WALKING IN A WAREA WONDERLAND • NEW PRESERVE TRAIL OPENS • BOK IN BLOOM
The
Vol. 5 | Issue 1 | Winter 2013
Creating Musical Legacies A newsletter from Bok Tower Gardens www.boktowergardens.org
The carillon has been central to our mission since 1929.
This portrait of Mary Bok, painted by Norman Rockwell, still hangs at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Thousands gather for our fall and spring concerts on the Great Lawn.
Folk duo Tammerlin perform an intimate concert in our Visitor Center.
A Letter from the President
In this issue, we offer you a brief glimpse into the philanthropic life of Mary Louise Curtis Bok, wife of Bok Tower Gardens founder Edward Bok. While her husband was working to build the tower and gardens, Mrs. Bok was busy starting the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, recognized as one of the world’s leading music schools. Her dream was of a place that fosters well-rounded musicians, with an admission policy based solely on artistic merit.
Last year we had a 12-year high in attendance, hosting nearly 160,000 visitors between October 2011 and September 2012. Our focus on the future is how music, horticulture and conservation each play an important role in our mission— something that hasn’t changed since 1929.
Mr. and Mrs. Bok loved music as much as they loved the singing of the birds, and they supported the arts in many different ways, both here and in Philadelphia. Mrs. Bok envisioned a natural amphitheater on the great lawn below the tower for musical performances and educational lectures. Today that is where we host our symphony and jazz concerts. Our plans for the future build on this legacy with even more musical offerings, from folk to classical, from intimate presentations to audiences of thousands. We’re also re-imagining a world-class fellowship program for carillon students, which further enhances and defines the nature of the Gardens.
Additionally, we are planning new garden areas that will enhance and celebrate wildlife as part of our master plan. Recently, we completed interviews of nationally known landscape architects for the design of these gardens. We have selected Thomas Woltz of Charlottesville, VA and Emmanuel Didier of Fort Collins, CO for these designs and will share more details about their progress in the near future.
Please join us for Founder’s Day Weekend Feb. 1-3 to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the dedication of the Gardens, featuring activities that celebrate music, history and art. One of the highlights is the Curtis On Tour teacherstudent concert with Curtis Institute president Roberto Díaz, a performance not to be missed.
David Price, President Cover photo of Geert D’hollander playing the carillon by Martin Corbin.
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The
David Price President
Brian Ososky Editor
Martin Corbin Graphic Design
David Price, president of Bok Tower Gardens, accepted the award on behalf of the Bok family.
Edward Bok Receives Dutch-American Heritage Award by Brian Ososky, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Editorial Contributors Joy Banks Jennifer Beam Martin Corbin Sandra Sue Dent Geert D’hollander Emily Nettnin Earle Jon Foerster
This past November, during halftime of an Orlando Magic basketball game, Edward W. Bok was presented posthumously with the “First Salute” award, recognizing a Dutch-American individual or family who has made a positive difference in the Central Florida community.
Christine Foley
Introducing the award was Patrick Willemsen, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. David Price, president of Bok Tower Gardens, accepted it on behalf of the Bok family.
Cheryl Peterson
“This award is a huge honor, and I think Mr. Bok would be proud to see how his contribution of a public garden and carillon has affected the lives of the people who visit here,” Price said. Edward Bok died in 1930 a year after the dedication of the Gardens and Singing Tower, and although he was unable to realize the impact he has made on the Central Florida region, his legacy to “make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it” lives on.
Tapestry Singing Tower Throw Back by popular demand, our Singing Tower tapestry throw featuring Edward Bok’s famous quote, “Make You the World,” is once again on sale in the Gift Shop. Tapestry size 50” x 70”. Made in the U.S.A.
