FARM-FRESH FOOD AT THE CAFÉ • NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED • SUMMER EVENTS ANNOUNCED
The
Vol. 5 | Issue 2 | Summer 2013
Making the World a Bit Better
A newsletter from Bok Tower Gardens www.boktowergardens.org
Photo by Chad Baumer
Photo by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
A Letter from the President
Window by the Pond will be revitalized as part of upcoming restoration efforts.
Additionally, we are studying how to make the walks more wheelchairand stroller-friendly, planning a picturesque shuttle route from the Visitor Center to the Tower, and carefully considering the original Olmsted approach to the Tower from the north end of the gardens as a journey through native plant ecosystems.
The foundation set up by Our partnership with UF/IFAS will allow us to Edward Bok in 1922 as expand on our educational outreach. the American Foundation was created to support endeavors that Bok felt would “make the world a bit better As part of this project, a unique opportunity exists to partner or more beautiful.” Some of the more prominent projects with the University of Florida and the Institute of Food and the Foundation has worked on over the years include world Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) to create an outreach program peace, United States recognition of the USSR as a legitimate for schools. In cooperation with the Florida Agricultural country, health care reform, prison reform, and conservation. Extension Service, we will create an Edible School Garden In 1987, the American Foundation changed its name to program to bring food gardening to grade schools and the Bok Tower Gardens Foundation and directed its focus communities throughout the region. Funded through the to supporting the gardens and carillon tower, as well as University of Florida, this program also will feature a teaching conservation, education, and cultural events. We continue and display food garden within our new discovery garden, that mission today. as well as a nature education component to our new wild garden. Teaching children to grow food is the basis for so As we approach our 85th anniversary next year, we are many lessons and connects with so many academic subjects, planning new designs for the Gardens during the first phase it will certainly become a program that will “make the world of a 25-year master plan. We have hired Thomas Woltz, a bit better.” We will share more details about our progress in landscape architect, to create plans for the restoration of the future issues of this newsletter. Olmsted gardens and wildlife pond, as well as a new discovery garden for children and families. Concepts arising from two design workshops held this spring are the basis for plans that will enrich the grounds with native plantings and create areas for wildlife of all types in a wild garden. David Price, President Cover photo of the new can block nursery facility by Martin Corbin. 2 | Summer 2013
T he
The Dell at the University of Virginia
David Price President
Brian Ososky Editor
Martin Corbin Graphic Design
Editorial Contributors
Landscape Architecture Firm Selected Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
Thomas Woltz
Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW) was selected by Bok Tower Gardens for design work on phase one of our master plan. NBW is creating a restoration plan for the historic Olmsted design, as well as a wild garden and discovery garden for children. The firm is known for its work on cultural landscapes – those that combine agriculture, nature, and the planted garden. Design concepts are driven by site dynamics and a great commitment to collaboration as part of a healthy design process. Thomas Woltz, principal, is one of the rising stars in landscape architecture. In 2011, he was invested into the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows, among the highest honors achieved in the profession. For the past 18 years, Woltz has forged a body of work that integrates the beauty and function of form and craftsmanship with an understanding of complex biological systems and restoration ecology, yielding hundreds of acres of reconstructed wetlands, reforested lands, native meadows, and flourishing wildlife habitats. His design work infuses places where people live, work, and play with narratives of the land that inspire stewardship. Some of the firm’s signature projects include Citygarden in St. Louis, the Dell at the University of Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial. NBW has been recognized with over 80 national and regional awards for its work in 25 states and nine different countries.
Lisa Allen Joy Banks Jennifer Beam Martin Corbin Sandra Sue Dent Geert D’hollander Emily Nettnin Earle Christine Foley Karen Horsting Elyse Justice Greg Kramer Christopher Lutton Brian Ososky Cheryl Peterson Debra Porter David Price Cory Reynolds Juliet Rynear Joan Thomas Cheryl Waters Montserrat Watson 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/6M/0513
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Membership Matters Membership Matters
Bring–A–Friend Founder’s Room Tour Friday, August 2 at 5:30pm
Members at the Sustainer level and above are invited to bring a friend, who is not a member of Bok Tower Gardens, to an exclusive tour of the Founder’s Room inside the Singing Tower. RSVPs are required for this event and only 50 spots are available. Please note that this invitation is for two people only and one of those MUST be a non-member. Here is your chance to share the beauty of the Gardens with your friends and encourage them to become a member of Bok Tower Gardens! RSVP to Christine Foley at cfoley@boktower.org or 863.734.1233. The Founder’s Room
Journey to Incredible Places... on Us! Bok Tower Gardens has partnered with several incredible zoos, museums, aquariums, and attractions throughout Florida to provide members’ opportunities to visit these great organizations for free or 50% off admission. (Sorry – this benefit does not extend to guests of members.) We would like to welcome the Jacksonville Maritime Museum (Jacksonville), The BaileyMatthews Shell Museum (Sanibel), and the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium (Fort Myers) to our reciprocal family. Go to boktower.org/benefits to see the complete list of current reciprocal partners and the admission deals they offer. After that...grab the family and your Bok Tower Gardens membership card and have fun on us this summer!
