The

A newsletter from Bok Tower Gardenswww.boktowergardens.org

Vol. 3 | Issue 2 | Summer 2011

FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE COMES TO BOK TOWER GARDENS • NEW 360 DEGREE PHOTO TOURS

A Dream Takes FlightBirding at Bok Tower Gardens

David Price, President

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gardens are dynamic and ever changing. In the short term, the seasons with their

cyclic nature are predictable and carry a certain recurring expectation; the camellia

bloom peaks and fades to return again each year. But in the long term, change is

linear; trees grow ever bigger casting more shade, shrubs get overgrown and decline.

This change can be subtle and hard to predict as the garden evolves over time.

Replanting and rethinking is needed as the garden evolves.

Long term change not only occurs in the landscape of

a public garden, but also in the programming and how

visitors interact and interpret the garden. Every so often it

is important to step back and circle around to see where

we started, where we are and where we want to go to keep

it fresh and relevant.

Last year our board approved a long range fundamental

plan that set goals for the Gardens ranging from

horticulture, conservation and music programs to

financial stability. To put this long range plan into action

we started work on a master plan, an area diagram of the layout of the gardens,

facilities and grounds. It is a conceptualization of what we want to be in the next 20

years. The plan identifies areas for renewed planting, new buildings, paths, visitor

circulation and things to remove or move such as roads, nonfunctional buildings and

paths. Planning consultants Tres Fromme of Studio Outside and David Sacks RLA

have been hired to produce the master plan.

A group of more than 30 people including staff, volunteers, garden members,

community leaders, board members and education representatives participated in

a series of workshops as part of the planning process. Draft plans were produced

and refined to bring together and make sense of the different parts of our gardens

and facilities. Due to be completed at the end of this summer, the plan will address

restoration, redesign and development of new as well as historic areas and will help

us methodically work to preserve and grow the Gardens. We look forward to sharing

this exciting document with our members this fall.

Tres Fromme of Studio Outside discusses details of the draft master plan with participants during a recent workshop

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The cover photo of a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was photographed at Window By the Pond by Martin Corbin.

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.”

Mission

David PricePresident

Cassie JacobyEditor

Martin CorbinGraphic Design

Editorial Contributors

Nick Baker

Jennifer Beam

Marjola Burdeshaw

Shannon Burgess

Cindy Campbell

William De Turk

Sandra Dent

Eric Farewell

Christine Foley

Rachel Henderson

Steve Jolley

Cheryl Peterson

David Price

Will Randall

Nicole DeMaris Sharp

Joan Thomas

Cheryl Waters

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.

MM/5.5M/0511

The

It’s not easy to top being named Tampa Bay’s “2011 Ambassador of the Year,” but

playing our carillon was another towering achievement for media legend Jack Harris.

An author and host of AM Tampa Bay, WFLA’s top-rated morning show, “Cracker

Jack Jock” Jack visited us with his wife Joy, author of Easy Breezy Florida Cooking, for

a book signing and tour.

Our Tampa media partner WMNF will present the 2nd annual Edward Bok Youth

Peace Award in August and Hall Communications has agreed to be a media partner

sponsoring our annual events by providing promotions on their big four Lakeland

stations, Max 98.3 FM, 97 Country, WONN and WLKF.

Our research with the Curtis Institute of Music on Mary Louise Curtis Bok’s

patronage of theater legend Annie Russell is featured in the May/June issue of

Orlando Arts Magazine.

We received national coverage when Washington Post travel writer Nancy Trejos’

feature article was syndicated in Miami, Sarasota, Denver, Dallas and other

newspapers.

International media interest is building as LEGOLAND Florida puts all its LEGO

bricks in place. John Jakobsen, Merlin Entertainments Group global managing

director, brought his family from Denmark to discuss our future partnership plans

along with the placement of a Singing Tower replica made out of LEGOS in the

park’s Miniland.

National Geographic Kids U.K. Magazine, came in search of a gopher tortoise

sighting; A Brit’s Guide to Orlando will offer discount admission as a “Brit Bonus;”

U.K. travel writers/photographers Dave and Kathy Hunter are including us in their

travel guides, Along Interstate-75 & Along Florida’s Expressways; and Visit Orlando

arranged Journalist Passport tours for Canadian travel journalist/photographer Gary

Cralle and Germany’s Hans Dieter Mueller.

IN THE MEDIA

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John Jakobsen and David Price

Bamboo can grow amazingly fast in the

right climate. The same could be said

for our membership! Even though we

have had a membership program in place

for 25 years, we have witnessed

a 10 percent growth, nearly 400

households, to a record high of

4,616 memberships in just six months.

What is more heartening is that our

members tend to stay Gardens’ members

for a long time. A recent look into our

records showed that about a third of our

members keep their membership active

for at least five years, and an amazing 473

member households have retained their

memberships for 15 years or more! Such

depth of loyalty bodes well for our future.

I want to thank all of you who gave to

special funds like the Louise Adams

Garden Terrace, memorial/honor gifts,

the Steinway piano at Pinewood Estate,

Share the Gift Fund and the Anton Brees

Carillon Library. There are so many

meaningful ways to give back to the

Gardens.

On a personal note, I joined the Edward

Bok Society earlier this year by naming

the Gardens in my estate. A simple

bequest or a provision in your IRA is all

it takes. I hope you consider joining me;

call me at 863.734.1213 to receive a copy

of the sample bequest language to get you

started.

Finally, don’t forget to read our 2010

annual report, Pathways, now available

online. Thank you for making Bok Tower

Gardens truly a world-class garden.

