decorative Arts from Bard through the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture in New York City. Her diverse career
includes positions in Virginia as Curator of Decorative Art at the William King Museum, the Jekyll Island Museum in Georgia, the New York Historical Society and Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley National Park in California.
Best wishes to Elyse on her impending marriage to Adam N. Justice, curator of the Polk Museum of Art in October!
The efforts of the Rare Plant Conservation Program are primarily funded by grant awards and private donations. Additional support is needed to acquire the following supplies for our work to preserve Florida’s rare plant species. Crew Cab 4wd pickup (used) Portable artist/display tent
$25-35,000 $400
Dino-Eye AM423 - 1.3MP Digital Microscope Camera $280 Metal detector
$150
Adobe Pro
$280
Dual Purge pressure regulation system for seed desiccator
$1,900
Aeroponics system plus pH meter
$350
Kelway Soil moisture and pH meter
$135
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PARTNER PROFILE
Since it began publishing in 1925, about the same time Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was in full swing working on the Gardens, The Ledger has been one of the leading sources of news for Polk County. What began as the Lakeland Ledger has grown into the Ledger Media Group with many publications in print and online. The future is bright for the Ledger Media Group recently purchased by Halifax Media. “Halifax was attracted to our company because of our local community focus and the strength of our operation. Partnerships such as the one we share with the Gardens, as well as the countless other ways we are involved in the community are an intricate part of our success,” says Jerome Ferson, publisher. “The print advertising we receive in The Ledger is especially important to let the community know about the experiences we offer,” David Price states. “The caliber of reporting in the editorial coverage we receive is outstanding. We’re excited about developing future plans as our media partnership continues to grow.”
For the Birds: Roseate Spoonbill by Chuck Genangel With their pink coloration, Roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) are one of the most distinctive birds found in the Americas. No other native American bird is pink. Their European counterpart is white. They’re unrelated to the pink flamingo, a non-native species that used to be kept in our Gardens in the 1920s. Standing nearly a meter high, the small flocks of birds are normally found in wetlands. By 1935 plume hunters had nearly wiped out the Florida population. Only 30 to 40 pair remained in remote areas. Once laws restricting their killing were passed they slowly rebounded and today more than a thousand pair nest in Florida. Other populations in the U.S. include Texas and Louisiana. Their distinctive pink color, the result of their diet of freshwater and salt shrimp, can sometimes be seen as they fly through our viewshed to the west. Spoonbills forage in marshy areas for small fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates and some plant material. They sweep their odd shaped bill back and forth, snapping shut on anything they touch. Spoonbills were quite rare in Polk County before 1990 but were easily found along the coasts of Florida in saltwater. I saw my first in Polk County in Lake
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Photo by Arthur Morris
Although not often seen at the Gardens, you can look for Roseate spoonbills at Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland. They’re open 365 days a year with free admission from dawn to dusk.
Alfred in 1979. About that time birders were able to access some of the local phosphate mines where they were discovered living in increasing numbers. By 2000 they were being seen all over western Polk County and by 2005 the first nests were discovered near Lakeland. Today up to half a dozen nest on Lake John in Lakeland and other locations. Colonial nesters, they can be found associated with other colonial nesting waders.
The Circle B Bar Reserve, a 1,267 acre natural area southeast of Lakeland, has flocks of nearly 50 in late spring and summer. Spoonbills are easily found and photographed along the nearly nine miles of trails. Bicycles are allowed but motorized vehicles are not permitted. Open every day from dawn to dusk, Circle B has a modern Visitor Center and free admission.
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Meet Sandy outside her house under a clump of wiregrass. Isn’t she cute? Approximately 3 inches long, she’s probably about a year old.
Through a $7,644.20 Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance grant from the Florida Wildlife Commission, we partnered with Green Horizon Land Trust to improve the gopher tortoise habitat on 36 acres of land by conducting management activities such as prescribed fire and reducing exotic species.
