Information Links
L.
Links To Important Web Sites in Polk County
Hollis Gardens
Hollis
Gardens is a formal 1.2 acre botanical garden donated to the City by
the Hollis Family. The garden is located on historic Lake Mirror
accessible from the Lake Mirror Promenade or Orange Street. Recently
Hollis Gardens was voted one of the Best of Class Gardens by the Gulfcoast Research and Education Center. The garden is formal and
packed full of fascinating and beautiful plant materials. This
garden tells a story of Florida agriculture as you move through
theme rooms of plant life that include Florida natives, annual
hybrids, perennials, as well as fruits, vegetables and herbs used as
ornamentals.
The garden contains several water features and displays thousands of
flowering plants, ornamental shrubs, historic trees, herbs and
vegetables. The garden may be rented for weddings. It Contain Grotto
Koi pond, Fountains, waterfalls & lily pond, Butterfly garden &
Trees of Americana Patterned flower beds. In addition to the plants,
there are water features, sculpture and architecture that enhance
the beauty of the garden, rather than compete with it. You will want
to take your shoes off and make yourself at home in this friendly
place. You will also come away with a greater knowledge of plants,
as well as Lakeland's role in the development of agriculture in our
state. Closed on Monday. Hours vary according to season.
Lynn's Garden at Florida Southern College
Florida
Southern College dedicated Lynn’s Garden, the campus’s first
fully sustainable garden, named after alumna Lynn Hollis and given
by her family. The centerpiece of the eco-friendly space is a
marble sculpture, “Spirit,” which was created by Mark Hollis, past
president and former vice chairman of the board of Publix Super
Markets.
Designed by Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Inc., the garden is
fully sustainable, comprising exclusively recycled materials and
plants native to Florida. The three-tiered garden features a canopy
of existing trees and a meandering path of Florida fieldstone that
connects it all. Mr. Hollis’s sculpture sits in the corner closest
to the lake.
Lakeland, Florida
Centrally located between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland and Polk
County offer residents and visitors a wide variety of sports,
entertainment, cultural and educational opportunities. Lakeland is
the heart of Polk County and it is Lakeland’s charm that creates a
beautiful blend of a small town feel with the convenience and
amenities of much larger cities.
Polk County is strategically located in the
center of the Florida
peninsula, about equal distance from the east and west coast and
half way between the Georgia-Florida border and the Southern tip of
the peninsula. Polk lies on the Interstate-4 corridor, 25 miles
east of Tampa and 35 miles southwest of Orlando. As the geographic
center of Florida, it is estimated that more than 7.5 million people
reside within a 100 mile radius of Polk County. This is one of the
largest concentrations of population in the southeast.
Historic
Bok Sanctuary offers visitors Florida's most abundant opportunities
for aesthetic, cultural and personal enrichment. The lush landscapes
of the Olmsted gardens, the majesty and music of the carillon tower
and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an experience that
inspires all who visit.
In 1921, Edward W. Bok was spending the winter
months in the residential mountain lake community located adjacent
to the highest hill of Florida's Lake Wales Ridge, 298 feet above
sea level. He enjoyed taking evening walks to the top of "Iron
Mountain," among the virgin pines and sandhill scrub, to enjoy
Florida's dramatic sunsets and bird life. The idea came to him to
preserve this hilltop and create a bird sanctuary - a place of
beauty, serenity and peace.
Having made arrangements to buy land on the hilltop, Bok
commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to change this arid sandhill
into "a spot of beauty second to none in the country." Today, these
plantings provide shade to visitors as well as refuge for squirrels
and more than 100 bird species.
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The Nature Conservancy of Florida
The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The group called the Lake Wales Ridge -
Ecosystem Working Group
is dedicated to ensuring the long-term protection of the native plants, animals and natural communities of this unique region of Florida. -
Xeriscaping Information
Xeriscaping refers to the conservation of water through creative landscaping. This web site will give you helpful information on how to implement xeriscaping ideas in your yard. -
Florida Friendly Plant Handbook
This handbook provides helpful concepts, tools and techniques to create your own Florida Friendly Yard - a yard that is beautiful and environmentally friendly.