MEMBERSHIP

Joan Thomas, CFRE, Director of Development & Membership

In Memoriam: Ken MorrisonKen Morrison, the Gardens’ second director from 1956 until 1983, passed away on March 4. The 92-year-old Babson Park resident was a leader and a champion for environmental causes. He was president emeritus of the Florida Audubon Society, served on the boards of trustees of the Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy’s Florida chapter, and was one of the founders of the Defenders of Crooked Lake, Florida Conservation Foundation, Green Horizon Land Trust and Ridge Audubon Society.

It was during his leadership that Bok Tower Gardens became recognized as a leading state organization for conservation. Ken was an inspiration for nature preservation. He was “green” before it was fashionable. He had an ethic for

conservation when most thought we were in a time of plenty and our resources were limitless. Ken

did not see complexity in doing the right thing. For him the choice was simple: use less, pollute less and be kind to nature. Our conservation programs grew from the seeds he planted.

Today our work and partnership with Green Horizon Land Trust which he helped found and the

Gardens’ Rare Plant Conservation Program are testaments to Ken’s environmental ethic. As a leader and a champion for environmental causes he was the conscience for the community and the Gardens. He was always optimistic for the cause and never lost his humor or gave in to pessimism. Ken was a keen observer of and writer about nature. He understood the correlation between the health of the environment and our own wellbeing. He and his wife Helen are both heroes in the cause for the environment. Our Bok Tower Gardens family is proud to include them both.

Caregiver’s Day Out: Share the Gift Adds Alzheimer’s Association

With contributions received this year to support the

Share the Gift Fund, we have added a new community

partner, the Alzheimer’s Association, Florida Gulf

Coast Chapter. On May 19, we hosted Caregiver’s

Day Out to provide much-needed respite from

caring for loved ones. The Hawthorne Inn in Winter

Haven offered adult daycare time while caregivers

attended a morning program, participated in yoga,

tai chi, or painting, or took quiet time walking the

Gardens to recharge. Participants received a Share the

Gift membership so they can return to the Gardens

throughout the year.

Share the Gift memberships are administered through

partners which include Circle of Friends and Lake

Wales Literacy Council to meet special needs of those

in our community. We are proud to welcome our new

partner, and thank all our donors for making these

memberships possible.

Visit us online for more information: www.boktowergardens.org/share-the-gift

Member Events

Twenty Sponsor level+ members enjoyed a special

behind-the-scenes tour on April 2 beginning with

a savory breakfast donated by Chalet Suzanne and

Florida’s Natural. President David Price welcomed

members and briefed them on the work currently

underway with our Gardens’ master plan. Director of

Horticulture Nick Baker provided a 45-minute private

tour of the Joan Wellhouse Newton Greenhouse and

Nursery Facility and greenhouse plants to take home.

Several of our members drove from Orlando, Lee

County and Gainesville to take the tour! All in all it

was a perfect spring morning shared with our members

and one we plan to host again next year.

Next Tours: Founder’s Room on December 3 and 17(Sustainer level+)

Membership Survey

We completed a Membership survey to help us develop better communications with

you. The results are in and your feedback has been helpful, especially when it comes

to getting eNewsletters as well as renewing your membership fast and easy online.

In addition to sending the Garden Path newsletter to you by mail, we will increase

our electronic communications as a result of your feedback. However, with only 58

percent of our member email addresses on record with us, we need to hear from you!

Please send us a note at mburdeshaw@boktower.org with your email address to ensure

we can communicate with you year-round.

Visit us online to sign up for monthly email updates at www.boktowergardens.org/email-signup

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INSPIRED VISITOR

Members of Juillard’s internationally

acclaimed Attacca Quartet got the

rare opportunity to play our Singing

Tower carillon during a recent visit to

the Gardens. Named the next Juilliard

Graduate Resident String Quartet,

violinists Amy Schroeder and Keiko

Tokunaga, violist Luke Fleming and

cellist Andrew Yee were inspired by the

experience. “We found the history and

stories surrounding the conception,

construction and the life of the man

for whom Bok Tower is named to be so

interesting and inspiring. The Gardens

with surrounding orange and kumquat

groves are so beautiful, and to actually

play the carillon ourselves was quite a

thrill!”

Attacca, a musical word meaning

“attached” and used when one movement

goes right into the next movement

without pause, performed two concerts

as part of the Mountain Lake Winter

Speaker & Music Series.

Shannon Burgess, Education Coordinator

As a naturalist, I try to get kids both comfortable in and curious about

nature. One time I spent a week with 20 students climbing the hills, stomp-

ing in a creek and watching the waves. We talked about photosynthesis and

witnessed erosion in action but had little tangible evidence of our discover-

ies. Ready to return to their concrete city, I could see their minds already

turning back to TV and video games. How could I see through their eyes

to know what joy and understanding they had experienced during our time

together?

Then my intern pulled out colored pencils and paper for us to draw a secret

picture of our favorite outdoor lesson. No signatures or peeking allowed!

She collected our completed drawings and disappeared down the trail,

pausing to arrange a painting against the rocks, cacti or trees. When she

returned, she sent us off in pairs to tour the art gallery she had created from

our works. Framed by the sky and built from our own hands and memories,

our last impression of our time outside was of our own natural inspiration

and learning.

As we spend more time indoors with climate control and instant access via

Internet and cell phone, the mystery and beauty of what lies outside our

man-made structures becomes more distant, more irrelevant and perhaps

even a bit scary. That simple outdoor art walk taught me that sharing a

journey of nature discovery through art, companionship and celebration can

leave a deep and lasting impression on our attitude and memories. So how

can we continue to make this happen here?