Sponsor Thanks Boktoberfest: TD Bank, Progress Energy, TECO, Captain Fred’s Airboat Nature Tours, Lanier Upshaw, Tucker Paving, Veterinary Healthcare Associates, Imperial Lanes, Brock’s Smoke Hut, Bob Evans, and Walmart Naturally Creepy: Imperial Lanes Sunset & Symphony: Lake Wales Medical Center
Art in the Gardens: Pat Cain Wealth Solutions/ Raymond James Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens: CapTrust, Visit Florida, Visit Central Florida Winter Dog Day: Veterinary Healthcare Associates Tower Key Society Member Appreciation Event: Manning & Napier Advisors Founder’s Room Tours: Terrie Lobb Catering, Bob Evans, Cornerstone Catering, IHOP, Florida’s Natural Earth Day: TD Bank
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See a Flick and Win a Gift Certificate! Every Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. from June 10 – August 14, we will show free nature movies in the Visitor Center Theater. The movies run between 45 minutes to an hour and topics range from wildlife to global climate change. Along with these educational films, we are running a special “Members Only” promotion. Every time you come to watch one of these films, you will be entered into a drawing to win a Bok Tower Gardens gift certificate. At the end of the season, we will draw a $100 prize, $50 prize, and $25 prize that can be used on merchandise, food or tickets at Bok Tower Gardens. Good luck and we will see you at the movies!
Did you know? Members now receive 10% off motorized mobility cart rentals. Contact the Gift Shop at 863.678.1159 for more information on how to reserve a mobility cart when you visit.
TOP 10 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER! by Jennifer Beam, Director of Visitor Services
Getting Involved: Businesses & Corporations As Bok Tower Gardens continues to promote a “culture of philanthropy,” cultivating businesses and corporations are just as crucial as individual donors. Through our Share The Gift Annual Fund, gifts given by individual donors help support conservation, preservation, and operations of the Gardens. Businesses and corporations also support these key areas through matching gifts and sponsorships.
Matching Gifts
One of the best ways to enhance the power of a donation to Bok Tower Gardens is through Matching Gift programs. Many employers (such as Macy’s, Caterpillar and IBM) sponsor these programs and match dollar-for-dollar the charitable contributions of their employees. Many companies will also match volunteer hours or gifts from spouses, retirees, and board members. To find out if your company matches charitable contributions and how to send that match to Bok Tower Gardens, contact your employer’s Human Resources department.
Sponsorships
Sponsorship is another wonderful tool that enables businesses and corporations to expand their visibility and make a significant impact on nonprofit organizations and the communities they support. The Gardens selects and enters into corporate partnerships carefully to ensure that these new relationships positively reflect the values and goals of the Gardens while meeting the philanthropic needs of the business partner. Bok Tower Gardens focuses on partnerships that can become long-term relationships and continues to add new partnerships every year. Currently, we have more than 20 corporate partners, and their investments range from in-kind donations for smaller events to high-dollar sponsorships of major events. Generous charitable donations help steward the Gardens for future generations and help increase access and engagement for all who visit. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring an event at Bok Tower Gardens or would like more information on matching gifts, please contact Emily Nettnin Earle at eearle@boktower.org or 863.734.1212.
10. Get a Garden Adventure Guide at the Information Desk and complete all the activities.
9.
8. Make a
Check out a Discovery Backpack at the Information Desk and have family reading time together in the Gardens.
healthy picnic lunch and eat in the Gardens – anywhere you like!
7.
Come to Discovery Days – each Wednesday is a new garden adventure for kids ages 6 – 12. (see calendar on page 13)
6. Bring your cell phone or
camera, take your best picture of the Gardens, and enter the Kids Photo Contest starting June 1 at boktower.org/contest.
5. Grab a
healthy lunch off the new Kids Menu in the Blue Palmetto Café with new combo meals and activities.
4. Find all six hidden geocaches throughout the Gardens.
3. Learn about nature and animals during our Summer Film Series on Mondays & Wednesdays from June 10 – August 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Visitor Center Theater.
2.
Feed the koi fish while listening to a carillon concert at 1 & 3 p.m.
