During the year 2003 - 2005 Joan Pryor, President of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, chose the theme: "Keep Growing". One of her goals was to have wildflowers blooming on trailheads of the Florida State Trail. All garden club presidents were encouraged to apply for a financial grant to purchase wildflower seeds.

Reva Pachefsky, District V Director chose, Margarete R. Ruth of the Four Seasons Garden Club, to be that District's Horticulture Chairperson. It was Margarete who applied for a wildflower grant for the Four Seasons Garden Club Wildflower Seed Program, Gainesville To Hawthorne State Trail. This applicant kept the goal is sight through several set backs.

In September 2004, Hurricane Frances resulted in destruction around Gainesville and there was substantial damage on the Hawthorne Trail. During the 2005 season, they were not able to plant the seed because the money had not come through and it was too late to purchase the seed. In 2006, the price of seed had gone up from $45 to $115 per pound and they had to re-apply the Proposal for a Grant, which was quickly approved. In addition, they received a gift of 6 pounds of seed from the people at the Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association in Tallahassee as a bonus for their patience.

The Paynes Prairie Staff prepared, with herbicide and tilling, the proposed planting areas. The seeds germinated shortly after they were planted by the members of the Four Season's Garden Club, the staff of the Paynes Prairie State Park and Friends of the Gainesville to Hawthorne Trail, Inc. The planting took place during December 2006.

In March 2007, pictures were taken of the first emerging plants. During the following months, there was a severe drought and the plants did not develop. However, the month of May brought almost three inches of rain and the plants grew quickly, produced their blossom buds and opened into beautiful flowers. Their efforts have paid off -- the Coreopsis leavenworthii and Rudbekia hirta are in full bloom!

	What a wonderful welcome the Four Seasons Garden Club created for all the trailhead travelers! Photos: courtesy of JulieAnne Tabone, Paynes Prairie State Park Specialist
Members of the Four Seasons Garden Club Planting Before and After