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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Looking for a way to avoid that which we’re not supposed to do? Catch peak bloom at Bok Gardens
Posted Feb 17, 2011 by Penny Carnathan
Updated Jun 28, 2011 at 10:07 AM
During this in-between time, when we’re not supposed to plant or cut back (yeah, I’ve been doing both) here’s a good way to get your gardening fix while sitting on hands that do not enjoy being idle.
Bok Tower Gardens is approaching its peak bloom, says its director of horticulture, Nick Baker. Head over there this weekend or next and you should be amply rewarded. Its 150-plus varieties of camellias (pictured above) are on their way down – they’ve got a couple weeks left. But lots of other plants are still heading to that vegetative glory that is seed pod.
Bok Tower, a National Historic Landmark, is in Lake Wales, about 60 miles east of Tampa. It’s in the same cold hardiness zone(s) – 9a and 9b – as those of us in the Tampa area. Somewhere in its 50 acres you should pick up good ideas for plants to try in your own garden. All of these photos, by the way, were provided by Bok Tower Gardens. I haven’t visited (yet) this spring because I’m too busy breaking all the rules in my own garden.
Blooms heading toward peak? Let’s start with red spike Bromeliad Aechmea gamosepala
Saucer magnolia, Magnolia x soulangeana is deciduous and blooms on a leaf-bare tree in spring. “This hybrid is the most commonly used magnolia tree in horticulture,” Nick says.
Tea olive Osmanthus fragrans is already blooming at Bok, and I’m jealous! This tree – and blooms – are neither beautiful nor homely, sort of non-descript. But the fragrance is absolutely intoxicating. I bought a tea olive last spring, and it’s putting out all sorts of new growth, but I haven’t seen the first sign of buds.
Tea olive is a small tree that needs filtered sun or morning light only. Mine is in a huge pot under the eaves on the patio – right by the door to the garden, so I’ll be sure to be blown away when I step outside (if ever he blooms.)
It proved to be very cold hardy, by the way.
I can’t do azaleas in my full-sun, no-acid-soil (oh heck – let’s just say no soil!) yard, but I love to see them in flower. Bok Gardens has lots of azaleas peaking now. This one is named for the garden’s founder, Edward Bok. Rhododendron mucronatum is a vigorous grower with pure white flowers, Nick says. It’s also called Edward Bok Azalea.
Bok Tower Gardens has lots more plants in bloom now, from annuals like hollyhocks and delphiniums to striking spring-flowering trees, including those gorgeous tabebuias. You can take a guided walking tour Monday through Saturday at noon and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Picnic on the grounds, hear the carillion concerts at 1 and 3 p.m., and tour Pinewood Estate, a 20-room 1930s mansion. There’s plenty to make it worth the drive.
Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older; $3 for ages 5-12.
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Chip) on February 18, 2011
So you finally made it to bok gardens! And I know there is just so much more to the park. When the gingers all bloom it really is something to see. Small wonder they host so many Weddings at that park in the spring. Bok gardens park is a one of kind, hidden in plan sight and it been here for a very long time. It still surprise me when long time or life time Floridians have never heard of the park or heard of it but has never seen it. I hope you got to listen to the bells while you were there. there is only three like it in the world and we have one right in our back yard…“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 19, 2011
Bok Tower is on my bucket list, these pictures are beautiful.Pumpkin
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 20, 2011
Count me in for trip to Bok Tower.
Posted by (Gardendipity) on February 21, 2011
It’s nice to hear that others on this board also enjoy going to Bok. My husband and I have been taking day-trips to Bok Tower for over 10 years. We just love it there! We are planning a weekend trip there soon. We hope to find a moderately-priced hotel close to Bok to stay overnight.
Some people don’t realize that Bok sells plants that it propagates from their gardens. The plants are sold in a space behind the gift shop.
Like Penny, I have begun planting. Just finished the front gardens for this year, and now I’m starting new beds in the back yard with (hopefully) winding paths.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 21, 2011
Dipity, We have really missed you!
Posted by (Gardendipity) on February 21, 2011
Thank you, Pumpkin and Penny! I have missed all of you too.
Bok Tower has a garden festival in October called (I think) October Fest. Plant and nursery vendors come in to sell. I have always planned to go but never made it. Have any of you attended OctoberFest?
Penny, your LP’s should not droop - mine don’t. I’ll try to post a photo of my LPs (I have several). Don’t give them too much TLC, they thrive on neglect, once they are established.
We’ve had 3 hummers since the first freeze, they are all still with us. YAY!
Posted by (Janna) on February 22, 2011
I haven’t been to Bok Tower in years, but have to plan to visit again soon. Your post reminded me of just how beautiful it is.
Penny, with all of the amending you’ve been doing, you should be ready to go! I finally got into pulling weeds last weekend and had to be really careful. I didn’t want to pull any sunflowers, datura, zinnias or orange cosmos that have also begun to come up!
I’m going to start planting this weekend. It CAN’T freeze again, now. Right??!
Posted by (mangoman) on March 02, 2011
Hi all! Been busy with school so haven’t posted in a while. I do occaisonally get time to catch up on blog posts I missed though.
I’m surprised your tea olive isn’t blooming, mine’s been blooming for several weeks now. It’s slowing down but still smells great when we have the widows open. What a great smell! I wish mine would grow faster.. maybe I’ll try some of that spray Chip is using..
I saw some tea olive’s at lowes a few days ago that were a good 4ft tall and COVERED in blooms. Very tempted to get one but they were $45 each. Way out of my plant budget.
I have never been to Bok Gardens but Monica Brandies talks about how nice it looks in the spring. Maybe I’ll try to get up there when the gingers are in bloom.