1. Have fun outside!
Local, Farm-Fresh Food at the Blue Palmetto Café by Chef Cory Reynolds One of my biggest pleasures since coming to work at Bok Tower Gardens has been building relationships with local farmers and growers. My grandparents grew their own produce, introducing me to the joy of picking vegetables and preparing them the same day. I still remember how delicious that fresh food tasted. Those memories have continued throughout my culinary career, working for farm-to-table restaurants and searching for creative ways to bring our Blue Palmetto Café customers those same fresh and delicious flavors. There’s still nothing like going to the farm and picking your own produce. Our Sous Chef Matt Fulwood says we’re like kids in a candy store!
Chef Cory pulls a Vidalia onion from the ground at Roosevelt Farms in Lake Wales.
A Fresh Face & New Technology by Martin Corbin, Marketing Manager Over the last year, we have worked with Clark/Nikdel/Powell of Winter Haven to upgrade our website with a new design, new technology, and new content – three key areas aimed to improve our visitors’ online experience.
Intuitive Design
When our new website launched last February, it did so with fresh, “responsive design” technology behind it, which adjusts the layout of the website to the device it is being viewed
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One of our sources for local produce is Roosevelt Farms in Lake Wales, a student-run working farm on the Roosevelt Academy campus under the supervision of Ray Cruze. Ray’s zeal and passion for teaching and growing and has taught me much about growing vegetables in Florida.
on. It automatically adapts to desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones without the necessity of building three different platforms. The layout was also enhanced with a more colorful, user-friendly look and feel that includes photo galleries, videos, and music for visitors to interact with.
Content Is King
In addition to layout and design, every department took part in crafting the website’s content. Everything was written with the visitor in mind by addressing the most frequently asked questions and providing the most useful information about everything the Gardens has to offer. Additionally, a new blog was launched in April that provides up-to-date (and behind-the-scenes) information about what’s
Roosevelt Farms, started in 1995, is managed by Roosevelt Academy’s agriculture students. The students apply what they learn in the classroom to crop production. Math and science concepts are used to calculate fertilizer and pH levels.
Ray Cruze shows Chef Cory Reynolds the crop of kale. • Roosevelt Academy students Carmella Trinidad and Jasmine Bates working in the greenhouse during class. • Ray Cruze, student Maria Wooten, and Chef Cory during his recent visit to Roosevelt Farms.
“I am very fortunate for the support I receive from agricultural businesses that donate their time and products to our program,” Ray says. “Their support allows my students the opportunity to use the same technology and supplies that are used by commercial farmers and growers.” Roosevelt Farms currently has more than 5,200 vegetable and herb plants, including 3,000 onions, 1,000 bean plants, 800 tomato and pepper plants, and 400 squash and cucumber
plants. Roosevelt Farms houses the largest vegetable production farm in Lake Wales city limits.
“Our crops are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, and our soils are improved by using organic fertilizers and supplements. Students also scout for insects, relying on beneficial insects to control plant pests,” Ray adds. It’s so wonderful to see the passion that our local growers have, and our partnership with Roosevelt Farms helps us make delicious, fresh food for our Café customers… and keep living like kids in a candy store!
happening at Bok Tower Gardens. Several times a week, staff and volunteers contribute unique stories, interesting quips, educational insights, and seldom seen photos that provide a fresh perspective about the Gardens, as well as regular updates on programs and events.
Head over to www.boktowergardens.org to take a look at the new website and let us know what you think. You can also sign up to receive weekly blog updates at www.boktower.org/blog.
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Anatomy of a Habitat
Dr. Matthew Richardson recording habitat data while volunteer Jerry Burns looks on.
Volunteer Lois Smith and Montserrat Watson during habitat data collection.
by Cheryl L. Peterson and Montserrat Watson
Lakela’s Mint measurements being recorded at Hobe Sound NWR.
Dr. Matthew Richardson recording habitat data within a sample plot containing Lakela’s Mint.
Walking through a natural habitat, you see a variety of plant species scattered about, but have you ever looked around and wondered why a certain species is located in a particular spot while just a few feet away it’s absent? Is it due to where a seed randomly fell and grew, or is there another reason? Understanding why a plant can grow in certain areas and not in others is an
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important key to the preservation of rare plant populations, yet it’s one that is not well known for many species. Dr. Matthew Richardson and Montserrat Watson, scientists at the USDA, volunteered their off-duty time to the Rare Plant Conservation Program at Bok Tower Gardens to study these habitat requirements of Lakela’s Mint, one of Florida’s rarest plant species.
