♪ ♪ GULF WINDS BLOW THROUGH CANOPY ROADS ALL THE WAY TO THOMASVILLE.

♪ THE NATIVE NAMES WRITTEN ON THE LAND ECHO THROUGH THE RED CLAY HILLS.

♪ WHERE THE CENT OF LONG -- SCENT TO OF LONG LEAF FLORIDA PINE REACH UP ON PAST THAT GEORGIA LINE.

♪ STROLL THROUGH TALLAHASSEE TOWN OR SOUTHERN APALACHEE-BOUND -- ♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME.

♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME ♪ >> WELCOME TO "LOCAL ROUTES."

I'M SUZANNE SMITH WITH WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND TODAY WE'RE IN QUINCY, FLORIDA, RIGHT NEAR A VERY UNIQUE SIGN FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S KNOWN AS THE COCA-COLA MURAL, AND IT RECENTLY UNDERWENT SOME SPECIAL RENOVATIONS.

WFSU'S MIKE PLUMMER WENT IN SEARCH OF THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS ARTWORK.

>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECENT RESTORATION OF THE BIG COCA-COLA MURAL IN DOWNTOWN QUINCY.

LIKE MANY SMALL TOWNS IN THE PANHANDLE, HURRICANE MICHAEL HAD GIVEN QUINCY A GUT PUNCH, AND CITY LEADERS WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.

>> AND INNING LOOING AT -- IN LOOKING AT DOWNTOWN, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MURAL, OKAY?

AND THE MURAL AT THAT TIME NEEDED RESTORATION.

AND SO WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT A WHOLE LOT, BUT WE USE THE MURAL AS A CENTER POINT FOR A LOT OF THE BACK AND FORTH COMMUNICATIONS, THE PUBLICATIONS WE PUT OUT.

THE MURAL SEEMED TO TAKE HIGHLIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THERE'S A DEVASTATION AND YOU NEED TO, NEED TO PUT LIVES BACK TOGETHER AND PUT PIECES BACK TOGETHER AND BRING HOPE?

WELL, YOU FIND A CENTRAL ELEMENT THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE COKE MURAL HAD THE POTENTIAL OF BEING THAT.

>> THE COCA-COLA COMPANY QUICKLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE MAKEOVER AND BROUGHT IN MURALIST WEST HARDEN FOR THE JOB.

SO NOW THE MURAL LOOKS GREAT, AND THE LITTLE TOWN IS WORKING ON REVITALIZATION PROJECTS.

BUT HEARING ABOUT THE MURAL'S RESTORATION GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE MURAL'S HISTORY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMING DOWN HIGHWAY 90 FIRST THING THEY SEE -- WELL, NOT THE FIRST THING THEY SEE, BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY SEE IS THE SIDE OF THE PADGETT BUILDING AND, OR YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T THAT BE A GREAT PLACE TO PUT A MURAL.

AND, AS I SAID, WITH THE COCA-COLA CONNECTION, WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO PUT UP JUST, YOU KNOW, TO DECORATE THE SIDE OF A VERY PLAIN BUILDING.

>> THAT WAS ELLEN DESALVO, AND SHE WAS ON THE DESIGN COMMITTEE FOR THE ORIGINAL BIG COMB COLA MURAL.

THE PAINTING IS AT THE CORNER OF MADISON AND JEFFERSON, AND IT'S A LOCAL LANDMARK IN THE SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN WIDELY KNOWN FOR ITS LOCAL TIES TO EARLY COCA-COLA STOCK FORTUNES DERIVED THROUGH THE QUINCY STATE BANK.

>> SO IT WAS DONE WITH QUINCY MAIN STREET.

QUINCY STATE BANK, WHICH IS NOW CAPITAL CITY BANK, FUNDED THAT PROJECT, AND IT WAS DECIDED -- THEY PICKED A GRAPHIC THAT WAS USED IN, LIKE, A 1905 TROLLEY ADVERTISING.

SO MUCH LIKE ADVERTISING'S DONE TODAY ON BUSES, ON THE INSIDE OF BUSES, THIS WAS ON THE INSIDE OF A TROLLEY IN THE ATLANTA.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WAS PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF THAT BUILDING.

>> JOYCE PADGETT AND HER HIS REX OWN THE BUILDING WHERE THE MURAL HAS RESIDED FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

>> WELL, HE JUST ASKED IF WE WOULD, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COKE MURAL, AND I SAID, SURE.