I’m excited to announce that the Fairchild Challenge will be here during

the upcoming school year. Started in 2002 by the Fairchild Tropical

Botanic Garden in Miami, the program encourages teachers, students

Fairchild Challenge:The Art of Teaching Nature

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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. We

hope that every middle school in Lake Wales accepts our

invitation to participate. Nearly 2,000 school children will

be encouraged to explore the unique ecosystem of the Lake

Wales Ridge and to illustrate their discoveries through one

or more of the program challenges in art, drama, writing or

gardening.

If you can give a few hours of your time and talent, we need

you.

• Do you have expertise in drama, art or writing? Consider

spending just two fun hours as a Saturday morning

mentor.

• Do you have professional experience

in gardening, habitat restoration or wildlife

management? Consider being an advisor for the

Wildlife Habitat challenge for one of our local

schools.

• If you have a busy schedule, but have an interest in art

and education, you can help score student entries. This

can be done from the comfort of your own home – no

matter where you live.

For more information on how you can personally impact

a child’s journey of nature discovery, please contact me

(sburgess@boktower.org ) even if you’re not sure of your

availability next fall. A gift to the Share the Gift Fund

between May and August will help fund scholarships, buy art

supplies, gardening materials and other program materials to

be used in our inspiration workshops.

Teachers, students and local conservation organizations integrate the study of nature, science and art in this exciting program

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Cheryl Peterson, Rare Plant Conservation Program Manager

Our Rare Plant Conservation Program conducts an orchestra

of conservation working together in harmony with colleagues

and partners to prevent extinction of the rarest and most

unique plant species. New partnerships are forged and

ongoing connections are strengthened between the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Florida’s Department of Agriculture

and Consumer Services, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection,

the Florida Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management,

The Nature Conservancy and many other entities, including

other non-profit organizations, privately owned businesses

and numerous private landowners. These partnerships, along

with our participation in the Center for Plant Conservation,

form a strong national network of rare plant professionals in

tune with nature’s symphony.

To help build a strong rare plant conservation network

within Florida, we collaborate with Fairchild Tropical Botanic

Garden to organize the Rare Plant Task Force. Since 1994

the annual meeting has been bringing together conservation

professionals to discuss strategies and priorities for species

preservation. From academic research to education to land

management, both speakers and attendees come from

throughout Florida with representatives of a variety of

agencies and disciplines.

Liatris ohlingerae

Conservation staff conducting a survey of a rare plant population

ConservationORCHESTRA

OF

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. - H.E. Luccock

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Invited speakers present their recent work as it pertains to

a main meeting topic selected for the year. Recent topics

include “issues related to population introductions” and

“strategies and challenges in managing rare species on

protected land.” A panel or group discussion, information

sharing, species status updates, distribution of grant or

educational opportunities and a poster session are included.

Informal gatherings following the day of presentations

encourage new collaborations, friendships and a further

exchange of ideas.

Since 2008 a working field trip on the second day has

provided a unique experience with an unfamiliar species or

habitat. Attendees assist local biologists with a rare plant

project. Recent field trips have included removal of the

invasive Scaveola taccada from a beach dune restoration area

in Miami, demographic data collection from a rare Garrett’s

Mint population in Highlands County and surveys for new

locations of American Chaffseed in long-leaf pine forest near

the Florida-Georgia border.

Funded by the Florida Department of Consumer Services,

Division of Plant Industry, the venue alternates between

north, central and south locations each year to accommodate

travel needs of colleagues throughout Florida.

Meeting attendees getting instructions about American Chaffseed prior to surveys during the working field trip

Attendees of the Rare Plant Task Force Meeting

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Nick’s PicksBok in Bloom

Jacquemontia pentanthosThis sprawling vine is an amazing summer showpiece. The

sky blue cluster vine is actually native to several counties in

southern Florida but is surprisingly cold hardy. The vine is

covered with delicate blue blooms throughout much of the

summer.

Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’This salvia produces long clusters of small purple flowers

through the summer months. More compact than its

sprawling relatives, this salvia works in small annual beds as

well as larger shrubby borders.

Glandularia tampensisTampa vervain is another Florida native that shows surprising

cold hardiness. This plant has stayed green and blooming in

the Gardens even when temperatures were below freezing.

It forms a small low mound. Slow growing but tough, it is

covered with small pink blossoms throughout the year.

Justicia spicigera ‘Sidicaro’The cold hardy Mexican honeysuckle is another member of

the Acanth family, a group of plants that provides a lot of

color for us here in Central Florida. This particular cultivar

has crinkly leaves and a more arching stem than the regular

species, but the blooms are the real spectacle. It produces large

spikes of bright orange blooms nearly all year.

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Nick Baker, Director of Horticulture

Agapanthus: Lily-of-the-Nile, Blue Lily & African Lily

We have Agapanthus

for sale in light blue

and ‘Getty White.’ Commonly known as the Lily-of-the

Nile, Blue Lily and African Lily, the native of South Africa is

an easy plant to care for in zones 8-11. Grow in full to part

sun. Large flower clusters bloom all summer atop a four-foot

stem. The foliage mounds are also attractive when plants are

not in bloom. We have them for sale in our plant shop for

$5.95 each along with many other varieties of plants.

Carillon Compositions of Roy Hamlin Johnson CD

The new CD recording, Carillon Compositions of

Roy Hamlin Johnson, performed by Milford Myhre,

carillonneur emeritus of Bok Tower Gardens, is

available in our gift shop for $16.95. The production

of the CD was

made possible by

a generous gift

from Roy and

Janis Johnson.

The gift also will

fund projects in

the Anton Brees

Carillon Library

in the areas of preservation and digitization of historic

carillon recordings dating back to the 1950s.