Lakela’s Mint (Dicerandra immaculata) is a critically endangered plant known only in a three-mile stretch of remnant scrub habitat in southeast Florida. Very little is known about its biology or ecology. With the assistance of volunteers from the Ridge Rangers, AmeriCorps and Bok Tower Gardens, seven populations of Lakela’s Mint were visited in the fall of 2012. Detailed habitat data was collected on leaf litter, tree canopy cover, and the distances, density and identities of adjacent plants. Dr. Richardson’s statistical analysis of that data, compared with locations that did not have Lakela’s Mint, uncovered new information about the habitat needs of this species. For instance, a low percentage of tree canopy cover and a high percentage of bare sand support Lakela’s Mint. When the density or height of adjacent woody plant species increases, and when leaf litter accumulates, Lakela’s Mint starts disappearing from a location.
New Edward Bok Letters Added to Collection by Joy Banks, Librarian Mrs. Cary William Bok, Edward Bok’s daughter-in-law, recently donated four volumes of letters written by Mr. Bok while he was editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal. The condition of the more than 1,400 letters, all letter-press copies of the originals, varies greatly, so we wished to document the volumes’ contents before further fading and deterioration occurred. During the last several months, seasonal volunteers Jim and Louise Barber created an index of all of the letters, documenting to whom the correspondence was written, when it was composed, and a brief description of what the letter was about. In his role as editor, Mr. Bok corresponded with artists, government officials, and literary figures in an attempt to expose his readership to the broadest knowledge base possible. These letters date from 1890-1911, a portion of Mr. Bok’s 30-year tenure as editor, and include missives to Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Eugene Field, James Whitcomb Riley, Eduard Strauss, John Philip Sousa, and President Benjamin Harrison, to name a few.
Lakela’s Mint is a “gap specialist” and particularly sensitive to variations in habitat. Therefore, maintaining its canopy and sand gap requirements through prescribed fire and other management efforts is critical to preserving this species. Dr. Richardson led in the preparation of an article based on this research, which has been published in Plant Ecology. It is available at boktower.org/publications.
“Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.” – Robert Montgomery
One favorite letter was written to Ms. Louise Imogen Guiney, a postmistress and author, who apparently had her salary cut when she did not sell enough stamps. Upon hearing this news, Mr. Bok wrote to order $695 worth of one- and two-cent stamps in the hopes that he and the Ladies’ Home Journal could “do something to regain you your proper place in the eyes of the authorities at Washington.” We are appreciative of the donation and look forward to discovering more about Mr. Bok through further study of these letters.
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MAKING THE WORLD A BIT BETTER Inspired by our founder, Edward W. Bok, our mission to better the world we live in is still relevant after 84 years.
Water Conservation Sets a “Green” Standard Bok Tower Gardens Saving Over 500,000 Gallons per Year by Christopher Lutton, Director of Facilities & Operations Two primary institutional goals at Bok Tower Gardens are “sustainability” and “high quality of presentation,” established to ensure world-class stewardship of Edward Bok’s gift for years to come. While recently optimizing the efficiency of the Gardens’ irrigation wells, an opportunity arose to be more efficient with water usage for our nursery operations as well. A flat, open area outside of the greenhouse designed to raise larger plants called a “can 10 | Summer 2013
block” was using five overhead rotors for watering. Nursery Manager John Arnett was asked to modify his watering schedule to help improve the efficiency of the wells, but the rotors already weren’t providing enough water directly to the plant roots. It was determined that micro-emitters in each pot would be a much more efficient water source for the plants. The facilities department took on the challenge of integrating the watering requirements and existing conditions
with a completely new, more efficient approach. We began by constructing a concrete retaining wall to level the 50 ft. by 80 ft. area with only a one-foot height difference from corner to corner (versus the existing five-foot difference.) The soil was then re-graded and new sod added to prevent erosion and runoff, and to make the area more aesthetically presentable. The new micro-emitter irrigation system was installed on top of a 2” x 6” pressure-treated ‘egg grate’ pot holder system. Its purpose is to keep the pots from being blown over on windy days and to protect the irrigation tubing from damage. The crates can easily be relocated and adapted for different plant combinations. The results of this project are incredible. Previously running five overhead watering rotors at eight gallons per minute for 47 minutes per day required 1,880 gallons of water per day. Now
Private Farm Partnership to Help Save Florida Goldenaster by Juliet Rynear, Rare Plant Specialist
The newly installed low-flow micro-emitters will conserve 540,200 gallons of water each year. This initiative stems from an institution-wide goal for more sustainability in our operations.
running 400 new low-flow micro-emitters at 10 gallons per hour for six minutes a day uses just 400 gallons of water per day, which is an amazing savings of 1,480 gallons per day—or 540,200 gallons per year! Additionally, the annual electric savings for the can block project is estimated at 1,330 KWH, about the usage for an average-sized home for one month. The can block project is contributing to the overall 47% energy savings for the Gardens’ irrigation wells, which are now saving more than 78,000 KWH and $12,600 per year. Bok Tower Gardens remains focused on conservation and continues to make the world a bit better.