WE DIDN'T HIS A TATE.

I COME TOLD MY HIS THEY WANTED TO PUT THE MURAL UP, AND HE -- I SAID I'VE ALREADY ARE TOLD 'EM YES.

AND HE SAID THAT'S FINE.

>> WE WENT THROUGH DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PICTURES AND THINGS, AND IN THIS IS THE ONE E LIKED THE BEST.

SO WE CONTRACTED TO HAVE IT PAINTED.

AND A LOCAL SIGN PAINTER PAINTED IT FOR US AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

>> CURTIS MOTT WAS THAT LOCAL SIGN PAINTER.

TODAY HE LIVES IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

>> IT HAD CAME UP TO WHERE THEY ASKED ME IF I COULD, IF I COULD PAINT A MURAL.

AND THEY'D ALREADY COME UP WITH THAT, WITH THE ARTWORK.

COULD YOU PAINT THIS?

COULD YOU POSSIBLY PAINT THIS, CURTIS?

AND THE REASON THEY ASKED ME IS I WAS JUST A SIGN GUY, AND THEY JUST KNEE ME AS THE ONLY GUY THAT PAINTED SIGNS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I WAS AN OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR THEM, I GUESS.

I SAID, WELL, SURE, YOU KNOW?

AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATED, YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE I KNEW IT HAD TO BE PERFECT, AND IT WAS A PRETTY COMPLICATED DESIGN.

>> AND IT WAS THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST BIG MURAL IN QUINCY.

THERE ARE OTHER SMALL MURALS AROUND TOWN AND STUFF, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST BIG BRANDED MURAL OF ITS TIME.

AND LET ME SAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF QUINCY, THERE ARE OLD COKE MURALS ON A LOT OF STORES THAT HAD BEEN PAINTED ON OTHER STORES EVEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO DR. STEPHENS' GROCERY STORE, YOU KNOW?

HE THAT HAD A COKE MURAL PAINTED.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PICTURES THAT HAVE MUCH SMALLER MURALS, BUT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE, THIS IS THE FIRST OF THAT SIZE.

>> AT THE TIME THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER WAS TRYING TO DOCUMENT THE MURAL'S PROGRESSION, BUT CURTIS' SCHEDULE WAS THROW THING THEM OFF.

>> THEY CALLED ME THE PHANTOM PAINTER.

AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO HOT IN FLORIDA.

IT WAS AUGUST -- [LAUGHTER] AS THE BUILDING'S FACING EAST AND WEST, I'D RUN MY BUSINESS DURING THE DAY HIKE A FIEND BECAUSE I WAS BUSY, ME AND MY WIFE RUNNING AROUND.

I'D WAIT UNTIL LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SUN WOULD GET ACROSS THAT BUILDING.

THEYED THAT STREETLIGHTS AND THAT AMBIENT LIGHT, AND I'D WORK AT NIGHT.

SHE COME UP THERE -- WE WERE NEWLYWEDS JUST ABOUT.

WE'D EAT ON THE SIDEWALK, AND I'D PAINT THE MURAL.

>> THE BIGGEST MYSTERY I RAN INTO REGARDING THE QUINCY COCA-COLA MURAL WAS THE YEAR IT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH COULDN'T QUITE RECALL THE YEAR.

>> BACK IN THE -- >> '84-'86, SOMEWHERE THROUGH THERE.

>> 1988.

>> THIS WAS -- WHEN WAS THIS ONE BUILT?

DONE?

PAINTED?

>> I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.

>> WE'RE NOT SURE, THAT'S THE ANSWER.

WE'RE NOT 100% SURE, BUT THAT'S THE BEST, THAT IT WAS THE LATE '80s.

>> LOCAL NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS OF THE MURAL SHOW 1992.

YEP, SEPTEMBER 1992 WAS THE ORIGINAL UNVEILING.

>> AND WHAT'S WEIRD ABOUT IT, MIKE, IS THE THING, I FINISHED IT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE.

YOU KNOW?

AND LIKE I WAS TELLING MY WIFE, REMEMBER, I FINISHED THAT THING DURING THE WEEK.

AND THEN THEY GOT AROUND TO GETTING ALL THE STUFF UP, AND THEY COVERED IT UP.

[LAUGHTER] I SAID, BUT -- THAT MEANT EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNEW, THEY DROVE BY AND SAW IT IN PROGRESS.