Roy Johnson was Professor of Piano at the University

of Kansas where he heard university carillonneur

Ronald Barnes perform regularly. Attracted to the

sound of the bells, Roy was challenged by Ron: “If

you compose music for the carillon, I’ll play it.” That’s

welcome news to any composer! And so he did: 58

pieces, some of which have become standard repertoire

for the carillonneur.

Roy and Milford have been friends for decades;

Milford has championed Roy’s music by performing

and recording it often. It was a natural fit for this

project. “Milford has been a stupendous help through

his great work at Bok Tower Gardens. He premiered

many of my works,” Roy states. Roy also composed

two Easter pieces on the occasion of Milford’s

retirement.

Roy Johnson has received many honors, including The

Berkeley Medal (UC Berkeley) and Honorary Member

in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.

HD Video & 360 Degree Photos

Lights, camera, action! We captured the height of our peak

bloom on high definition video during two days of location

production from sunrise to sunset. The video will be used

to produce a new orientation production, video news

releases, public service announcements, commercials,

documentaries and souvenir DVDs for purchase.

Take a look at boktower.org/hd-video

We also produced Virtual 360 degree photo tours for

visitors to view on our

website, smart phones

and iPad devices. Take a

look at a few of these at

boktower.org/360-tours

WHAT’S NEW

Buy from our online Gift Shop at boktower.org/carillon-compositions

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ADream

Takes FlightBirding at Bok Tower Gardens

by Cassie JacobyDirector of Communications

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Edward Bok’s dream to create a

sanctuary for “the tired little singers of

the sky” has taken flight. What started

as a haven for 111 native species along

with imported nightingales from

England and flamingos from South

America is now an oasis for 126 species,

a bird lover’s paradise.

The Olmsted landscape was designed with bushes full of

berries so migrating birds could survive their long journey.

More than 50 birdbaths and two ponds attracted teal and

wood ducks. An aviary housed several pair of nightingales

whose songs delighted Bok and visitors. “The three cocks

continue to sing well,” Major Henry Nornabell reports in his

1928 director’s log. “Hundreds of people have heard them.”

Breeding, however, was unsuccessful, as was Bok’s hope that

native mockingbirds would adopt the nightingale’s song.

From the first written reference about plans to build the

Singing Tower in Bok’s letter to Nornabell on June 8, 1926,

the decorative design motif was all about birds. Great herons

nest at the top while eagles below watch over Bok’s gift

to America. Marble sculptures of pelicans, swans, cranes,

flamingos, geese and

doves symbolizing

world peace were carved in place by Lee

Lawrie’s team. Birds soar to the sky in

massive ceramic tile grilles J.H. Dulles

Allen called “the most daring conception

in design and execution ever attempted

in architectural ceramic decoration.”

Today we are home to elegant white

egrets once hunted to near extinction for their lacy breeding

plumes used to decorate hats in the early 1900s. As editor of

The Ladies’ Home Journal, Bok championed the campaign to

end the slaughter and drive the fashion out of vogue.

Hummingbirds visit nectar-rich flowers, living jewels that

helicopter in place beating their wings 80 times per second.

Wood ducks and common moorhens gather at Window By

the Pond as the northern bobwhite quail whistles its familiar

call. Barn owls nest at the top of the Tower while anhingas

spread their wings to dry after diving in the moat to search

for underwater prey. A wild turkey gobbler scurries into an

orange grove followed by a flock of hens. Northern cardinals,

painted buntings, blue jays, eastern towhee sparrows,

thrushes, thrashers, warblers and woodpeckers are just a few

of the feathered friends who put on a show that truly is, as

Bok described his Sanctuary, “the stuff of which dreams are

made.”

Edward Bok’s love of birds lived on after his death. In 1931, Major Henry

Nornabell, Sanctuary director, created the first of a number of educational programs.

“I feel sure that this Festival of the Birds is the right thing and on the educational

lines which Mr. Bok wished and is necessary to keep the Sanctuary on the high

plane which we have now got it, especially to educate the children on whose

loyalty our future depends.”

Hand-painted program

Courtesy of the Curtis Institute of M

usic

And in the gentle quietude of the setting sun the mountain became a

sanctuary for pent-up humans of the earth and for the tired little singers of the sky.

- Edward W. Bok -Two Persons, 1923

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Birds are sneaky. They’re often small, usually camouflaged

and always faster than we are. Generations of evolution and

adaptation have resulted in survival techniques guaranteed to

challenge you as you attempt to identify or even just admire

our feathered friends. Focusing on watching, not chasing

the birds is the first step to developing the skills you need to

become a birder.

Birding can be a satisfying and inexpensive pastime enjoyable

anywhere at any time. For the simplest possible introduction

to a new hobby, try out this technique based on advice from

the birds themselves:

1. The early bird catches… the birds. In warm climates,

birds tend to be most active in the earliest parts of the

morning.

Bird Tales: Advice from Birds

Patience is a must with bird

photography. That’s part of

the fun of it all!

Discovering Bird Photography:

Beginner’s Adviceby Will Randall

Eastern Screech OwlBald Eagle

Yellow Warbler Ruby-throated Hummingbird Will

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What is the Great Florida Birding Trail?

The Great Florida Birding Trail is a 2,000-mile, self-guided highway

trail connecting nearly 500 birding sites throughout Florida. Each Trail

section consists of a series of clusters, with each cluster containing one to

15 sites highlighting communities and special ecosystems like the Lake

Wales Ridge. A program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, the Trail is designed to conserve and enhance Florida’s

wildlife habitats by promoting birdwatching and wildlife viewing

activities, conservation education and economic opportunity.

Early

mornings and late afternoons are

the best time to photograph

wildlife.

