Bok Sanctuary
About 100 miles from my place (Sarasota, FL) is a peaceful garden called "Bok Tower Gardens". One can really feel the serenity and calm at this place. In many ways, it reminded me of the"Sri Aurobindo Ashram" in Pondichery. Some of the highlights of this place are:
1. Built during 1927-1928, and inagurated by the then President, Calvin Coolidge.
2. The 245-acre estate is located on the highest elevation in Florida - a mere 298 feet!.
3. The centerpiece of the garden is the "Singing Tower" which has a "Carillon" set atop it. Apart from musical chimes to indicate the hour, it also plays a variety of songs throughout the day at various time points. This tower is around 205 feet high and is touted as the "American Taj" and 'Florida's highest place" - which is true in more than one way.
4. It also serves as a sanctuary for a variety of fauna - tortoises, burrowing animals, rodents, aquatic birds, fox, snakes, etc., and flora - pines, ferns, oaks, flowering plants, etc.
5. It was mainly constructed to help one re-discover peace, serenity and beauty.
Some of the photos which I took there:
Bok Sanctuary - entrance
Serenity
Me in front of "The American Taj(!)"
Bok Tower
2 friends
Neva scared
A thing or two about wildlife - they are NOT afraid of humans AT ALL. This wild squirrel scampered towards me without the slightest hesitation. There are warning signs asking people not to entertain them, since they can get aggressive. Leave wildlife wild.
Highest elevation in ALL of Florida - 298 feet!!
Time simply comes to a stand still there while one enjoys nature at its very best. I was refreshed and rejuvenated when I came out. A lot of us have stress in the work place or life in general. Instead of popping pills, I would suggest a nature walk or a hike to release the tension. Check out the tourism pages of your place - there may be one very close to you!.
1. Built during 1927-1928, and inagurated by the then President, Calvin Coolidge.
2. The 245-acre estate is located on the highest elevation in Florida - a mere 298 feet!.
3. The centerpiece of the garden is the "Singing Tower" which has a "Carillon" set atop it. Apart from musical chimes to indicate the hour, it also plays a variety of songs throughout the day at various time points. This tower is around 205 feet high and is touted as the "American Taj" and 'Florida's highest place" - which is true in more than one way.
4. It also serves as a sanctuary for a variety of fauna - tortoises, burrowing animals, rodents, aquatic birds, fox, snakes, etc., and flora - pines, ferns, oaks, flowering plants, etc.
5. It was mainly constructed to help one re-discover peace, serenity and beauty.
Some of the photos which I took there:
Bok Sanctuary - entrance
Serenity
Me in front of "The American Taj(!)"
Bok Tower
2 friends
Neva scared
A thing or two about wildlife - they are NOT afraid of humans AT ALL. This wild squirrel scampered towards me without the slightest hesitation. There are warning signs asking people not to entertain them, since they can get aggressive. Leave wildlife wild.
Highest elevation in ALL of Florida - 298 feet!!
Time simply comes to a stand still there while one enjoys nature at its very best. I was refreshed and rejuvenated when I came out. A lot of us have stress in the work place or life in general. Instead of popping pills, I would suggest a nature walk or a hike to release the tension. Check out the tourism pages of your place - there may be one very close to you!.
posted by tt_giant at
5:40 PM
7 Comments:
lovely place, the pics indicate a calm and quiet place.
its ironic that humans encroach on forests(which r the places u wud like) just to build other such places elsewhere.
By
ada-paavi!!!!, at June 19, 2005 7:46 PM
Srivatsan: Deforestation is indeed the single destructive action which we "evolved-humans" have discovered. The World wind software (which i posted previously) shows some grim pictures about deforestation. Lets atleast get some peace as long as places like these remain.
By
tt_giant, at June 20, 2005 6:03 AM
Good photos. No wonder you are in a state that does not leave you yearning for Chennai as far as the mean sea levels are concerned :-) (highest point: 298 feet LOL!)
By
Krish, at June 20, 2005 2:00 PM
Thennavan: actually, I like the landscape of cochin a lot - mountains and sea (my 2 favorite terrains!). You have mountains in DC area?
By
tt_giant, at June 20, 2005 2:33 PM
If you count the mountains of western maryland and the ones a little south of Northern Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, perhaps, but Pennsylvania is really mountain country in this part of the region.
By
Krish, at June 20, 2005 4:33 PM
tennavan, without speaking tamil i don know how i will survive landscape alone isnt enough. and i need my daily dose of tamil movies don think ill get tat in states!!
By
ada-paavi!!!!, at June 20, 2005 10:55 PM
srivatsan: there is a price to pay to live anywhere. what to do? but, def. no place like home.
By
tt_giant, at June 21, 2005 6:01 AM
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