I SAID IT'S JUST THE HOOPLA ABOUT IT.

I FINISHED IT, GOT EVERYTHING -- THEY GOT EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY, AND I DONE SIGNED IT.

PROBABLY PUT THE CHECK IN THE BANK.

THEN THEY GOT UP THERE AND, OF COURSE, I ASSISTED THEM.

THEY GOT UP ON TOP OF THE BUILDING, COVERED THIS THING UP WITH THESE BIG PIECES OF PLASTIC AND ALL OF IT GETTING READY FOR THE UNVEILING.

IT WAS JUST A COOL, IT WAS A COOLER VENT, YOU KNOW?

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE, AND SOME OF THE OLD PEOPLE IN QUINCY THAT MADE QUINCY WHAT IT WAS.

A LOT OF US YOUNGER ONES THERE.

RIGHT THERE THEY UNVEILED IT, HAD A LITTLE QUARTET, AND YOU HAD ALL THE DIGNITARIES THERE.

ME AND MY LITTLE WIFE, WE WERE JUST KIND OF LIKE FISH OUT OF WATER, YOU KNOW?

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY JUST BRAGS ON YOU, DOES ALL THAT.

AND I JUST -- YOU DON'T REALIZE TIL YEARS LATER JUST, YOU KNOW, HOW SIGNIFICANT IT REALLY WAS.

BUT IT WAS A BIG DAY.

IT WAS JUST -- I WAS INSTANTLY, AN INSTANT HERO IN THIS LITTLE TOWN.

>> JUST THIS LITTLE PROACTIVE GROUP IN QUINCY PUT TOGETHER AND SAID HERE'S THE IDEA, WE NEED THE FUNDING.

WE TALKED TO THE BANK, WE GOT THE FUNDING.

WE NEED A BUILDING, PADGETTS AGREED TO THAT BUILDING BECAUSE VISUALLY IT'S JUST THE PERFECT SPOT FOR IT.

AS YOU'RE COMING INTO QUINCY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT MURAL RIGHT THERE.

AND SO, I MEAN, JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

A REAL SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS MADE IT HAPPEN WITH THAT COKE MURAL.

>> SO THE OLD COCA-COLA MURAL ISN'T QUITE AS OLD AS WE THOUGHT.

BUT IT REALLY DOES LOOK GREAT.

GO TO QUINCY AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

FOR WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA, I'M MIKE PLUMMER.

>> THE MUSKOGEE NATION OF FLORIDA IS THE SITE OF A VIRTUAL MUSEUM CREATED BY WFSU'S VERY OWN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THERE[AUDIO DIFFICULTY] CAME TOGETHER TO SHARE THE HISTORY OF THIS LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE.

>> IT'S A NEW OPTION THAT WE ARE OFFERING FOR TEACHERS, FOR PARENTS, FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THEIR NORTH FLORIDA LOCAL ARE AREA.

WE'RE -- LOCAL AREA.

WE'RE ALSO TYING INTO THE PBS SHOW MOLLY OF DENALI.

IT'S ALL ABOUT INFORMATIONAL TEXT WHERE TO FIND FACTUAL INFORMATION, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AROUND YOU.

BUT THEY ALSO INTERWEAVE NATIVE ALASKAN VALUES AS WELL TO CONTINUE TEACHING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU AND ABOUT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU, BUT ALSO YOU MIGHT HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH AS WELL.

IS SO ORIGINALLY, THIS MUSEUM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PERSON.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD TO QUICKLY TRANSITION INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IDEA.

SO WE TURNED ALL OF THOSE IDEAS INTO THIS VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN CLICK THROUGH AND LEARN ALL ABOUT LOCAL NATIVE ANIMALS, THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL NATIVE CULTURE, THE MUSKOGEE NATION OF FLORIDA, AND OUR VERY WONDERFUL FRIEND, MISTY PENTON, WHO IS THE TRADITIONAL STORYTELLER FOR HER TRIBE, THE WHITE EARTH FRAVEL TOWN.

>> -- TRAVEL TOWN.

>> WE AS THE MUSKOGEE NATION OF FLORIDAAND THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY WHO RUN THE MUSEUM WORK TOGETHER AS A PARTNER WITH WFSU.