For the first time, the Rare Plant Conservation Program (RPCP) at Bok Tower Gardens is working with a private landowner to introduce a population of the critically endangered Florida Goldenaster (Chrysopsis floridana) onto their land. Typically, the RPCP plants populations of Florida’s rare plants only on publicly-owned properties. However, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Partners Program,” Larry and Lenora Woodham will be partners in habitat conservation and stewards of a new population of rare plants. The Woodhams are the owners of Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery in Duette (bunkerhillvineyard.com). When they heard about the work that Bok Tower Gardens has been doing with the Florida Goldenaster in their “neck of the woods,” they offered to host a population at their “Green”-certified winery. As part of their commitment to the project, they must “allow the habitat developments as described in the project plan to remain in place without interference for a period of 10 years.” Quite the commitment! Beginning in late June, the educational winery tour at Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery will also include a lesson about the Florida Goldenaster—one of the state’s rarest plants—and the vanishing habitat on which it depends.
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What’sNew New at at the What’s theGardens! Gardens! Familiar Stone Mason Restores Moat’s Edge by Christopher Lutton, Director of Facilities & Operations About eight months ago, the facilities and horticulture departments began collaboration on a project to create a new path around the perimeter of the Swan Lawn, the area immediately across the moat from the Great Brass Door. For this new path to adhere to the high standards of quality at the Gardens, the stone edging along the moat needed to be restored, as it was much lower than the existing sod level. A new concrete curb was formed and poured to resist the force of the soil, the ground was regraded, and new sod was installed.
Live at the Gardens Tickets On Sale Now!
SUM
MER
MUS
ER IC S
IES
Our ever-popular summer music series is returning for its 12th season with four indoor concerts in the Visitor Center. Join us this summer for music by Fort Green
Pickin’ Society (June 15), New Groove City (July 20), Wiregrass (August 17), and Free Time Jazz (September 28). Tickets are $60 for a four-concert series pass or $20 per concert. Pre-concert dinners are $20 per person.
Café Special Email Signup If you would like to have our Blue Palmetto Café email their daily specials to you each week, please send a message with your name and phone number to café@boktower.org. 12 | Summer 2013
The final step of the process required a specialist. Stone Mason Daniel Holloway was hired to complete the work to the wall face and to carefully cut salvaged coquina stones from other projects to finish off the cap of the curb. The pattern uses randomly-sized stones in order to mimic the random pattern found within the Singing Tower’s stonework. Holloway was the obvious choice for this project because he previously served as the lead stone mason on Tower restoration projects in 2004 and 2006. He is a greater Lake Wales resident with more than 25 years of brick and stone masonry experience, and has extensive familiarity with the Singing Tower. When asked about this project and how it compares to others he’s been involved with at the Gardens, Holloway smiled and said, “This project was much easier because I wasn’t working from a swinging scaffold.”
Discounted & Free Admission For Soldiers We’re thanking our servicemen and women for their sacrifices, dedication and service to the United States of America by offering a standing 50% discount on admission to Bok Tower Gardens. This discount is available with a valid military ID and can be used for up to three guests. We are also proud to provide free admission to servicemen and women on select military holidays including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day.
Pink Day
Saturday, June 22, 2013 9 a.m. - noon The Gardens’ Pink Day will celebrate survivors, raise money for breast cancer research, and share the love of gardening. The Gardens will host a pink plant sale and women’s favorite activities, with guest vendors such as jewelers and massage therapists. Fifty percent of Bok Tower Gardens admission will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Included with general admission.
Calendar Calendar MAY
25 Carillon Classic 5K Walk & Run 27 Memorial Day Carillon Concerts
JUNE 10 12 15 17 19 19 22 24 26 26
Summer Film Series: Raccoon Nation Summer Film Series: Birds Live at the Gardens: Fort Green Pickin’ Society Summer Film Series: Penguins Summer Film Series: Dolphins Discovery Days: Wandering Wildflowers Pink Day Summer Film Series: Bouncing Babies Summer Film Series: Why We Love Cats & Dogs Discovery Days: Powerful Pollinators
JULY
Dog Day of Summer
Saturday, September 7, 2013 9 a.m. – noon On this special day, the Gardens become completely dog-friendly. Dog health, safety and adoption information will be available, along with some special friends who need a good home. We will also have Ask a Vet, training specialists, microchipping, grooming tips, and doggie boutique items for sale. Dog admission: $5 each, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Humane Society of Polk County. Dog admission includes a doggie gift bag. All dogs must be on a leash and owners must dispose of pet waste. All dogs are welcome to visit, but must get along well with others. Activities included with paid admission.