When shooting with

a SLR camera I recommend a lens

with a 300mm zoom range.

Keep an eye out both above and below for

different types of birds and other

wildlife.

2. Build your own flock. Call up an old friend and enjoy

catching up or invite someone you’ve been meaning to

get to know better and use the birds as an icebreaker.

3. Eat like a bird. Fix yourself a treat of healthy finger foods

to nibble on such as peanut butter, toast, sliced fruits and

cheese, crackers and nuts.

4. Learn the pecking order. Trade in your morning news

for a bird guide. With more than 400 species of birds

recorded in Florida, focus on families – not species, at

first.

5. Feather your nest. Find a comfortable spot. Settle in with

a pillow and prop up your feet. The birds won’t forget

you’re there if you stay still, but they may relax enough to

come closer. You can always buy binoculars later.

6. A little birdie told me so. If you take your eyes away from

the bird you want to look up, you might not find it again.

Describe the features of the bird to your friend. Let your

companion thumb through the guide and ask questions

based on the written descriptions of possible species.

7. Leftovers are for the birds. Make little piles of the

remainder of your snack and place them in clearly visible

(but sheltered) locations nearby. Stick around and see

who comes to feed on what.

8. Put all your eggs in one nest. If you own your own

field guide, write in it! Circle and date species you

are confident you have identified correctly. Underline

important visible details of birds you hope to find.

Scribble habitat notes. Glue a species list inside the front

cover.

9. Sing your own praises! Tweet or post your bird sightings

on Facebook to share your news. Enter your daily list of

birds on your calendar and you might notice migration

patterns over time. Come visit our many feeders

and birdbaths at the Gardens and share your birding

experiences with us. Email sburgess@boktower.org.

We’d love to hear from you!

Will Randall

16 | The Garden Path | Summer 2011

We have nest boxes for birds located

throughout the Gardens including the

American Kestrel, the smallest falcon

in North America. Our Kestrel nest

boxes are located on the southern

side of the Knoll, our 27-acre tract of

land currently being restored to its native

sandhill forest state through grant funding. A

volunteer recently took on the task of cleaning,

repairing and reinstalling the boxes to invite more

wildlife into the developing area. It’s important to

clean nest boxes thoroughly after nesting season

so the birds can continue to use it as a shelter. The

Kestrel’s diet consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice

and other small birds. They can be seen year-round

at the Gardens and throughout most of America.

An Eastern Screech Owl was recently spotted

inhabiting a knot hole in a tree near the parking

lot as well as a wood duck box near Window By

the Pond. We were surprised to see an owl peeking

its head out of the box, but it turns out that wood

duck and some owl boxes are very similar. Relatively

common in Eastern North America, the Eastern

Screech Owl is strictly nocturnal, nesting in tree

cavities or in nesting boxes. Despite its name, this

owl doesn’t truly screech. Its diet consists of large

insects and small rodents.

For the Birds: Kestrels & EasternScreech Owls

Our Kestrel nest boxes are located on the Knoll

Bird Tales: Tom Palmer, The Ledger Environmental Reporter When a male whip-poor-will flew from the

Gardens’ underbrush right in front of Tom

Palmer, it was a thrill he will never forget.

The Ledger environmental reporter’s interest

in birding grew from an encounter here in

1977 with local birder Chuck Geanangel

and others. Seeing more species of birds

during bird counts at Lake Kissimmee State

Park also increased his appreciation for

nature.

“Getting outdoors is always wonderful,

because as I learned birds, I also learned

more about other kinds of wildlife,

wildflowers, trees and habitats. I also learned

about ecology in general, especially the Lake

Wales Ridge.”

Tom has advice for budding birders. “Be

patient. You will not see every bird every

time you go out. Watch for surprises. Also,

try to learn not only how to identify birds,

which can be challenging, but try to learn

something about each species. What habitat

do they prefer? Where do they nest? What

do their eggs look like? What do they eat?

What eats them? It will expand your view

of the world and nature in general as you

see how things are connected. But above all,

have fun.

EDITOR’S NOTE Tom was lucky to see a whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferous. With nocturnal habits flying close to the ground at night, the medium-sized nightjar has cryptic coloring that keeps it hidden during the day, too. Most of us only get to enjoy its loud calling at dusk.

A N N U A L G A R D E N I N G B Y T H E N U M B E R S

Summer 2011 | The Garden Path | 17

It takes more than seeds, soil and water to keep Bok Tower

Gardens as a place of enchantment. It takes a team of

horticulture professionals with a passion for gardening.

Maintaining the peace and serenity our visitors seek is a labor

of love for our gardeners 365 days a

year.

Our gardeners are hard workers who

enjoy being outside despite extreme

weather conditions from rain to

bright sun, to heat and humidity. Mowing, watering, pruning

and cleaning begin at daybreak. Burden carts loaded with

chain saws, power blowers and other tools scurry throughout

the Gardens in a rush to complete the noisy work before

visitors arrive. Through the day they keep up with irrigation,

weeding, mulching and planting and operate tractors, mowers

and other equipment. They ready the grounds for special

events treating for ants and preparing the flambeaux that light

pathways leading to the Tower. All the while, they fend off

biting and stinging insects.

The team works in harmony with each

other and nature. It may take four or

more gardeners to dismantle a huge

fallen limb. Those same able hands

provide a tender touch to rescue a bird

that has fallen from its nest, hand-feed an abandoned baby

squirrel and care for the colorful koi in the moat around

the Tower. They create a nurturing environment that they

cultivate with care. From removing fallen leaves from the

ground to picking up trash, no job is too dirty for our

horticulture heroes.