WHEN MOLLY OF DENALI WAS FIRSTING BEING RELEASED, THERE WAS, I THINK, THREE GRANTS NATIONWIDE TO DO ADDITIONAL KIND OF ENRICHMENT INFORMATION TO GO ALONG WITH THE MOLLY OF DENALI CURRICULUM.

THERE'S A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP THAT WE DO WITH FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO DO IN PERSON.

AND WE BASICALLY USED THAT COMMUNITY WORKSHOP AND TURNED IT INTO A MUSEUM, A DIGITAL MUSEUM THAT EMPHASIZES INSTEAD OF THE ALASKA NATIVE VALUES, THE MUSKOGEE NATIVE VALUES.

>> EACH SECTION OF THE MOLLY OF DENALI MUSEUM IS BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT TOPICS.

SO THERE'S ONE ABOUT CELEBRATING TRADITIONS, AND IT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE MUSKOGEE TRADITIONAL SHELL CARVING AND THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, WHAT IT MEANS, AND THEN IT HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF HOW TO CREATE A CARVED SHELL.

WE ADDITIONALLY HAVE AN ACTIVITY FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO PARTICIPATE TO MAKE THEIR OWN SHELL.

SO IT'S A PAPER ACTIVITY WHERE YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT AND COLOR IT AND DESIGN IT AND ADD IT TO A STRING, AND YOU CAN WEAR IT.

AND THERE ARE TRADITIONAL MUSKOGEE DESIGNS OF DIFFERENT SHELL CARVINGS.

IT WAS SO EXCITING TO PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW TYPE OF PROJECT FOR ME.

WHEN CARVING A SHELL, THERE ARE 16 STEPS, AND THAT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TO THE MUSKOGEE.

>> EVERYTHING IS DONE IN 4s.

4 IS OUR SACRED NUMBER.

IT'S CONSIDERED THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC HARMONY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE -- IT'S THE FOUR SEASONS.

SO THEN FOUR TIMES FOUR IS THE NUMBER OF COMPLETION.

SO ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS, YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SACRED JOURNEY, THE PATH.

>> SHE WAS VERY MUCH WILLING AND HAPPY TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBERS WERE AND THAT THERE WERE SPECIFIC STEPS FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.

AND THAT ALL THE MORE SHOWED ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO COMMUNICATE AND ASK PEOPLE WHY THINGS MIGHT BE THE WAY THAT THEY ARE.

WE ARE ALSO CONNECTING TO A LARGER COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ABLE TO REACH BEFORE BECAUSE NOW IT IS A VIRTUAL PLATFORM.

SO WE CAN REACH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OR POTENTIALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

NATIVE PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE, AND THEY ARE STILL ACTIVE, AND THEY ARE STILL SHARING THEIR TRADITIONS AND WANTING TO SHARE THAT WITH THE WORLD.

THEY'RE NOT A THING OF THE PAST.

THEY ARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

AND ALSO TYING IT INTO ANOTHER CULTURE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM US.

FROM FLORIDA TO ALASKA, WE'VE TRITT CREATED A TIE.

>> FOR SO LONG WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NATIVE CEREMONIES, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS WEREN'T EVEN LEGAL UNTIL '76.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW LONG MY FAMILY A HAD TO KEEP THIS SECRET IN FAITH.

SO FOR US TO TAKE WHAT WE'VE MAINTAINED FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO SHARE IT IN THIS HUGE DIGITAL FORUM IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING THINGS I HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF.

♪ ♪ >> ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE BRAND NEW POLLY OF DENALI -- MOLLY OF DENALI MUSEUM IS A FEATURE ABOUT THE MUSKOGEE STORYTEMMERS.

-- STORYTELLERS.

TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE NEXT GENERATION IS LEARNING ABOUT THE STORIES OF THE PAST.

♪ ♪ >> A STORYTELLER IS IMPORTANT TO THE TRIBE BECAUSE IF THERE WEREN'T STORYTELLERS, NO ONE WOULD REALLY KNOW ALL THAT STUFF, LIKE, THE STORIES AND THE TRADITIONS AND LOYALTIES AND TRAITS.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE QUITE A TRIBE.

>> THE ROLE OF A STORYTELLER IS TO REMIND PEOPLE HOW TO BEHAVE, SHARE VALUE SYSTEMS WHILE PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

WHAT I SAW IN HER IS MUCH LIKE WHAT WAS IN ME FROM THE TIME I WAS VERY YOUNG.

