Hello There!

today I visited the Bok Tower letterboxes with my Dad, I was the
first to stamp in. This is a wonderful place and I highly recommend
that you guys come down here to check out these stamps. (Lovely work
from Sandi and Doug) I also got the Sebastian stamp (I was second to
stamp in there!) Keep up the good work in Florida, and I hope to
place a box before I leave on Sunday.

--Amanda from Seattle

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., Sandispike@a... wrote:
>
> _______________________________________________________
>
> Florida Holiday Series #2 - SOUND DIRECTIONS (2 BOXES)!
>
>
> Polk County. Lake Wales, FL, south of Orlando
> Placed: 15 August 2001 at HREF="http://www.boktowergardens.org/">BOK
> TOWER GARDENS by Sandi and
> HREF="mailto:dougspike@a...">Doug Spike
>
>
> http://www.boktowergardens.org/
>
>
> Rated: Moderate (walking mulched, scenic walkways). Wheelchairs
and
> strollers are available.
> Level: Medium difficulty, but worth your time! We suggest you
use the
> GuideMap given to you at the entrance.
> Admission: Very nominal fees for adults and children. Picnic
areas
> provided, or stop by the cafe in the new Visitor Center Complex.
>
> __________________________________________________________________
>
> BOK TOWER GARDENS is a national historic landmark located at the
summit of
> Iron Mountain in central Florida. With its serene gardens, vast
wildlife,
> gentle solitude and beauty, it is said to be: “a glorious
tapestry of
> nature.” There are numerous paths to explore and one could
spend several
> hours ambling and not see it all! BOK’s centerpiece, the
Carillon Tower,
> reigns over the highest point in Florida. Here the views of the
countryside
> are phenomenal! The carillon strikes each 1/2 hr. followed by a
chorus of
> the bells. At 3:00 on most days, you can hear a LIVE recital by
the resident
> carillonneur.
>
> The Garden’s website is linked above. It will provide you with a
map for
> directions to the property, along with a tremendous amount of other
> information. Check it out!
>
> Please enter the grounds on foot through the new Education and
Visitor Center
> Complex. You may wish to visit the Orientation Theater, Exhibit
Hall, or the
> Carillon Cafe. Both the Gift Shop and the Plant Shop are
wonderful, and may
> be best left for the end. Ready to start now??
> __________________________________________________________________
>
> BOK Letterbox #1:
>
> First, seek out the small statue of St. Francis feeding the birds.
Which way
> does his face point? Follow in the direction of his nose as he is
telling
> you which pathway to take next. When strolling this pathway, you
will be
> passing by a bench dedicated to "Judge Warlow," and you will arrive
at a
> ‘T.’ Both routes are very scenic, but if it’s the letterbox
you’re after,
> choosing the path to the right will be wrong for now.
>
> Take three dozen paces down the mulched path and you will find a
secluded
> seating area on your left. Enter that area and rest on the black
wrought
> iron park bench. In the 12 o'clock position you will see a medium-
sized
> magnolia tree. Past it, at 11 o'clock position, grows a giant live
oak tree,
> surrounded by a palm tree and other greenery. Discretely, check
out the base
> of the palm tree. Did you find what you were seeking?
>
> You may wish to go back to the bench to stamp logs, write us a
note, etc. Ple
> ase replace the box as you found it while passersby are not
looking! This can
> be a very popular, busy place from January-April, especially.
>
> If you wish to continue looking for letterbox #2 at this time, we
suggest you
> return on the same footpaths just taken until you find the bench
dedicated to
> ‘Mrs. T. P. Wallow, Sr.’ Sit on the bench. After resting a
bit, follow the
> short path directly ahead leading to a gate. Pausing at that gate,
you will
> find a very special view of Historic Pinewood Estate. (Notes about
this
> secluded property are found in your Guide Map.) While there are
other routes
> to take to seek box #2, we thought you should not go home without
at least
> peeking at this lovely, Mediterranean-revival showcase.
>
>
> BOK Letterbox #2:
>
> Find Exedra and the Sunset Overlook. This area is the highest
point in
> Florida!! Isn’t it beautiful? When you’re ready to leave this
breathtaking
> view, take one of the mulched paths due south.
>
> Look for a short westardly path off this main path. It leads you to
a
> monument with dove carvings which is a tribute to Edward Bok.
After taking a
> moment to enjoy this monument, walk to the left side of it and go
BEHIND it.
> (A route taken only by a few people!)
>
> Proceed walking west through a small parking area. Ahead of you
lies an
> older building (former Education Center). Walk to the left side of
the
> building, past the short, black chainlink fencing, and down the old
steps.
> (Anyone looking??)
>
> At the landing of these steps you will find yet another
overwhelming view.
> Look at all the space! Notice all the live oak trees with dead
cypress
> hanging down? The live oak with a "snag'" is the one to go to.
(Refer to
> 'The Knoll' in your GuideMap to see a picture of a snag!) At it's
base is a
> long log of one of the old trees. Which end holds Letterbox #2??
(Be
> careful; it's shoved in quite aways. Need a stick? Any animals
living in
> there?) Enjoy stamping and returning it safely. Thanks.
>
> Have you heard the Singing Tower yet? You may get to the back side
of the
> tower by taking a much less populated route: simply proceed south
from
> letterbox #2 site, along the vast lawned area and climb up the
short hill to
> the tower’s oak grove. You have now arrived at one of the
Garden’s quiet
> listening areas. Relax and enjoy!
>
> As you leave the Tower area to complete your explorations, don’t
forget to
> view the various angles of the Reflection Pool (Circle 2 on the
GuideMap.)
> Have you seen the family of swans in residence there? Most people
don’t know
> they exist. Shh-h-h. It’s special!!
>
> If your time (and energy level) allows, you should see circled
areas 11 and
> 12. The Preserve Trail is a 1/2 hr. walk through a longleaf pine
forest with
> shaded benches and signs posted to guide you on your observations
of the
> natural Central Florida Ridge ecosystem. Did you take time to go
to The
> Knoll? (Circle 13). You won't be sorry. This trail terminates at
the
> parking area.
>
> We hope you have had an enjoyable day. Comments are always
welcomed in the
> log books or at our websites above.