Discovery Days Are Back! Your children ages 6–12 can experience the joy of nature with a new adventure in the Gardens each week this summer during Discovery Days! With a focus on playing in nature, classes will include stories, art projects, and activities designed to get kids excited to explore the outdoors. Classes are from 9 a.m. - noon. $75 for all eight classes or $10 per class. One free adult per child registration.
1 3 8 10 10 15 17 17 22 20 24 24 29 31 31
Summer Film Series: Cuba: The Accidental Eden Summer Film Series: The American Eagle Summer Film Series: Water’s Way Summer Film Series: Amazing Baby Animals Discovery Days: Bountiful Birds Summer Film Series: The White Lions Summer Film Series: Endangered Animals Discovery Days: Triumphant Trees Summer Film Series: Magic of the Snowy Owl Live at the Gardens: New Groove City Summer Film Series: Silent Spring Discovery Days: Whimsical Wildlife Summer Film Series: Global Warming Summer Film Series: Solar Energy Discovery Days: Harmonious Habitats
AUGUST 2 5 7 7 12 14 14 17
Members Only: Bring–A–Friend Founder’s Room Tour Summer Film Series: Car of the Future Summer Film Series: Fun Family Frolics Discovery Days: Gateway to Gardening Summer Film Series: Animal Odd Couples Summer Film Series: The Animal House Discovery Days: Bok’s Best – Master Creators Live at the Gardens: Wiregrass
SEPTEMBER
7 Dog Day of Summer 28 Live at the Gardens: Free Time Jazz Quartet Special thanks to the following donors of Florida native plants and the property owners who allowed BTG to survey for and collect native plants, Jan-Apr 2013: Mary Young, Fort Pierce, FL USDA, Gainesville, FL FL Dept of Environmental Protection, Osprey, FL FL Dept of Environmental Protection, Hobe Sound, FL Orange County Board of Commissioners, Orlando, FL
Conservation Program Wish List
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. Digital Game Camera $120 Dino-Eye AM423 - 1.3 MP Digital Microscope Camera $280 Dual Purge pressure regulation system for seed desiccator $1,900 Microsatellites for genetics of Bellflower $7,000 Crew Cab 4wd pickup (used) $25,000
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PRESENTS
The Fairchild Challenge & Southwest Middle School by Debra Porter and Karen Horsting, Physical Science Teachers and members of the Florida Environmental Education Team at Southwest Middle School in Lakeland, FL The Fairchild Challenge is a school standards-based, environmental education outreach program of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami. It invites students to learn, to investigate environmental issues, to devise imaginative and effective responses
challenge into our new environmental education program.
to these issues, and to take action to address them. Last year, Bok Tower Gardens held its first Fairchild Challenge competition and invited Polk County middle schools to participate. It was also a first for Lakeland’s Southwest Middle School, with the development of a Florida Environmental Education Team (FLEET) elective class. We were thrilled with the opportunity to incorporate activities from the Fairchild
Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook states, “With cell phones attached to their hips, 50 to 100 instant messages a day from friends, and a DVD-TV in their bedroom with 150 cable channels, we are raising the most distracted generation in world history.” In Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, he describes children as having “nature deficit disorder.” A 2005 Kaiser Family Foundation Study found that “children can identify 1,000 corporate logos but fewer than 10 plants or animals native to their backyards.” With today’s technological demands and children’s lack of outdoor activity,
Florida-friendly Plant Shop
by Cheryl Waters, Plant Shop Manager Want to have a self-sustaining landscape? We have many Florida-friendly plants available in our plant shop.
Blanket Flower
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You’ll find Florida natives like Longleaf Pine, Fringe Trees, Beach Sunflower, Yaupon Holly, Coontie, and
“The plants we grow help out with the environment. When we planted the gardens it helped me learn that we can make a difference in our world.” – Tierra C. it is more apparent now than ever that we should teach our children to protect both the biotic and abiotic factors in our environment if we want to preserve Florida’s ecosystems for future generations. Our FLEET students clearly demonstrated how their attitudes changed about environmental issues after earning first place in last year’s Fairchild Challenge. Bok Tower Gardens’ generous award of $1,000 has helped to fund our program this year, and we are excited to be accepting the challenge again. We appreciate Bok Tower’s collaboration with the middle school students of Polk County.
Beautyberry, as well as other drought tolerant, non-native plants like Bulbine, Ruby Loropetalum, Hot Lips Salvia, Coneflower, Firecracker, and Mexican Sage. We also offer many native seeds in our gift shop, such as Blanket Flower, Liatris, Coreopsis, Spotted Bee Balm, and Sensitive Mimosa. If you need help getting started, you can also find an array of books about Florida gardening.