I WANT TO PUT PIECES BACK TOGETHER.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

OUR TRIBE ACTUALLY MADE ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO NOW THE DECISION TO NOT BE SECRET ANYMORE.

WE DON'T SHARE IT WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN, IF WE DON'T SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, THEN IT WILL EFFECTIVELY DISAPPEAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO KEEP THE KNOWLEDGE ALIVE.

SHE WANTS TO HELP, SHE WANTS TO LEARN THE STORIES, SHE WANTS TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE, AND SHE WANTS TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE.

>> NOW THAT THERE'S MOLLY OF DENALI, KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY WANT TO KNOW AND WANT TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

♪ ♪ >> I THINK THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY THAT MANY SHOWS ABOUT NATIVES ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS.

BUT ALSO THERE'S NOT THAT MANY SHOWS FOR KIDS THAT MAKE THEM WANT TO EXPLORE NATURE MORE.

>> ONE OF THE INITIAL FEEDBACKS THAT WE AS TBS GOT ABOUT THE MOLLY OF DENALI SHOW WAS THAT THE PARENTS WERE NOTICING THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE PLAYING OUTSIDE.

THEY WERE THANKING NATURE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY, I THINK, PROFOUND DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY NATIVES VIEW EARTH AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND OTHER CULTURES DO.

IT IS VERY INTERACTIVE WITH US.

IT'S NOT STAGNANT.

YOUNG CHILDREN GET IT, THE UNDERSTANDING OF CONNECTEDNESS AND THE PROFOUND POWER OF INTERACTING WITH THESE THINGS.

AND THEY CAN SAY THANK YOU.

BECAUSE IT'S MEANING.

MEANINGFUL.

>> WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO STAY HOME THESE DAYS, OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE TAKING MORE OF AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

SO WE HOPE YOU TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE IT WITH US THIS FEBRUARY FOR OUR ANNUAL M BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY.

THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> WFSU'S BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY IS MOVING TO A SPIRITUAL WORLD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, STARTING AT 8:30 A.M. EASTERN.

THAT DAY JOIN WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA ALONG WITH PREVENT CHILD ABUSE FLORIDA AND OUR PARTNERS ON WFSU-TV, WFSU.ORG AND FACEBOOK TO CELEBRATE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THROUGH THE MAGIC OF MAKE BELIEVE, WE'LL ENJOYED A VENTURES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS.

LEARN ABOUT THE EVENT, FREE GIVEAWAYS AND MORE ACTIVITIES AT WFSU.ORG/NEIGHBOR DAY 2021.

>> WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, A HANDFUL OF SHADY HILLSIDES IN SOUTH GEORGIA WILL TURN YELLOW WITH FLOWERS.

A SMALL VOLUNTEER-RUN PARK IN GRADY COUNTY IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN OUR AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE A FLOWER MOST OFTEN FOUND IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.

WFSU'S ROB DIAZ DE VILLEGAS CHECKED IT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO.

♪ >> THE DIFFERENT CANNINGED TROUT -- DIMPLED TROUT LILY.

IF YOU CAME HERE IN MAY, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS FLOWER EXIST, AND YET IT'S A CARPET AT THIS SEASON OF THE YEAR.

>> IT'S RARE TO SEE THIS MANY DIMPLED TROUT LILY ARES TOGETHER.

WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE SITES IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK OF VOLUNTEERS IN FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.

>> WE'RE ABOUT 5 MILES WEST OF CAIRO AND ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF WIGAM ON THE SOUTH SIDES OF U.S. 84.

>> ABOUT 20 YEARS AFTER TROUT LILIES WERE SPOTTED, WILSON BAKER DECIDED TO TAKE A PEEK WITH PERMISSION, OF COURSE, OF THE PRIVATE LAND OFF THE ROAD.

>> ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO I WALKED BACK IN HERE X THEY JUST KEPT GOING AND GOING TO THE POINT THAT THIS SWATH WE'RE STANDING IN IS PROBABLY 10 OR 15 ACRES OF ALMOST SOLID TROUT LILIES, WHICH IS REAL UNUSUAL.

PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS TO THE NORTH AND UP IN THE APPALACHIANS, IT'S A COMMON PLANT.

AND YOU'D HAVE PATCHES LIKE WE'VE SEEN TODAY BUT NOT DENSE CARPETS LIKE WE'RE SEEING.

