BOK TOWERS
Lake Wales, FL
Florida ecosystem based newly designed and renovated historic gardens
All work completed in partnership with NBLWA
“Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it,” - Edward Bok
Opened in 1929, the historic Bok Tower Gardens was commissioned by renowned humanitarian and nature enthusiast, Edward Bok. Designer, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., was given the mission to provide a place of beauty and education as well as a habitat for birds and wildlife. Building on a previously existing Master Plan, the project added a new Garden Entry, Pollinator Garden, Children’s Garden, Wildlife garden, and Kitchen garden. A primary accessible circuit path originating from the new central gathering lawn reestablished the original garden entry sequence as envisioned by Olmsted and connects the new gardens with the historic core. In collaboration with Nelson Byrd Woltz, Mary Wolf led the concept design of the overall project and the planting design of the new gardens and renovation of specific areas of the historic gardens. The master plan highlighted various Florida ecosystems, including sandhill and long leaf pine, hammock, pond, bog, wetland, and prairie.
DATE | Completed in 2016
SIZE | 8 acres
ROLE | Mary Wolf - Planting Design Consultant
RECOGNITION | 2018 FL ASLA Institutional Design Honor Award - Bok Tower Gardens (NBWLA), 2018 VA ASLA General Design Merit Award - Bok Tower Gardens (NBWLA)