Bok in
Bloom
by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture
Yerba Maravilla Ruellia coccinea
A new addition to the Gardens, this subshrub perennial can thrive in either sun or part shade. The plant has one-inch-long tubular flowers of an intense red color. It blooms from April until November and attracts hummingbirds. R. coccinea is growing in the Terrace garden behind the Visitor Center.
Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos manglessi
“Fuzzy” is one way to describe the flowers on this plant, which is native to southwest Australia. The long-lasting flowers bloom yellow, maroon and bronze during the fall, winter, and into the summer. The plants like well-drained soil. They do not like to get their leaves wet and may get ink spot fungus in a wet summer. The common name derives from the shape of the flower, reminiscent of a kangaroo paw. The showy bloom is worth the effort to grow these plants.
‘Julia Child’ Rose Rosa sp. ‘Floribunda’
Thick and sumptuous like many of Julia Child’s recipes, this rose attracts the attention of people and pollinators alike. The bright green foliage makes a nice backdrop for the buttery yellow flowers. It is used in borders, garden beds, containers, and as a cut flower. A popular landscaping plant, it tolerates the heat and shows fairly good resistance to black spot and mildew, both serious disease problems that limit the growing of roses in Florida.
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Geert D’hollander performing alongside the Lake Wales Presbyterian Brass Ensemble.
Bells & Brass: New Carillon Music at the Gardens
by Brian Ososky, Director of Marketing & Public Relations This year’s Easter Sunrise Service featured the world premiere of “Four Sonneries for Bells and Brass,” composed by Geert D’hollander for carillon and brass quintet. Nearly 2,000 were in attendance at the Sunrise Service to hear this first for the Gardens of a brass accompaniment to the carillon performed with the Lake Wales Presbyterian Brass Ensemble. The group consisted of two trumpets, one horn, one trombone, and one tuba. “I’ve been doing this for years on my carillons in Belgium and Berkeley, CA,” says Geert. “I wanted to do something
16 | Summer 2013
Geert D’hollander rehearses with a six-piece trumpet ensemble for Cinco de Mayo.
new this year, and given my past experience and the possibilities here in the Tower, I thought this formula was perfect.” The four short pieces are called “sonneries,” a French word referencing sounds produced by bell towers, announcing happy events. They were written in a very traditional style that would fit the service. But achieving the desired result meant five separate rehearsals in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, both at the church and inside the Tower, so the ensemble could become familiar with
Geert’s music and the sound of the bells. It also required a special setup inside the Tower for everyone to be able to play together. “All the players were in the carillon playing cabin with me,” Geert said. “It was kind of like chamber music, but we used microphones for the brass and used the Tower speakers to project the sound. The mixer balanced everything out perfectly.” Geert plans to create more special performances like this for the Gardens next season, such as his recent LatinAmerican program for bells and trumpets in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. “It’s an exciting process,” Geert says. “And it will just keep getting better and better.”
A New Pinewood Family by Elyse Justice, Pinewood Estate Coordinator
In the Gardens’ archives, we have photographs and home films collected from the Buck family, who built Pinewood Estate. These have given us a glimpse into the original family’s lifestyle. This past winter, we added more family photographs donated by the Gene P. Parnell family, all taken around Pinewood Estate during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Parnell collection largely features the David Sherman family, providing a previously unseen look at the life of the people who diligently worked in and around the Estate. Charles Austin Buck hired Sherman, the Assistant Superintendent of Mountain Lake, to oversee its maintenance. Sherman and his wife, Lillian, lived in the house throughout most of the year, and when the Bucks would return for the winter season, they moved into one of the apartments over the garage. C.A. Buck employed the Shermans until his death in 1945. The photographs document Pinewood’s gardens through the seasons and reveal details about daily life, adding another human element to the house’s story. A maid holding a baby alligator shows the youth of the maids and what they wore. The same maid seated on the back of a car gives an idea of what kind of automobile Mr. Buck might have had. A man mowing the lawn reveals the
maintenance required for such extensive gardens, and family members seated around the house provide a better sense of the time period.
images help paint a clearer picture of the servants’ lives and add a new dimension to the story of Pinewood.
With the popularity of television shows such as Downton Abbey, visitors’ curiosity about the individuals who worked at Pinewood Estate is piqued. Coupled with oral history about this family and information about servants gleaned from census records, these
Selections of these photographs are now on display in the History Room, located on the second floor of Pinewood Estate.