Greg Kramer Brian Ososky Sue Paetzold David Price Juliet Rynear Nicole DeMaris Sharp Joan Thomas Rose Young
Mission 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: “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 and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. CTP/6.5M/0113
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Membership Matters Membership Matters
Tampa Bay History Center
New Reciprocal Partners Give the gift of Bok Tower Gardens Just because the holiday season has ended doesn’t mean the giving ends! Great for birthdays, anniversaries and winter/spring holidays, gift memberships provide someone you love a year’s worth of beautiful music and picturesque gardens. Current members can purchase a gift membership for $5 off regular prices through May 1, 2013. Please contact Christine Foley at 863.734.1233 to purchase a gift membership for someone special today!
All Members:
Art Exhibition Reception Friday, February 8 at 7 p.m. The creative spirit of Frederick Law Olmsted is honored by New York artist, Beryl Brenner. Ms. Brenner combines photography, unusual papers and fused glass resulting in a vivid, visual scrapbook for Olmsted’s work. Exhibition runs February 2 – April 4. Members are free.
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20+ Year Members:
20+ Year Member Appreciation Breakfast February 1 & 2 at 8:30 a.m. Members of Bok Tower Gardens with 20 or more years of membership are invited to breakfast and a special program, which includes a private viewing of rarely seen archival items from the Chao Research Center. Members attending this event will be among the first to cross the moat around the Singing Tower during our Founder’s Day Celebration. This event is by invitation only and RSVPs are required.
Along with our American Horticulture Society Reciprocal Admission Program, Bok Tower Gardens has partnerships with several aquariums, zoos, museums and attractions throughout the state. For the 2013 Reciprocal Admission Program, we have added four new partners - Museum of Fine Arts (St. Petersburg), South Florida Museum (Bradenton), Tampa Bay History Center (Tampa), and Vero Beach Museum of Art (Vero Beach). To see the complete listing of our Reciprocal Partners, visit boktower.org/membership. Most partners offer free or 50% off admission for the entire year for members, so take advantage of the savings and thank them for being a partner!
Sustainer Level and Above:
Founder’s Room Tours
Sponsor Level and Above:
Greenhouse Tour
Saturday, March 23 at 8:30 a.m.
Friday, February 15; Saturday, March 16 Members at the Sustainer level and above are invited to an exclusive tour of the Founder’s Room inside the Tower. RSVPs are required for this event.
Members at the Sponsor level and above are invited to an exclusive tour of the Joan Wellhouse Newton Greenhouse & Nursery facilities. RSVPs will be taken after February 25 and are required for this event.
RSVP Today! Contact Christine Foley at cfoley@boktower.org or 863.734.1233 to make your reservations for these upcoming events.
What’s Your Story? Tower Key Society members recently shared some of their memorable stories from their 20+ years of membership at Bok Tower Gardens.
Gardens Inspired Gifted Children Garden Memorials at a Glance Gifts made in admiration of loved ones are sincere reminders of how special people have touched your life and a beautiful way to honor those who love the Gardens, whether as a living tribute or in memory of someone who has passed. What are some ways we can honor our loved ones at the Gardens? At the Visitor Center, we have flyers listing several items that can be dedicated and memorialized in a person’s honor, ranging from Adirondack chairs to plaques, with pricing from $500 to $5000. You can also choose to make a monetary gift to our Memorial Endowment Fund, established to maintain and preserve the beauty of the Gardens for future generations. These gifts have no monetary limits and are recognized in our annual report. We also send a note to the recipient or recipient’s family acknowledging that a gift has been made in their honor. Can we dedicate a bench or a live tree, plant or flower? Unfortunately, no. We have suspended our Memorial Bench program for the time being, pending future
expansion and restoration efforts. As for trees, plants and flowers, we choose not to plant them for this purpose because it creates a sensitive issue if they were to die or be destroyed in a natural disaster (like hurricanes or fires).
We came to Florida in 1957. When we first visited Bok Tower Gardens, I was so enthralled by its beauty and tranquility. Over the years, it has been a haven from the rush and chaos of everyday life. As a teacher of gifted children, I used the Gardens for field trips for my “poetic artists.” They were overwhelmed and inspired to write many beautiful poems. Thanks for keeping this beauty for future generations. Dorothy Fisher Member since 1989
Can we have a memorial service at the Gardens for a loved one? Everyone is welcome at the Gardens to give thanks for someone’s life and remember them with small, informal gatherings. Larger, more formal events should be arranged through our Facility Rental Coordinator at 863.734.1214. We are honored to be a part of these celebrations of life and strive to find the perfect tribute for the special people in your life. For more information, please contact Emily Nettnin Earle at eearle@boktower.org or 863.734.1212.
