A Singing Tower

It is our wish that you, our readers, had a blessed Thanksgiving.  Our was spent with our daughter Melissa and husband Spencer.  How our meal came together is a very convoluted saga, starting with a teething and fussy baby who just wanted to be held, and a two-year old who burned his hand on the smoker and also wanted to be held.  We drafted the men folk into action, doing baby holding as well as peeling potatoes.  Our Thanksgiving meal did eventually makes its way to the table, and was quite delicious.  Looking back on that day I can only say it was a good day, and I am still thankful for the grandchildren!  However, the next day I did feel in need of rest, so we went on a road trip to Bok Tower Gardens, a trip of about 80 miles one way.  The gardens and tower were the dream of  Edward Bok who employed an architect, landscape architect, and bell founder to make his dream become a reality.   The gardens were dedicated by President Coolidge in 1929.

Our first stop after our arrival was the visitor's center.  Pictured above is a floral display between the dining area and the museum.  Poinsettias as well as air plants dominate the exhibit.  This is the first day of their holiday extravaganza.  In the museum we learned about Bok's life and how he came to build a 205-foot neo-Gothic carillon.  E.Bok was editor of the "Ladies Home Journal" for 30 years.  At the age of 6 he immigrated with his parents from the Netherlands.  He remembered that his home country had the greatest concentration of carillons in the world, which inspired him to also build one.

In the museum we learned about many of the interesting features of the tower.  It is made of pink Georgian marble and coquina.  It houses a 60-bell carillon.  The gold entrance door has carved on it scenes from the first 6 days of creation.  The day we were there two concerts were played, and on the half hour one song was played- some of which were Christmas carols.  The gardens comprise of 50 acres of shaded woodland garden and a bird sanctuary.  Quite a beautiful place to wander while listening to a concerto by Mozart!  Roses are still blooming and the camellias are beginning.