Photo by Katrina Noland
Creature Feature:
Gopher Tortoise by Katrina Noland, Land Steward Imagine sharing your home with 360 different animals, including snakes, mice, rabbits, quail, frogs and many invertebrates! The landlord is the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species because so many animals and plants depend of them for their survival. Listed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a threatened species, this gentle creature originated in North America 60 million years ago. They live five to 100 years, grow on average to be about one foot long, and can weigh up to 29 pounds and graze on vegetation like cows. The deep burrows they dig in the sand provide refuge and escape for these commensal species from predators, inclement weather and periodic fire that is common in this habitat. Without gopher tortoises and their burrows, some of these other species would not be able to survive.
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We completed a prescribed fire and removed invasive weed trees on property along our entry road. The native land has many protected and endemic species of plants and animals. In addition to the gopher tortoise the land is home to the sand skink, indigo snake, scrub plum, sweet scented pigeonwings, scrub buckwheat and Britton’s beargrass. Our management activities will open up the canopy and reduce leaf litter, allowing the native species a higher quality habitat. Additionally, the grant helps defray a portion of the costs of removal of invasive trees as well as other undesirable hardwoods on another 26.4 acres of property that we are restoring to sandhill habitat. These restoration efforts and many gopher tortoise burrows can be seen while strolling the new hiking trail that connects the entry gate to the existing Pine Ridge Preserve trail.
Mrs. Green Thumb
by Cheryl Waters, Plant Shop Host
Heat up your summer garden and add a splash of color with a ‘Purple Flash’ pepper! Capsicum annuum ‘Purple Flash’ is an easy to grow herbaceous annual that’s drought tolerant and pest resistant. ‘Purple Flash’ has dark purple, almost black, foliage, with hints of bright purple and white. The fruit is small, round and black, and is technically edible but extremely hot. It performs best in moist, organically rich, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Best foliage color occurs in full sun. Growing only 15 inches tall and 20 inches wide, the compact ornamental pepper makes a perfect container plant. Make your landscape pop when you mix other brightly colored annuals in the same container.
Tower & Garden Gift Shop and Plant Shop We’re open 365 days a year! Contact us at 863.678.1159 with questions or to place an order. Members receive a 10 percent discount on purchases.
Plant Shop Expansion! We’ve expanded our plant shop so we have more room for a variety of ornamental peppers and many other plants that will turn your backyard into your very own Bok Tower Gardens. More than 1,000 visitors on Mother’s Day made our plant sale so successful that we’re planning on having the plant sale every year.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR William G. Burns Lake Wales
VICE CHAIR Michael Aloian, President
Charlotte State Bank Trust Department – Tampa
TREASURER Tomas J. Bok, Ph.D., President
Cambridge Analytics LLC – Somerville, Mass.
SECRETARY Frank M. Hunt II, Chairman of the Board Hunt Bros. Cooperative – Lake Wales
BOARD MEMBERS Cindy Alexander, Community Volunteer Lake Wales
J. F. Bryan IV
The Bryan Group – Jacksonville
Paul Collins, Retired
BOARD SALUTE
We salute the new members of our board of directors! Mark Clayton Hollis Jr., Vice President, Public Affairs of Publix Super Markets Inc. Clayton’s responsibilities include managing the departments of Corporate Communications, the Customer Call Center, Social Media, Government Relations, Media & Community Relations, and Special Projects, as well as being the company historian. Working for Publix – a private, employee-owned supermarket company – runs in his family. His late grandfather, William, was the first president of Publix. His father, Mark, served as president and vice chairman. As a third generation associate, Clayton began bagging groceries in 1972 and was promoted to his current position in 1984.
PJC Partners, London
Frank Driscoll, President/CEO
Driscoll Group – Winston-Salem, N.C.
Derek Dunn-Rankin, President
Sun Coast Media Group, Inc. – Charlotte Harbor
Robin Gibson, Senior Partner Gibson Law Firm – Lake Wales
Chip Elfner, President
Mountain Lake Corporation – Lake Wales
Mark Clayton Hollis Jr. Vice President, Public Affairs
Publix Super Markets, Inc. – Lakeland
L. Evans Hubbard, Chairman of the Board A. Friends’ Foundation Trust – Orlando
A. Bronson Thayer, Chairman of the Board Bay Cities Bank – Tampa
Dick Wood, Retired
Wawa, Inc. – Wawa, Penn.
