Outside the onsite Blue Palmetto Café, Bock Tower Garden is home to Olmsted gardens and trails, orchards with nectarines and papayas, grapevine and blackberry brambles, and citrus trees in the blueberry bushes.
Business Development Director Erica Smith says she discourages guests from blocking sampling as she explores this vast tower of song as the vast sanctuary of Tolkienesque Centerpiece.
It is primarily a local wildlife who enjoys the fruits of their labor and care, she says, except for the mulberry trees that decorate the outdoor kitchen/yard in the venue.
“To be honest, it’s the employees who enjoy it as soon as the fruit is ripe.”
However, on July 12th, sampling will not only be tolerated, but will be blessed as Bock Tower Garden’s second annual fruit fest is ongoing.
Free with basic admission, the Fruit Fest runs from 9am to 2pm, with three early lectures and live music followed by a small plate inspired by a bar with tropical fruit tastings, its fruits and four fruity margarita options.
Hands for tasting: several types of mango, dragon fruit, mummy, lychee, longan, jackfruit, sapodilla. A great selection of festivals first inspired by a simple mango tasting event.
“It was a small event where you could taste more than 10 different mangoes, but the guests loved it,” explains Smith. “It made us think about how we could celebrate food and edible plants to accommodate a larger crowd, and many public gardens in Florida have tropical tastings.
The three lecture series begins at 9am, “people can learn how to create food forests in their homes.”
First, Josh Jamison of Cody Cove Farm teaches participants about the fast-growing fruit for Florida gardens.
Next, Taylor Walker, gardening manager at Bok Tower Gardens, (a renowned fruit lover), will explain the unique microclimate of Lake Wales Ridge, Central Florida, in a presentation where fruit thriving.
Batting Cleanup, Third Insight Design and Nursery Raleigh Burns offers guidance on edible landscaping and creates a beautiful garden using colorful fruits and beautiful leaves.
Live music and delicious snacks are followed. The food and drinks are La Carte. The fruit is one of the “Bok Bucks” worth a dollar, with a small plate of four. Smith promises both creativity and tasty.
“There are several amazing tropical fruit-inspired dishes, including curry shrimp, fragrant jasmine rice, jackfruit tacos, watermelon, curry shrimp with feta salad, and deluxe tropical fruit cups with chamo and tajin.
Additionally, adult drinks for sale in fruit (7 “Bok Bucks” each) are available at Margarita Bar. Flavors include coconut mango, watermelon mint, strawberry and passion fruit.
“We also have not only lemonade, but also delicious ginger passion fruit pineapur iced tea,” she says.
For foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, gardens, gardeners, gardeners, and more, indoor fruit fests are refreshing.
Because fruits are not banned at this event.
“It’s my own hood adventure,” says Smith.
Find me on Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram @Amydroo, or Osfoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more food fun, join Let’s Eat and Orlando Facebook Group.
If you’re going
Adult garden admission to Boktower Garden is $20, for children $10 (ages 6-17), for children under 5, free and for dogs $10. Garden admission includes daily entry and access to the 3.5-mile Pine Ridge Reserve hiking trail. Bok Tower Gardens is located at 151 Tower Blvd. On Lake Wales.