Alfred and Evelyn Peach
27 Years and Still Loving It! When I was a young girl in Connecticut, I had a great uncle who lived in Winter Haven. He sent us pictures of himself near the Tower and with elephant leaves around his head. Every year, he would send a basket of oranges and grapefruits to us from his backyard. We would see him in the summer and talk of the area. When it came time for us to retire, we took a tour of Florida in our motor home and decided to buy property in Winter Haven because we liked it better than anything else we had seen. We’ve been here 27 years and still love it! We’ve been members of Bok Tower most of that time, and it’s been our favorite place to visit again and again, never tiring of its changing seasons. Alfred and Evelyn Peach Members since 1985 Winter 2013 | 5
Greedy Plants Don’t Make Good Neighbors Once cut back, it was evident how much water the bamboo was consuming.
Meet “Char”lene by Jon Foerster, Equipment Technician
At first glance, you might think that it was something from the prohibition era. Actually, this contraption is used to make “biochar.” Biochar is charcoal that is used as a soil amendment to improve fertility. Charcoal is almost pure carbon, an inert material that can endure in the soil for thousands of years. The porous structure of charcoal allows it to absorb and hold water and nutrients, benefiting both plants and soil microbes. Charcoal is produced by the incomplete burning of biomass (wood) at a relatively low temperature (<700 F⁰), releasing greenhouse-producing gases such as carbon monoxide and methane into the atmosphere. With the biochar maker, the biomass is superheated (1200 F⁰) inside a low oxygen inner chamber. The harmful gases are vented into an outer combustion chamber where the organic combustibles are completely burned off. Finally, after the biomass is depleted, all that remains is carbon charcoal that can be used to amend soil in a garden. We will be using biochar to renew our planting beds. 6 | Winter 2013
by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture
Many people don’t realize that bamboo is actually a grass, albeit a large grass in some species. One such large variety we have in the garden is Beechey’s bamboo (Bambusa beecheyana). It can reach an eventual height of 50 feet with a spread far exceeding its respected boundaries, thus impeding the growth of surrounding plant material. In addition, bamboo’s tenacious root system out-competes other plants for water and nutrients. For these reasons, three of the six existing clumps of Beechey’s bamboo were removed from the Gardens in November. This has opened up previously obstructed vistas and will allow surrounding plants to develop unimpeded. The remaining three clumps will be removed this summer, much to the relief of their neighboring plants.
Saddleback Moth Parasitized by Braconid Wasp Larvae by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture The drama and struggle of wildlife often goes unseen at the Gardens. Armed with venomous spines as a defense against predators, not many organisms attack saddleback moth caterpillars. However, a tiny parasitoid wasp has evolved to evade those defenses. The Braconid Wasp (Sibine stimulea) is a small wasp which possesses a long ovipositor that is used to insert eggs into the caterpillar’s body while avoiding the spines. Upon hatching, the endoparasitic larvae feed and develop inside the living caterpillar. At maturity, the larvae emerge through the caterpillar’s exoskeleton and spin cocoons, which remain attached during pupation. From within the cocoons, the next generation of braconid wasps will emerge. Braconid wasps are commonly used as biological control agents by homeowners and commercial crop producers to defend against various caterpillar pests.
A view of the Singing Tower from the newly opened trail.