Clayton remains active in state boards including the Florida Chamber, Florida TaxWatch, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Foundation, and Florida State Fair Authority. A member of the Arthur W. Page Society, he serves on the board of trustees of his alma mater, Florida Southern College, maintains leadership positions in various non-profit foundations, and was recently awarded the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America for his past involvement. A third generation Floridian, he and his wife Beverly reside in Lakeland and are learning to be empty nesters. They have two children, Clay and Jill. They are active in their church and enjoy traveling and spending time on Longboat Key.
We also welcome these new members of our board of directors. Look for their full profiles in the next issue.
EMERITUS MEMBERS Louise B. Adams Lake Wales
J. Shepard Bryan Jr., Attorney
Holland & Knight LLP – Atlantic Beach
Nancy J. Davis, President & CEO
McArthur Management Company – Miami
John Germany, Attorney
Holland & Knight LLP – Tampa
Robert Graham, Senator U. S. Senate – Miami
M. Lewis Hall Jr., Partner/Attorney Hall & Hedrick – Coral Gables
Joan Wellhouse Newton, Chairman Emeritus Regency Centers Corporation – Jacksonville
Frank Driscoll, President/CEO Driscoll Group
Chip Elfner, President, Mountain Lake Corporation
Girlfriends’ Getaway by Dalia Colon, Guest Columnist & VISIT FLORIDA Insider
“Friends are flowers in the garden of life.” - Proverb
Ashley Cameron (right) and I haven’t had a view this good since we went parasailing in St. Pete Beach.
Ashley and I have been best friends since we were three, when her family moved in down the street from mine. Twenty-seven years later, we live 1,200 miles apart but catch up as though nothing’s changed. Ashley is by far the sweetest flower in my friendship garden. So it was only fitting that when Ashley came to visit me for one last girlfriends’ getaway before I became a mom, our weekend included a stop at the Gardens. If you’re looking for something different to do with your BFF, try these ideas:
1. Do lunch. Ashley’s a foodie (growing up, we worked in her parents’ restaurant). So when it comes to eating out, she’s a tough customer. But even she had to admit the selection at the Blue Palmetto Café goes beyond the standard museum cafeteria fare. We daintily enjoyed our salads... and then split a brownie. Isn’t that what BFFs are for? 2. Take in a concert. Ashley and I have come a long way since performing “Hot Cross Buns” on our recorders during kindergarten recitals. Now that we’re grown-ups, we have grown-up musical tastes. So the Gardens’ twice-daily carillon concerts are more our speed. And now that we’re allowed to stay up after dark, the spring Moonlight Concerts are a nice way to unwind.
3. Join the club. Forget gym memberships and book clubs. Why not pay for a membership you’ll actually enjoy using? Perks range from private Singing Tower tours (talk about bonding!) to discounts at other area museums, depending on your level of membership. 4. Plan your wedding. What’s more picturesque than getting married in a garden? And who better to help check out the scene than your BFF. For details on getting hitched at the Gardens, fill out the form and download the Wedding Guide on www.boktowergardens.org/ weddings. 5. One word: Shop. Window shopping is fun. Shopping for real is even better. And with affordable gifts and souvenirs, the Gardens gift shop is full of wallet-friendly ways to commemorate your girlfriends’ getaway.
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1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, FL 33853
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1. Nearly 20 students from the Yale University Guild of
3. Solas and the Frank Vignola Quintet performed during our
Carillonneurs visited during our International Carillon Festival
annual Concert Under the Stars spring event!
to participate in a Master Class by guest carillonneur Geert D’hollander. Visit us at www.youtube.com/boktowergardens
4. We hosted the inaugural A-C-T Carillon Classic 5K Run &
to hear Geert and two Yale students performing “Yeehaw
Walk in May with nearly 275 participants. For encouragement,
Junction Jam Session.”
participants were treated to a special carillon concert that could be heard throughout their run.
2. More than 1,000 students came from across Central Florida to play at the Gardens during our Earth Day Celebration!
www.boktowergardens.org • shop.boktowergardens.org
Photo by Danny Kushmer
Photo by Martin Corbin
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Photo by Martin Corbin
Photo by Martin Corbin
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