The courtyard between the museum, dining & gift shop was absolutely stunning with a huge water feature, beautiful plantings and incredible stone walkways throughout. The gift shop carries so much more than trinkets. Live plants, pots, gifts, clothing, home goods & decor... all nice quality. (We bought two garden reference manuals!)

Most bamboo varieties are incredibly invasive but in the right setting, when it can be controlled, bamboo is a beautiful plant that enhances a garden visually as well as through sound. I fell in love with bamboo a few years ago when we visited Morikami Japanese Gardens located near Palm Beach, FL. Morikami Japanese Gardens include a "Sound Garden" section filled with bamboo of all types. Each variety creates a different sound as the wind rustles through the bamboo shoots. It's so peaceful.

Mike & Beth were celebrating their First Wedding Anniversary! Beth & I graduated together. Mike was a class or two ahead of us. Our friendships span several decades but we always seem to pick up right where we left off. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to spend the afternoon together. Friends & classmates for life.

Hammock Hollow is a sprawling garden housing multiple play areas, each one unique. Play areas are large with room to run, climb, crawl & jump. Interesting playground designs spark curiosity & imagination. Areas for art, music, reading, nature education & appreciation are incorporated throughout.

Hammock Hollow Children's Garden at Bok Tower Gardens is truly amazing. We had the best time exploring this area and would absolutely return. Your kids will love it. We think you will too!

There were fun things to see, climb on & play with around every corner. Like this giant bird's nest. Yes, we love a ridiculous photo op!  LOL

The giant Gopher Tortoise burrow was super cool. The interior walls of the burrow are painted with murals that teach kids about native Gopher Tortoises and the many animals they shelter inside their burrows.

The Gopher Tortoise burrow is an excellent idea. We spotted several of them during our tour of the botanical gardens.

The Ramble Barn has an interesting display of old time farm implements & a neat old tractor you can (pretend to) drive. The Ramble Barn also includes composting bins with educational signage to teach kids about composting. Love that!

A pollinator garden sits beside the Ramble Barn. We loved the well-marked plantings and the giant sized pollinator sculptures were pretty awesome too.

No children's garden is complete without a fairy garden, right?! Naturally, this was our favorite spot. We're Pillywiggins after all. Kin to all species of fae. And this was the perfect habitat for fairies indeed.  Beautiful, shaded & a bit mysterious. 

I started to wonder if fairies were lurking about. Were they watching me admire their beautiful homes & garden? Were they hiding behind those little fairy doors? I couldn't be sure. But one thing is for certain...

Hammock Hollow Children's Garden
​Bok Tower Gardens - ​Lake Wales, Florida
boktowergardens.org

This winter, we spent an incredible day exploring Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida. What an amazing property! Bok Tower sits atop the highest point in Central Florida. The property encompasses 250 acres that includes hiking trails, a massive botanical garden, El Retiro Mansion, a museum, shopping, dining & so much more. If you find yourself anywhere near Central Florida we highly recommend a visit to Bok Tower Gardens!  boktowergardens.org

We entered Bok Tower Gardens main gate and made our way up the winding road through acres & acres of orange groves. Bok Tower, the cherry on top, beckons from multiple points along the way. Adult admission is $20 and fur babies are welcome!

Bok Tower Gardens is the vision of Edward William Bok. The editor for The Ladies' Home Journal for 30 years, Bok was a Dutch-American immigrant, entrepreneur, Pulitzer Prize winning author, and conservationist. 

Bok poured his heart & soul into this property. He died within sight of his tower on January 9th, 1930. His grave rests in the lawn in front of the Great Brass Door.