New 1.5 Mile Preserve Trail Opens by Brian Ososky, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Education about the natural landscape of Bok Tower Gardens is a core component of our mission. The new 1.5mile Preserve Trail is now open to engage and inspire learners of all ages about one of Florida’s most endangered ecosystems and our ongoing restoration efforts. The 1.5-mile walking trail takes visitors on a journey through the preserve from our main gate to the visitor center. It has been paved with pebble rock from phosphate mines, rich in fossils from Central Florida’s “Bone Valley,” which lends an additional regional interest. Midway on the trail is a parking area and picnic shelter. Interpretive signs along the trail tell about the flora, fauna and wildlife of this habitat, the ecological role of fire, and
This sign teaches visitors about the Gopher Tortoise.
the natural history of the Lake Wales Ridge. Support for the project was provided by CSX Corporation, Mosaic Corporation, Polk County Board of County Commissioners, State of Florida, Florida Wildflower Advisory Council and the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Green Horizon Land Trust, and the Vaughn-Jordan Foundation.
Fertilizer—Lifeblood of the Garden by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture
Fertilizers are an environmental necessity for plant health in a garden. If not properly used and calibrated, however, it can also be a source of pollution and detrimental to plant health. Soil tests and collaborative research was recently conducted at Bok Tower Gardens, and we concluded that our fertilizer use could be greatly reduced by creatively recalibrating our formulation. The new analysis eliminated phosphorus, which at high levels is a substantial pollutant. This is part of Bok Tower Garden’s environmental initiative to become a more sustainable garden. Winter 2013 | 7
Creating Musical Legacies: The Curtis Institute of Music & Bok Tower Gardens by Joy Banks, Librarian
While most readers know about Edward Bok’s philanthropic nature, many may not be aware that his wife, Mary Louise Curtis Bok (Zimbalist), also funded many efforts in the arts. Perhaps the dearest to her heart was the 1924 founding of the Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia). Beginning with a dream of an institution that would foster well-rounded music professionals, Mrs. Bok assembled a faculty of some of the most prominent musicians and vocalists “to hand down through contemporary masters the great traditions of the past to teach students to build on this heritage for the future.”
Anton Brees with Carl Weinrich and Lawrence Apgar, the second pair of students to travel to Bok Tower Gardens (c. 1930).
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The faculty of the Institute included many notable musicians including the conductor Leopold Stokowski and the pianist Josef Hofmann. Also among their ranks was Bok Tower Gardens’ own Anton Brees. At the recommendation of Stokowski, a department of campanology was formed in 1929 with Brees as the head, instructing students in the art of carillon performance and composition. This program is often considered to be the first time formal carillon study came to the United States. Before his death, Edward Bok gave permission to the Institute to use the Singing Tower
Curtis’ Musical Legacy Today Curtis On Tour returns to Bok Tower Gardens February 3 at 7:30 p.m. for an incredible evening of string trio music by Curtis President and renowned violist, Roberto Díaz, with two students on violin and cello. Founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the Curtis Institute of Music is one of the world’s leading music schools, providing full-tuition scholarships to all of its 165 students and ensuring admissions are based solely on artistic promise. Mary Louise, like her husband, was philanthropic by nature. Mrs. Bok’s passion for the arts led her to establish the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1924.
as a classroom for instruction. During the program’s four-year existence, students would travel from Philadelphia to Lake Wales for approximately six weeks of intensive study. Brees hosted at least eight students in the Singing Tower, most notably Samuel Barber, Nino Rota and Gian Carlo Menotti, all tasked with creating new compositions for North American carillons. Brees and his successors at Bok Tower Gardens continued to share their campanological talents with others, often hosting students and scholars in the Tower to promote the art of carillon performance and composition. Due to financial reasons, the decision was made in 1933 to temporarily discontinue the study of Organ and Campanology at the Institute. While organ study resumed in 1935, the campanology program never returned, though attempts were made later to reinstitute the program. We continue to foster the historical relationship that we have with the Curtis Institute of Music by welcoming their performers and collaborating on archival matters. The Curtis Institute of Music continues to “make the world a bit better or more beautiful” because Mrs. Bok chose to share her dream with the world.