I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of

enchantment to turn to.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings -

Horticulture Heroes: The Dirt on Our Gardeners

Back row (right to left): Steven Weir, Denise Tullis, Joseph Hanus, Scott Gabbard, James CarcanoFront row: Darrell Jones, Travis Williams, Nassor Williamson, Constance Miller, Bruce Sleisher

10 semi-truck loadsof mulch 20,000 annuals

planted 1,000 plant varieties cared for22acres of lawn

tended to

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What is the Chao Research Center?

The Chao Research Center was constructed in 2008 in previously open space on Tower Level 2. It provides a secure, climate-controlled repository for the archives of Bok Tower Gardens and other historic materials, such as Edward Bok’s journals and artifacts donated by members and visitors. The Chao Research Center was made possible through the generosity of The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation and Dorothy Chao Jenkins, who served on our board of directors from 1997 to 2008.

Bok Tower Gardens received a special gift on Edward Bok’s

birthday three years ago when Matt and Betty Thul became

members. Within months they began volunteering during

our Christmas holiday home tour. Since then they have both

earned the Crystal Bell award for 1,000 hours of service, and

were two of five volunteers honored for working

1,000 hours during the past year.

“We visited a number of years ago, and

the carillon’s beautiful music brought

us back again and again. Once we

moved to Florida, membership was a

no-brainer, and volunteering naturally

followed,” Matt and Betty explain.

Betty started out as a Pinewood

Angel, then a Pinewood Docent,

and has been a senior Archangel

the past two holiday home tours.

Her primary duties these days

are in the Chao Research

Center (Archives). A

detail-oriented former

librarian, Betty has the ideal skills to organize all the

printed materials, objects, photos, administration records

and former correspondence in what she calls “grandma’s

attic.” “Everything was kept in assorted cardboard boxes

throughout the Tower and elsewhere for 80 years,” she says.

“Now we have 22 filing cabinets in an environment that’s

air-conditioned and hurricane-proof to provide a safe home

for all the historical documents.” Her task is to maintain the

filing system established by carillonneur Bill De Turk which

can be challenging since a significant amount of the material

is not precisely dated.

Matt started out as a shuttle driver, but these days Betty

lovingly calls him “Mr. Booth Man” for his dedication to

volunteering at the Information Booth, including 22 out

of 31 days last December when other volunteers

were unavailable. He enjoys introducing Bill

to visitors after live concerts, and is also

excited about promoting membership

and volunteering. “Everyone always asks

if they can go inside the Tower, which

is my cue to tell them about Founder’s

Room tours available with a Sustainer

level membership,” Matt adds. “And

I’m not shy about discussing the full

tours available with the $1,000

Tower Club membership or by

volunteering.” A computer

wizard, Matt also designed

and wrote the software

program now used to

record and report volunteer service.

Both often work together at special events, such as the

Founder’s Room tours for Sustainer members. Of all they

do though, there’s one event they enjoy most of all – giving

Tower tours to other volunteers who have worked the

50 hours required to qualify. “This is really special to us.

Volunteers do so much for the Gardens in so many ways, and

we are proud to help reward them for all the amazing things

they do.”

Captivated by the

Carillonby Nicole DeMaris Sharp

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

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Boktoberfest 2011The 3rd annual Boktoberfest Plant Sale on Saturday, October

15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. will have free gate admission again this

year. An anonymous donation will underwrite the cost of shuttles,

new parking areas and event support for the day-long celebration.

New this year, you’re invited to submit a campaign video to

become the mayor of Boktoberfest. Wear your lederhosen, dance

a polka and unlease your creativity. Encourage your friends to

vote early and often. The mayor will receive special privileges

and awards for performing unofficial duties. Look for details this

summer on www.boktoberfest.com.

The event kicks off the start of Florida’s gardening season with

live entertainment, craft beers and German food from 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. in the Biergarten. Plants for sale include begonias,

bromeliads, butterfly plants, camellias, Florida natives, hibiscus,

olive trees, orchids, water lilies and more. From

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., learn how to grow a green

thumb with education provided the

UF-IFAS Extension Service including

residential horticulture

agent Dr. David Shibles

and extension agent

emeritus Tom

MacCubbin,

Florida’s foremost

expert on lawn

and garden issues, and others. Activities

for families and children include tree

climbing with Pathfinders Outdoor

Education and Juggles the Clown.

Carpooling is strongly recommended.

Sponsored in part by Bob Evans

Restaurant, Captain Fred’s Airboat

Nature Tours, Lake Wales News, Lanier

Upshaw, Max 98.3 and WEDU.

SAVE THE DATE

Portraits ReunitedThe portraits of Edward Bok’s Dutch

grandparents have been reunited after many years

apart. The painting of Willem Bok (1800-1872)

has been donated by Bok’s daughter-in-law,

A. Margaret “Stormy” Bok, the wife of Bok’s son

Cary William Bok. The portrait now hangs

in our Visitor Center near the portrait of Bok’s

grandmother, Welmoet Tideman Bok

(1806-1878). Her parting advice to her grandson

Edward, Make you the world a bit better or more

beautiful because you have lived in it, continues to

inspire us all.

The king of the Netherlands appointed Edward’s

grandfather mayor of Texel, a pirate-infested

island off the Dutch coast. He spent years

restoring the beauty of the barrier islands which

happened to be in the flight path of migrating

nightingales by planting trees and shrubs.

The Singing Tower’s great Bourdon bell carries the

dedication of the carillon to Bok’s grandparents.

THIS CARILLON IS A TRIBUTE OF AFFECTION FROM EDWARD WILLIAM BOK TO HIS

GRANDPARENTS: LOVERS OF BEAUTY NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX

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Spark of LifeFighting fire with fire is vital for the health of ecosystems

like ours and other natural areas on the Lake Wales Ridge.