Summer 2013 | 17
2013
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Michael Aloian, President
Charlotte State Bank Trust Department – Tampa
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
Heather Jordan-Holmes, CEO/President The Omnia Group, Inc. – Tampa
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
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 18 | Summer 2013
Volunteers Receive Awards and Recognition by Lisa Allen, Volunteer & Visitor Services Manager
The annual Volunteer Awards Banquet was held at Lake Wales Country Club March 19 in honor of volunteers who have contributed 50 or more hours of service to the Gardens over the past year. Volunteers danced their way through dinner to Perry Como favorites and other popular hits performed by Tom Robinson of Fletcher Music. The awards ceremony followed, and several special people were recognized for reaching specific service benchmarks. It’s always a privilege to celebrate the giving hearts of such a dedicated, passionate group of people who love the Gardens. Their generosity is unparalleled, and we are forever grateful for the gift of their time and talents. These individuals, and our entire volunteer corps, continue to help ‘make the world a bit better’ each and every day.
18,000 Hours
Longest Tenure Duane & Edwina Hall
9,000 Hours
Horticulture Service Ted & Gwen Odle
5,000 Hours
Dorothy Burger Joe & Irene Wolf Gloria Wurth
4,000 Hours
Pat Jones Jim & Rose Kellerman Sarah Lingwall
3,000 Hours Anne Stuart
2,000 Hours
Lois Bice Tom Burrows Joyce Duncklee Anne Eastridge Shirley Hopp Jim & Susan Kendall Carol Livezey Dianne Miner Linda Richards
1,000 Hours
Gene & Johnnie Adams Becky Faughander Arlene Griffin Lynn Hamel Al Lewis Audrey Marshall Gwen Seliga Mitch Sheets Paul Todd
Dennis Tuggey Ralph Van Deree Jean Wagoner Kay Weiss Bronson Wolford
To learn more about becoming a Bok Tower Gardens volunteer, please visit our website, or contact Lisa Allen at 863-734-1211.
Stranded in North Florida by Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture
One of the rarest trees in North America, Torreya taxifolia (stinking cedar) is found only in the Apalachicola region of Florida. It is believed to have been a remnant of an earlier age and isolated to this southern location during the last ice age. As the earth began to warm 20,000 years ago, many plants moved north with seeds spread by wind, birds and other animals. However, the Torreya seed is quite large and contains strong smelling terpene chemicals that are unpleasant to today’s animals. Botanists believe that large animals now extinct due to the ice age might have once dispersed Torreya. Without these animals, Torreya had no dispersal method other than dropping seeds to the ground and them possibly rolling downhill. The Torreya was stranded in North Florida. Since the 1930s, Torreya trees have also been attacked by an unknown fungus nearly to the point of extinction. It has
been just in the last four months that scientists from the University of Florida have finally identified the fungus, solving an 80-year mystery1. Human dispersal is the only option for Torreya today. The trees are being grown outside of their historic range where the fungus is not found. A Torreya tree, planted by Fredrick Law Olmsted Sr. is still is growing at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. Bok Tower Gardens
New Discoveries: Three New Geocaches by Martin Corbin, Marketing Manager Geocaching is a high-tech, treasure hunting sport using Global Positioning Systems to locate hidden capsules containing a logbook and small trinkets. It has been around for several years and has taken off largely because new locations are being added all the time – in places all around the world.
Geocachers use GPS coordinates to locate a hidden geocache’s location.
We caught the bug at Bok Tower Gardens a few years ago when we were asked to participate in the Friends of the Parks’ Trek Ten Trails program. Our original caches are hidden on the
also has several Torreya trees growing on the grounds, one of which can be found along the western side of the East Glade path. These trees were part of an international rescue program, propagated from cuttings and dispersed to various botanical gardens to help it survive. 1
http://news.ufl.edu/2013/01/07/torreya
Pine Ridge Nature Trail, allowing us to introduce geocachers to the unique scrub habitat found on the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem. Fast forward five years and we’ve added three new caches to our property, bringing our total to six. One of these new caches is located on the newly opened 1.5-mile Preserve Trail. The other two locations are outside of the entrance gate on adjacent properties which make them more challenging and exciting to locate! Get our geocache coordinates at www.boktower.org/geocache.
Summer 2013 | 19
1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales 33853
Photo by Rachel Henderson
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2 1. Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce President Brian Marbutt, Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betty Wojcik, Bok Tower Gardens President David Price, Polk County Parks & Natural Resources Administrative Supervisor Rosalind Smith, and Mosaic Corporation Public Affairs Manager Callie Neslund helped cut the ribbon officially opening the new 1.5-mile Preserve Trail on March 1. 2. Our resident gardening expert Greg Kramer, Director of Horticulture, spoke to attendees at EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival April 12 - 14.
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4 3. The annual springtime Concert Under the Stars was a hit with music from the Alison Brown Quartet and The Duhks during an evening of “blue-jazz pop-grass” on April 27. 4. The Gardens transformed into an outdoor classroom on May 2 during our annual Earth Day Celebration. Nearly 1,000 students from around Central Florida participated in hands-on activities with educational vendors, learning about topics ranging from prescribed burns to beekeeping.
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