Students at the Philadelphia-based Roberto Díaz, conservatory president of the Curtis “learn by doing,” Institute of Music. performing frequently and often collaborating side-by-side with their celebrated faculty. Although hundreds apply each year, the school admits only enough students to fill the places of the previous graduating class. With an acceptance rate of just 3.2 percent, Curtis is ranked as the most selective college-level institution in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. Tickets for this special Curtis On Tour event are $35 ($31.50 members) and are available online at boktowergardens.org or by calling 863-734-1222.
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Flowering and healthy Clasping Warea: Mountain Lake Estates is already starting to look like a Wonderland. Photo by Juliet Rynear.
Walking in a Warea Wonderland by Juliet Rynear, Rare Plant Specialist and Cheryl L. Peterson, Conservation Manager
It’s October, and the sandhill habitat of central Florida is so abundant with flowers that it seems to supply an unlimited source of pollen and nectar for hundreds of species of butterflies, wasps and bees. Yet in this flora wonderland, the delicate lavender-pink Clasping Warea was nearly lost. Clasping Warea (Warea amplexifolia) is an annual that grows only in the sandhill habitat. Few populations are protected and most are found on private properties, gradually disappearing due to development. One of the last known populations is near Bok Tower Gardens at Mountain Lake Estates, a residential community built in the 1920s. Here, a natural sandhill habitat boasts the only remaining population of Clasping Warea in Polk County, not seen at Mountain Lake since 1997. Years of fire suppression had all but eliminated
the sandy openings and canopy gaps required by this and other sandhill species to thrive. Then after an absence of 13 years, ten plants were observed in 2010. This re-emergence is attributed to the cool, rainy conditions of winter 2009 followed by a wet spring, both ideal for the germination and growth of the species. To help re-establish a strong population, a new partnership was forged between Mountain Lake Estates, The Nature Conservancy, and Bok Tower Gardens’
“A sense of place emerges through knowledge of the history, geography and geology of an area, its flora and fauna, the legends of a place, and a growing sense of the land and its history after living there for a time.” – Dr. Thomas A. Woods 10 | Winter 2013
Rare Plant Conservation Program.
The flowers of the Clasping Warea. Photo by David Price.
Seeds were collected from all ten plants to help generate new seedlings, and a prescribed burn at the site in July 2011 helped restore the habitat. Following the burn, 189 seedlings were planted, and within a month formed flowers, then seeds. In May 2012, 176 additional seedlings and 300 seeds were introduced, and more will be added in 2013 and beyond, eventually recreating the Warea Wonderland that once existed at Mountain Lake. The efforts of the Rare Plant Conservation Program are primarily funded by grant awards and private donations. Below is a list of supplies we are currently seeking to acquire for our work to preserve Florida’s rare plant species. Crew Cab 4wd pickup Dual Purge pressure regulation system for seed desiccator Portable artist/display tent Dino-Eye AM423 - 1.3MP Digital Microscope Camera Adobe Pro Digital Game Camera Tabletop Mini Vice
$25-35,000 $1,900 $400 $280 $280 $120 $30
Meet Matthew Fulwood New Sous Chef at the Blue Palmetto Café
What’s better than having one talented chef preparing meals at Bok Tower Gardens? Having two! This past September, new Sous Chef Matthew Fulwood joined the Blue Palmetto Café as a complement to Chef Cory Reynolds who has been with the Gardens a little over a year. Fulwood, 30, attended Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts in Miami where he earned his associate degree. Over the course of his career, he has developed down-to-earth cooking techniques and shares a passion for fresh food with Chef Cory. “Featuring a lot more fresh food is the goal, even more than what we’re doing now,” says Matt about the Café’s menu. “Nothing compares to the flavor of fresh.” Matt is happy to be part of the Gardens family.
Mexican flame vine photo by flickr.com/dinesh_valke
“I’ve developed the best working relationships I’ve ever had since taking this position,” Matt says. “Chef Cory has given
me creative freedom, especially on my homemade soups. And our talents don’t compete with each other; instead it’s very collaborative, which I enjoy.” “It’s become second nature for me to combine ingredients and have it turn out to be good— without having to use recipes,” says Matt. “If I taste it and like it, I know our guests will like it too.” Yes we do, Matt. Yes we do!