Low-intensity prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural

process, reduce wildfire risk and keep our long-leaf pine,

turkey oak sandhill or “high-pine” from turning into a dense

canopied forest. On April 12, our crew of eight trained experts

conducted a prescribed burn on the 9.7 acre management unit

located just south of the Tower.

KIDS PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST June 1 - August 31

Kids can visit the Gardens to snap photos of unique and beautiful sights discovered on their visit and then upload them to www.boktowergardens.org/contest. A new winner will be featured on our Facebook page every week!

DISCOVERY DAYS Wednesdays, June 15 - July 27 (except June 22)

Encourage the joy of learning through play in nature for children ages 5-12. Themes may include outdoor play, art projects, nature walks and environmental topics.

SUMMER FILM SERIES Thursdays, June 16 - August 18 at 10:30 a.m.

Educational films will be featured in the Visitor Center Theater at 10:30 a.m. Some selections include Nova: Hunt for the Supertwister, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot and Islands in Time.

Ridge Explorations Fridays, June 17 - August 19 from 10 a.m. - noon

Stop by the Visitor Center to visit with local environmental organizations who will offer demonstrations, materials and activities to showcase the unique ecosystem of the Lake Wales Ridge and conservation efforts.

BRING-YOUR-OWN PICNIC DAY June 24

Bring Dad for a picnic anywhere in the Gardens on this special day. Find the perfect spot, spread out a blanket and relax listening to the sounds of the carillon.

PLEIN AIR DAYS August 3 & August 17

Artists are welcome to paint, draw and create in the Gardens for free on these

days. Bring your materials and set up anywhere in the Gardens to draw from the inspiration that surrounds you.

DOG DAY OF SUMMER August 6 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

We’re going to the dogs this summer for a good cause! On August 6, leashed

and friendly dogs are invited to visit the Gardens to help support the Humane

Society of Polk County. From 9 a.m. to noon, dog grooming tips, health, safety and adoption

information will be available along with Ask a Vet, training specialists and doggie boutique items for sale. All dogs must be on a leash and get along well with others. Bring a plastic bag to dispose of pet waste. Dog admission, including a doggie gift bag, is $5 per dog, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the Humane Society. Regular human admission rates apply.

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F I N D O U T M O R E O N B O K T O W E R G A R D E N S . O R G

Katrina Noland, Land Steward

The unit burned fairly well with good weather conditions.

However, we need to remove much more oak and exotic plant

materials as well as conduct years of frequent prescribed fires

to restore a more natural sandhill ecosystem. Animals that live

in this habitat, many of them protected species, will be able to

find food and shelter more easily after the thick groundcover

has burned. The burn stimulates growth, flowering or seed

production, a process that promotes and protects the rich

biological diversity of nature preserves and native forests.

The two restoration phase units we manage south and west

of the Tower had not had prescribed fire since July 1996.

Consisting of more than 60 acres of the Lake Wales Ridge,

our Pine Ridge Preserve is in a restoration phase with

prescribed fire occurring every two to five years.

The success of this prescribed fire is due in large part to the

inter-agency relationships we’ve developed with the Florida

Division of Forestry, Florida Park Service (Lake Kissimmee

State Park) and Nature Conservancy (Tiger Creek Preserve),

as well as Ridge Rangers, volunteers who for the past year

helped with the preparation before the burn. The daily work

of these agencies and many others throughout the state help

us all achieve our prescribed burn goals.

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Chris Beatty is an accomplished singer, songwriter, author and mentor to many young singers. He and his wife are creators of Vocal Coach in Nashville.

As the nephew of Samuel Barber I have had the opportunity

to attend many special rehearsals and performances, both

during his lifetime and continuing after his death in 1981. It

wasn’t until my wife, Carole, and I came for a tour, however,

that I even knew my uncle had studied here in the early

1930s along with Gian Carlo Menotti and Nino Rota while

students at the Curtis Institute of Music. We toured the

library that houses scores of the music my uncle composed

especially for the Singing Tower carillon. During a carillon

demonstration by Bill De Turk, we were totally surprised

at the speed and dexterity he was able to achieve with such

a complex system of levers and cables. Then, the thrill of

playing a short version of my composition, Holy Ground,

completed the experience. We were truly honored to be

invited into this most special of musical spaces.

INSPIRED VISITOR

CHAIRWilliam G. Burns

Lake Wales, FL

VICE CHAIRRobin Gibson, Senior Partner

Gibson Law Firm – Lake Wales, FL

TREASURERHon. Patricia C. Fawsett, Chief Judge Emeritus

U.S. District Court – Orlando, FL

SECRETARYFrank M. Hunt II, Chairman of the Board

Hunt Bros. Cooperative – Lake Wales, FL

BOARD MEMBERS

Cindy Alexander, Community VolunteerLake Wales, FL

Michael Aloian, PresidentCharlotte State Bank Trust Department – Tampa, FL

Tomas J. Bok, PH.D., PresidentCambridge Analytics LLC – Somerville, MA

J. F. Bryan IVThe Bryan Group – Jacksonville, FL

Paul Collins, RetiredPJC Partners, London

Derek Dunn-Rankin, PresidentSun Coast Media Group, Inc. – Charlotte Harbor, FL

L. Evans Hubbard, Chairman of the BoardA. Friends’ Foundation Trust – Orlando, FL

A. Bronson Thayer, Chairman of the BoardBay Cities Bank – Tampa, FL

Dick Wood, PresidentMountain Lake Corporation – Lake Wales, FL

EMERITUS MEMBERS

Louise B. AdamsLake Wales, FL

J. Shepard Bryan Jr., AttorneyHolland & Knight LLP – Atlantic Beach, FL

Nancy J. Davis, President & CEOMcArthur Management Company – Miami, FL

John Germany, AttorneyHolland & Knight LLP – Tampa, FL

Robert Graham, SenatorU. S. Senate – Miami, FL

M. Lewis Hall Jr., Partner/AttorneyHall & Hedrick – Coral Gables, FL

Joan Wellhouse Newton, Chairman EmeritusRegency Centers Corporation – Jacksonville, FL

