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Transcript of The Garden Path
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
2 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 3
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 [email protected] 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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 5
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
6 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
([email protected] ) 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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 7
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
Fairc
hild
Tro
pica
l Bot
anic
Gar
den
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
8 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 9
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.
1 0 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 1 1
ADream
Takes FlightBirding at Bok Tower Gardens
by Cassie JacobyDirector of Communications
1 2 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 1 3
1 4 | S u m m e r 2 0 1 1
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
Ran
dal
l
Will
Ran
dal
l
San
dra
Su
e D
ent
S u m m e r 2 0 1 1 | 1 5
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 [email protected].
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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