Nun’s orchid
Mexican flame vine
Coral bean
When in bloom, the nun’s orchid is sure to stop and wow both novice and orchid aficionado alike. The plant produces large bold, pleated leaves which grow to be three feet and a flower stalk that reaches above them, displaying riotous colors of dark purple and rusty brown. Planted in part shade in a rich soil, this orchid blooms for six weeks or more!
If your gardening desires warrant a vine that shouts when in bloom, Mexican flame vine may be just what you’re looking for. Its bright orange, daisyshaped flowers are an attention grabber for both people and pollinators. This low maintenance vine requires direct sun to perform to its full potential and is perfect for the armchair gardener who likes little input, but wants to be rewarded with a bountiful floral display.
Depending on the climate where it is grown, coral bean can range from a herbaceous perennial to a small tree. Regardless of its climatic stature, this native is beloved by both plant enthusiasts and hummingbirds for its bright red tubular flowers.
Phaius tankervilliae
Pseudosynoxys chenopodioides
Erythrina herbacea
Bok in Bloom Bok in Bloom by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture
What’sNew New at at the What’s theGardens! Gardens! Speaking of Great Gardens… Get more out of your Bok Tower Gardens experience by connecting with horticulture like never before. All-new this year is our Great Garden Speakers Series, featuring nationally recognized gardening talent who mix humor and expertise to share valuable (and practical) gardening lessons.
Fresh, New, Original Music ‘Under The Stars’ Join us for an evening of fun and inspiring performances Saturday, April 27 with our annual springtime Concert Under The Stars. Is it Jazz? Folk? Bluegrass? Rock? Or a unique combination that becomes something completely fresh, new and original? It’s difficult to put this music into one specific category because the truth is… there aren’t just simple categories of music anymore. But no matter what you call it, you’re sure to love it! The internationally recognized banjo virtuoso, Alison Brown (Quartet), comes to the Gardens with three Grammy
Tom MacCubbin, host of “Better Lawns & Gardens” radio and good friend of ours, returns to the Gardens January 26 to help us discover plants that have made Florida famous throughout history. Billy Goodnick, landscape architect and “sneaky educator” who entertains while teaching, joins us March 9 to lend a hand with beautiful, useful and sustainable garden design. Debra Prinzing, writer and lecturer, stops by May 4 to talk about seasonal, eco-friendly design projects and the “slow flower” movement.
nominations for solo recordings and a Grammy award in 2001 for Best Country Instrumental Performance. A former member of Union Station (Alison Krauss), Brown has been praised for her unique take on this traditionally Appalachian instrument. But no one knows exactly what to call her music style, not even Brown. It’s kind of a “blue-jazz pop-grass,” she jokingly suggests. Also performing is another Grammynominated band, The Duhks, who tout their music as “a folk-rock, bluegrass fusion of Afro-Cuban soul and jazz.” The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Duhks have always gravitated towards traditional roots-based songs, but they’ve never stopped evolving due in large part to a collective musical worldview that knows no boundaries.
“Singing” Time, Flavorful Concerts by Geert D’hollander, Director of Carillon Services
Alison Brown
The 2013 edition of Concert Under The Stars will be a night to remember! Tickets are $25 ($22.50 members) and are available online at boktowergardens.org.
Carillons have always been the community time piece, likewise our Singing Tower chimes on the hour and half hour throughout the day, affectionately known as “Clock Music.” Sometime very soon you’ll begin hearing new melodies as diverse as the people visiting the Gardens. Also new in 2013 are Harmonious Fare Sunset Concerts. Beginning in February, the first is “Mexican Fiesta,” featuring selections of Mexican and Spanish-inspired music. On St.
Founder’s Day Weekend Celebration
Curtis On Tour by Curtis Institute of Music
Crossing the Moat
Curtis On Tour brings the extraordinary artistry of the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music to audiences worldwide, with tomorrow’s leading musicians performing alongside celebrated alumni and faculty. $35 per person.