Green Horizon Land TrustOur partnership with Green Horizon Land Trust is based on deep respect and shared values for conservation. A local nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of environmentally valuable lands in Central Florida, Green Horizon was formed in 1991 by a group of community members who saw opportunities for land conservation. Ken Morrison, former

director of Bok Tower Gardens, and David Price, our current president, were founding members. Green Horizon is governed by a volunteer board of directors from such diverse fields as business, law, banking, real estate, land planning and conservation. Executive Director Lou Parrott is Green Horizon’s

only paid staff. Lou’s background is in banking and business but his love is the outdoors. The avid hiker, biker, kayaker and conservationist is passionate about his work. “Over the last 20 years, Green Horizon has worked to protect the small but significant environmental lands of Central Florida,” Lou says. “These lands would have fallen between the cracks and been lost forever if not for our work.”

More than 2,700 acres of land have been preserved in Polk, Osceola, Citrus and Highlands Counties. We worked with Green Horizon to preserve 260 acres of citrus land and open fields around the Gardens. Green Horizon, which owns much of the open lands along our entry drive, has worked with us to secure grants for pine tree planting, trail construction, signage and picnic shelters that will soon be installed on this property.

The membership organization is funded through grants and donations of land and real estate. Donating land is a significant way to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of the natural world while providing the donor with a tax deduction. Green Horizon uses a variety of creative methods to achieve its land conservation goals and to financially benefit donors. Conservation may be accomplished through outright purchases, bargain sales, donations, conservation easements, limited development agreements or similar techniques. Green Horizon has even accepted property and houses for resale to further its mission. Visit www.greenhorizon.org to find out more about Green Horizon‘s great work and consider a membership to this worthy organization.

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The Green Horizon Land Trust Board of Directors

PARTNER PROFILE2011BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Singing Tower Wins Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Award

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded its

2011 Annual Statewide Preservation Award to Structural

Preservation Systems for its role in the restoration of the

Singing Tower. After more than 80 years in service, the Tower

exhibited damage from natural elements. SPS conducted

forensic research before installing 70 feet of scaffolding inside

the structure to work on the 205-foot architectural treasure.

New steel and anchors replaced all eight sides of the structural

steel supports. The award for outstanding achievement in the

field of restoration/rehabilitation was presented at Rollins

College in Winter Park as part of the 33rd annual statewide

Preservation Conference.

Board SaluteAs we welcome a new member to our board of directors, we pay special tribute to one member whose term of duty has come to an end.

Louise Adams has been named an emeritus member of the

board. Appointed in November 1982, Louise has served

more than 29 years. The Mountain Lake resident is the

only person with her own gate as a private entrance to the

Gardens.

Paul J. Collins retired as a vice chair and member of

the management committee of Citigroup Inc., in 2000.

Following his graduation from the Harvard Graduate School

of Business Administration in 1961, he joined Citicorp

where he served as chief investment officer before becoming

senior corporate officer first for the U.S. and later for Europe

and the Middle East. Paul serves as a director of numerous

corporations, a trustee of the Glyndebourne Arts Trust in

London and former trustee of the New York Philharmonic,

Carnegie Hall, the Central Park Conservancy and the

American University of Beirut.

A native of Wisconsin with homes in London and Florida,

Paul and his wife Carol have two grown children.

Conservation Wins Two State Awards

Congratulations to our Rare Plant Conservation

Program for winning two recent state conservation

awards. In addition to program manager Cheryl

Peterson’s 2011 Florida Federation of Garden Clubs

Medal for Individual Achievement in Horticulture,

the team won the 2011 Recovery Champion Award.

The South Florida Ecological Services Office of

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized

Cheryl and her staff for their efforts in the recovery

of endangered and threatened plant species and

important habitats they have worked to protect and

restore for nearly a quarter of a century.

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Garden Path Wins ADDY AwardWe’re honored to have our Garden Path newsletter entered as a national finalist for the 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.” Editor Cassie Jacoby and graphic designer Martin Corbin won local and regional ADDY

awards before entering the national competition. Winners will be announced in June at the national

awards ceremony in San Diego.

BRAVO!

S U M M E R M U S IC S E R I E S

Beat the heat during our summer music series! Tickets available online

at boktowergardens.org/tickets.

JUNE 25 The Porchdogs Cajun & Zydeco

JULY 23 The Repeatles Beatles Cover Band

AUGUST 27 Garrison Doles Acoustic Folk & Blues

SEPT. 24 Victoria De Lissovoy Jazz Samba-Jazz

1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, FL 33853

1. Nursery Manager John Arnett

leads a tour of the Joan Wellhouse

Newton Greenhouse & Nursery

Facility during National Public

Gardens Day on May 6.

2. This year’s peak spring bloom saw

hundreds of Lupine flowering on the

Pine Ridge Nature Preserve.

3. A squirrel takes a break on a

philodendron in the Gardens.

4. Ben Prestage entertained the

crowd with his performance during

the Live at the Gardens music series

on April 16.

Visit us online at www.boktowergardens.org • Shop online at shop.boktowergardens.org

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