On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the Folk Heritage Association (FHAMC) / Women's History Trail (WHT) completed the final stages to beautify the town's Women's History Park and satisfy their commitment to the overall landscaping plan.

Remembering back to March 2024, FHAMC along with the Town of Franklin completed and opened the Women's History Park and during this dedication ceremony, FHAMC gifted the historic sculpture "Sowing the Seeds of the Future" to the town as public art.  Almost a year later, several steps aligned to make it all possible to fulfill FHAMC's dream of creating a Native Plant Garden in the town's pocket park:

• Supporters of WHT in the community rallied with landscaping project donations to fund this last piece of project. Many contributions were made in memory or honor of their moms on Mother's Day.




• The scope of landscaping greatly benefited from the generous support of Clark & Company Landscaping, not only monetarily but in the design, placement, and plantings for the Native Plant Garden. Their involvement was key to the project's success – thanks Richard Clark for your guidance and a special shout out to Nichole Bradford for her design/layout (and for bringing husband Jeremy to assist her in planting).




• LBJ Job Corps students led by Keith Bowers (Liaison Specialist for Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center and FHAMC board member), were the backbone of the labor force and they managed with grit and determination to endure the heat and complete over 100 plantings.




• Friends and FHAMC board members also joined in the work – a special recognition to Stan Polanski for sharing his expertise.

Mid-day at the site, FHAMC board members briefly came together for two special recognitions. First, Anne Hyder, former FHAMC chair was presented the Folk Heritage Award in appreciation for outstanding leadership and support in preserving the heritage of Macon County. Anne joined the Folk Festival Committee in 2008 as coordinator of children's activities and later served as co-chair of the Franklin Area Folk Festival, joining the FHAMC Board of Directors in 2010. In 2014, she was elected chair of the board and held that position for 11 years. Today, she continues her commitment to preserving our mountain heritage by being an important voice on the WHT Leadership Team and the FHAMC Executive Board.

FHAMC also acknowledged the work of former WHT co-chairs, Mary Polanski and Marty Greeble, and thanked them for all their momentous efforts in spearheading the WHT project leading up to last year's dedication. They each chose a favorite native plant and location on-site as a special remembrance. Currently, Marty joins Anne Hyder, Claire Suminski and Theresa Ramsey as part of the WHT Leadership team to continue other WHT projects: Annual Barbara Sears McRae Scholarship, WHT Macon Matriarch Award, and overseeing the Women's History Walking Trail.

At the end of the day, the Native Plant Garden included clethra/summer sweet, wild hydrangea, rhododendron, leucothoe/dog hobble, amsonia/blue start cone flowers, black eyed susans, switch grasses and more that will continue to bring lots of vibrant color throughout the year and flourish under the town's care as owners and overseers of the park.