Friday, February 1 – 3 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The historic iron Yellin gates will be open for visitors to cross the moat. Included with general admission.
Sunday, February 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Live Carillon Concerts
February 1 – 3 at 1 & 3 p.m. Included with general admission.
Calendar Calendar JANUARY
19 20 24 26
Winter Dog Day Live at the Gardens: Braun & Wolf Watercolor Classes Begin Tom MacCubbin Lecture
FEBRUARY 1 1&2 1-3 1-3 2 3 8 14 15 15 17
Moonlight Carillon Concert Members Only: 20+ Year Member Breakfast Crossing the Moat Mysteries of the Singing Tower Guided Exterior Tours The Olmsted’s Dream Art Exhibit Opens Live at the Gardens: Curtis On Tour Olmsted’s Dream Art Reception Valentine’s Dinner: A Night In Paris Members Only: Founder’s Room Tour Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition Film Premiere Harmonious Fare Sunset Concert
MARCH 1 9 10 16 16 17 23 26 28 29 31
Moonlight Carillon Concert
Friday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. $5 per person. Free for Members.
Mysteries of the Singing Tower Guided Tour
Moonlight Carillon Concert Billy Goodnick Walkabout & Lecture Live at the Gardens: Daniel Strange Piano Jazz Members Only: Founder’s Room Tour Live at the Gardens: Foothill Bluegrass Band Harmonious Fare Sunset Concert Members Only: Greenhouse Tour Family Spring Break Night Hike Family Spring Break Night Hike Moonlight Carillon Concert Easter Sunrise Service
APRIL 6 7 13 14 27
February 1 – 3 from noon – 1 p.m.
Attend guided tours of the Singing Tower exterior highlighting its history, artistry, architecture and construction, followed by a half-hour carillon concert and historical artifacts display. Included with general admission.
Connections Art Exhibit Opens Live at the Gardens: Vladimir Svoysky Live at the Gardens: Robert Phillips Harmonious Fare Sunset Concert Concert Under the Stars
MAY 2 4 10 25
Earth Day Celebration Debra Prinzing Workshop & Lecture National Public Gardens Day Carillon Classic 5K Walk & Run
Special thanks to the following donors of Florida native plants and the property owners who allowed BTG to survey for and collect native plants, September - December 2012:
The Great Brass Door
Patrick’s Day, Irish music will fill the air. Then we’ll close the series with a “Seafarers Delight” in April. Picnic dinners and bottled wine that complement each theme will be available at the Blue Palmetto Café. Last but not least, on very special occasions, our musical tower will soon sing alongside other instruments like piano and brass for unforgettable duets that haven’t been heard at the Gardens before. It’s an exciting time for music at the Gardens!
Donna Bateman, Homestead, FL Glen and Lauren Hangar, Middlebrook, VA Marion County Municipal Service Taxing Units Maybelle Harvey, Zolfo Springs, FL Sharee and Dick Metzger, Wauchula, FL Mary Jane Matheny, Zolfo Springs, FL Darrell and Annette Littell, Zolfo Springs, FL St. Lucie County, Fort Pierce, FL Indian River County, Sebastian, FL David and Joan Moallem, Palm Bay, FL Roseanna and Catherine Huther, Canastota, NY William Emery, Finish Line Homes, Wellington, FL Pamela Coleman, Homestead, FL Patricia Walker, Wellington, FL Katherine Edenhofer, Ocklawaha, FL Richard Lee Gonzales, Windermere, FL Daryl Pass, Pompano Beach, FL Davina Durias, Scarborough, Ontario, CA Janice Abbett, Ocklawaha, FL Hillary Newby, Mary Esther, FL
2013
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Michael Aloian Lake Wales
VICE CHAIR Cindy Alexander, Community Volunteer Lake Wales
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 J. F. Bryan IV
The Bryan Group – Jacksonville
William G. Burns, Retired Lake Wales
Paul Collins, Retired PJC Partners, London
Frank Driscoll, President/CEO
Driscoll Group – Winston-Salem, N.C.
