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72 | frvta.orgBok Tower Gardens, Lake WalesBok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark, contemplative garden, and bird sanctuary located just north of Lake Wales in Central Florida, about an hour from Tampa and Orlando. Since 1929, it has provided remarkable visitor experiences to more than 23 million people. Historic landscape gardens, a unique Singing Tower carillon, and a 1930s Mediterranean-style mansion provide artistic, cultural, and spiritual enrichment. Founder Edward W. Bok, a highly successful publisher and author, became enchanted with the vistas from Iron Mountain, at 298 feet, one of the highest in peninsular Florida, and began creating on the site. The 205-foot neo-Gothic and Art Deco carillon includes 60 bells ranging in weight from 16 pounds to nearly 12 tons.The gardens are one of the greatest works of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead Jr., and together with the natural habitats, are home to more than 126 different species of birds. Hammock Hollow Children%u2019s Garden offers fun ways to discover the natural world and includes three acres of nature play to teach the vital connection between animals, plants, and people. The Kitchen Garden is a hub for horticultural and culinary activities showcasing lifestyle gardening and the culinary arts. The Singing Tower carillon concerts are at 1 and 3 p.m. daily, with short selections played on the hour and half-hour. Learn about tours, events, classes, volunteer opportunities, activities, and what%u2019s in bloom at www.boktowergardens.org. Bok Tower Gardens is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Continued from page 63Continued on page 110