Gardens of Central FloridaWith Historical HighlightsBy Valerie Summers
In elementary school, I first learned about Bok Tower and Sanctuary, situated on peninsula Florida’s highest point….all of 300 feet above sea level. During my recent visit, I learned its unique history and greatly appreciated origin and beauty of this magnificent sanctuary. The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son and successor to New York’s Central Park’s famed landscape architect. Olmsted was given carte blanche by humanitarian and philanthropist Edward William Bok to create “a spot of beauty second to none in the country.” This directive resulted in the development of a 250 acre National Historic Landmark, a sanctuary for birds, animals and the human spirit. The Bok family emigrated from the Netherlands when young Edward was only seven years old. His beloved grandmother instilled in him this philosophy: “Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” He did indeed live by this philosophy and in 1929, he gifted the American people this treasure.
I wandered among the acres of ferns, palms, oaks and pine providing a lush backdrop for the spectacular seasonal color of flowering foliage, my camera clicking away. Before departing, I stopped by the 23,243 square foot Education and Visitors Center, which included an orientation theatre where I learned some of the history of Bok Sanctuary.
However, the park added several new elements since my early visit…an old fashioned amusement park with mellow rides and thrill rides for every age featured fun on the giant Paradise Sky Wheel, Sunshine Sky Adventure, Okeechobee Rampage, Boardwalk Carousel and many other fun-filled rides. Aboard the Citrus Line Railroad, I enjoyed a narrative about Cypress Gardens and its evolution into an adventure park. I topped off my visit with a scenic excursion on the Cypress Belle, the beautifully refurbished paddle boat I had enjoyed many years ago. Adjacent to the Amusement Park, an outdoor concert stage loomed up. As I departed the park, I stopped to read the impressive lineup of all-star concerts scheduled including: The Oak Ridge Boys, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Temptations, Merle Haggard, the Beach Boys, A Salute to the Beatles and an all-50’s concert called “Shake, Rattle & Roll” complete with poodle skirts and leather jackets, to name a few. Upcoming afternoon and evening concerts gave me another reason for a return visit to Cypress Gardens.
During my trip, I dined at a variety of restaurants but Chalet Suzanne Country Inn & Restaurant was by far the most memorable. It was another one of those places with a fascinating history. The Hinshaw family has welcomed guests for more than 70 years. This tiny lakeside Swiss styled village surrounded by orange groves is situated on 70 acres and includes a landing strip for private aircraft. Through necessity, back in 1936, matriarch Bertha Hinshaw opened a small eatery in Lake Wales which, by luck, lured Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Hines, who were touring the state, in for a bite to eat. They were so enthralled with Chalet Suzanne, they sent the word out via one of the first leisure travel books in the country which enticed visitors in droves. Eventually Chalet Suzanne expanded to include 30 uniquely decorated guest rooms and a spa.
My trip though central Florida, although not in a space ship, took me on a discovery of new and remembered garden spots in the sunshine state with a bit of history thrown in for good measure. More information Bok Sanctuary Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau Chalet Suzanne Restaurant & Inn Cypress Gardens Hollis Gardens : Valerie Summers |
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Several decades ago, I moved from one sunshine state to the other. I recall driving with my mother from Ft Lauderdale, up through central Florida, smelling orange blossoms which filled the air and stopping to visit some of the area’s attractions on our way to Los Angeles. Recently, I made a return driving trip through orange country, revisiting some of the highlights I recalled plus discovering a few new places.
Bok also commissioned a Singing Tower and world class carillon to serve as the focal point of the gardens. The historic landscape garden was designed as contemplative and informal woodlands with tranquil resting spots, picturesque vistas and breathtaking views of the landmark Bell Tower which reminded Bok of his childhood in the Netherlands. The best craftsmen and artisans of the day created the timeless musical masterpiece. Famed Philadelphia architect Milton B. Medary was given free reign in constructing this exquisite 205-foot tower made of coquina and pink and gray marble in a combination art deco and neo-Gothic design. The 60 bell Taylor Carillon tower emitted recorded music punctuating the stillness every 30 minutes adding to the enjoyment of visitors roaming through the gardens.
My next stop was Cypress Gardens which appeared much as I had remembered plus some new attractions. In its 70th year of operation, Cypress Gardens was the state’s original theme park featuring their famous water ski show and lovely ladies decked out in feminine hoop skirted Southern Belle attire. This renowned garden was also founded by a single individual, Dick Pope Sr. whose motivation was to create a money making operation such as he had read about in Charleston, South Carolina. It was his wife Julie who came up with the idea for the water-skiing show. In 1948, Esther Williams, a champion swimmer turned movie star came to the Gardens with actor Ricardo Montalban to film “On an Island with You” followed by “Easy to Love” with Williams and co-stars Van Johnson and Tony Martin. The movie included water skiing scenes featuring many of the park’s talented show skiers. And bingo, Cypress Gardens gained world fame. After 50 years the park was sold and passed through several ownerships and is currently owned by Kent Buescher, owner of the Wild Adventures theme park in Georgia.
I was happy to see the immaculately kept gardens remained as beautiful and serene as I remembered them. The colorful, giant topiaries made everyone smile. Gorgeous masses of brightly colored flowers bloomed throughout the gardens and I marveled at the massive 70 year old Banyan tree, which rose to 35 feet with a breadth of 100 feet, dwarfing everything around it.
My next stop was the petite perfectly manicured neoclassical Hollis Garden filled with more than 10,000 flowers and ornamental shrubs and divided into color schemes and types of flora. The garden “rooms” include: the Tropical, the Red, the Herb, the Vegetable, Bowls & Runnels and the Butterfly Garden. A knowledgeable docent toured me through the 1.2 acre waterfront site, gifted to the community by the Hollis family, with a history on the evolution of agriculture and the beauty which nature imparts for all to enjoy.
The five individually themed dining rooms on the premises have received several awards. The multi-level building housing them reminded me of the Winchester House where rooms just kept getting added on. The waterfront room where I dined featured a romantic private indoor balcony with a dumb waiter…a favorite spot for honeymooners. I enjoyed an excellent multi-course meal, which included a bowl of what has been named “Moon Soup” because it was chosen as one of the provisions the astronauts took on their trip to the moon.