Derek Dunn-Rankin, President
Sun Coast Media Group, Inc. – Charlotte Harbor
Chip Elfner, President
Mountain Lake Corporation – Lake Wales
Robin Gibson, Senior Partner Gibson Law Firm – Lake Wales
Mark Clayton Hollis Jr., Retired
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.
EMERITUS MEMBERS Louise B. Adams Lake Wales
Stone masons shifted the marble head ¼-inch back into alignment, cleaned out debris, installed steel support rods, and used epoxy to put the pieces back together.
When Lightning Strikes by Brian Ososky, Director of Marketing & Public Relations In August 2011, a bolt of lightning struck the Tower and severed the head of one of the 14-foot tall marble herons on the Tower’s top perimeter. While the 1000-pound head was not dislodged, the strike cut completely through the heron’s neck. Temporary measures to secure the head in place were taken immediately. Bok Tower Gardens received matching funding assistance from the State of Florida, Division of Historical Resources to repair the marble heron and to install a new lightning protection system to help prevent similar damage in the future. Work included erecting scaffolding around all sides of the heron, lifting the marble head with special equipment, cleaning out debris, installing steel rods, and gluing the pieces back together. The damage to the Georgian marble heron was nearly identical to that which occurred in 1999 when lightning struck another heron statue atop the Tower. Prior to 1999, the Tower had only one other damaging strike in 1930. It is estimated the Tower sustains hundreds of lightning strikes every year.
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
Kids Photography Contest Winner Congratulations to Madison Betts, age 12, for winning the “People’s Choice Award” with her stunning photo “A Walk in the Gardens” during this year’s Kids Photography Contest.
Passing the Rare Plant Curator Torch Before Cindy Campbell’s arrival in 2003, our Rare Plant National Collection consisted of many fewer living plants and just one
shelf for seed storage. Today, there are hundreds of living specimens representing 70 species and hundreds of thousands of seeds stored within four different temperatures regimes, along with comprehensive propagation data. Our National Collection is one of the finest in the nation, and much of what we know about rare plant propagation and seed storage can be directly attributed to Cindy’s hard work over the years. She and her husband are settling in to their new home in Ocala where she plans to start a small farm,
supporting and promoting locally grown food in Florida. We bid her a fond and affectionate farewell. We warmly welcome Glen Bupp as our new Curator. Having completed his master’s thesis on the population genetics of Scrub Lupine, Glen is now working to enhance the National Collection and apply his research expertise to the muchneeded study of Florida’s rare plant species. The National Collection is again in good hands!
Partner Profile WEDU is west central Florida’s primary PBS station and public media company serving 16 counties through a variety of media platforms, including on-air programming and online experiences that broaden horizons and open gateways to new ideas and new worlds. Financially supported by the community, WEDU offers a wealth of award-winning educational and inspirational content and community outreach services. WEDU’s focus on the local community has resulted in the station being regarded as a beacon of trust for men, women and children of every walk of life.
“Like Bok Tower, WEDU is treasured in the community. It’s a natural fit, and an honor, to serve as a partner for the wonderful cultural events held in the Gardens,” said Allison Hedrick, WEDU’s Vice President of Communications. For a complete program schedule and more information on becoming a WEDU member, visit www.wedu.org. Winter 2013 | 15
1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales 33853
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1. These young visitors took on the challenge of climbing
3. Owen Jolly poses with students from his fall watercolor class
our historic oak trees during the fourth annual Boktoberfest
which ended on December 20. Students received personal
Plant Sale on October 20. Thousands of visitors flocked to
instruction as they learned new techniques and strengthened
the Gardens for a chance to shop for plants from vendors
their watercolor painting skills. New classes begin January 24.
throughout Central Florida. 4. During this year’s Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens 2. The Florida Southern College Jazz Ensemble opened up for
celebration, Geert D’hollander, resident carillonneur,
the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra during the 11th annual
performed approximately 150 different Christmas songs
Sunset & Symphony concert on November 10.
from 30 different countries.
www.boktowergardens.org • shop.boktowergardens.org