>> THROUGH SOME HARD WORK AND A BIT OF FUNDRAISING, LAND WAS TURNED INTO A PRESERVE.

>> THE MAIN GROUP THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE WAS THE MAGNOLIA CHAPTER OF THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN GEORGIA, THE BUT THE GEORGIA BOTANICAL SOCIETY ALSO HELPED OUT.

>> THE LAND WAS BOUGHT AND GIVEN TO GRADY COUNTY.

>> GRADY COUNTY WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT IT AS ONE OF THEIR PIECES OF PROPERTY, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY OR STAFF TO DO THE UPKEEP AND WHAT LITTLE MANAGEMENT'S REQUIRED ON IT.

SO THEY SAID THEY'D BE WILLING TO TAKE IT IF WE, AS VOLUNTEERS, WOULD HELP THEM.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SORT OF A DIFFERENT PRESERVE, AND YOU SEE THE SIGNS THAT WERE ALL MADE BY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND THE FAIRLY CRUDE TRAILS -- [LAUGHTER] EVENTUALLY, YOU MIGHT GET SOMETHING MORE DETAILED, PARTICULARLY IF WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY.

>> DURING THE PEAK BLOOMING SEASON, VOLUNTEERS LIKE JANUARY BLUE OFFER GUIDED TOUR.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PLANT THAT'S HERE, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THREATENED.

IT'S THREATENS BY A LOT OF INVASIVES.

AND, OF COURSE, I'M -- AS A HOMEOWNER -- ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO PLANTING THINGS LIKE PRIVET AND AN DEAN THAT AND THE THINGS THAT ARE TAKING OVER SOME OF OUR NATURAL AREAS.

SO I FIND IT VERY SATISFYING TO COME UP HERE AND YANK THE PRIVET OUT OF THE GROUND AND GET RID OF IT AND YANK THE MAN DEAN THAT UP.

AND LITTLE BY LITTLE, IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

♪ ♪ NANDINA.

>> WE CALL THESE SPRING EPHEMERALS, SOME OF THE SPRING WILDFLOWERS.

THEY COME ON EARLY AND DO THEIR THING BEFORE LEAF FELL.

SO LIKE ON THE TROUT LILY, THE LEAVES COME UP AFTER CHRISTMAS AND THROUGH JANUARY, AND THEN THEY START FLOWERING IN FEBRUARY.

>> A COUPLE OF OTHER FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER EARLY SPRING FLOWERS, THE SOUTHERN TWAY BLADE.

THIS IS THE SPOTTED OR MODEL TRILLION YAM.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY THIS PLACE IS SO SPECIAL, BECAUSE THE WOODS IS NOT THAT RARE.

SOMETHING'S JUST RIGHT FOR THE TROUT LILIES, OBVIOUSLY.

>> THE BIGGEST CONCENTRATIONS ARE FOUND ON WOLFE CREEK'S WESTERN SLOPE.

>> WETY IT'S RELATED TO THE SLOPE AND ALSO THE UNDERLAYING CLAY THAT KEEPS THE SLOPE MOISTER THAN IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE.

IT'S SUCH A FLORAL DISPLAY.

TO THINK THAT SUCH A SMALL LITTLE LILY, WHEN YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF THEM, CAN LITERALLY MAKE A YELLOW CARPET ON THE UNDERSTORY IS PRETTY AMAZING.

>> FOR WSU, I'M ROBTY THE YAZ DE VILLEGAS.

>> THE WOLFE CREEK TROUT LILY PRESERVE IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR ROUND.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING TOUR TIMES, VISIT THEIR WEB SITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND FOR MORE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN THE RED HILLS OF SOUTH GEORGIA AND NORTH FLORIDA, VISIT THE WFSU ECOLOGY BLOG.

>>> THE FLORIDA PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY NETWORK IS COMBINING HISTORY AND NATURE FOR THIS NEXT ADVENTURE AT THE GULF ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE.

IN THIS HIKE WITH MIKE SEGMENT, WE GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NAVAL LIVE OAKS AREA.

>> HI, I'M MIKE WITH THE FLORIDA PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY NETWORK, AND I'M HERE TO TAKE YOU ON ANOTHER HIKING TOUR OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS, NAVAL LIVE OAKS AREA.

♪ ♪ >> ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRAILS TO HIKE IN NAVAL LIVE OAKS AREA IS A TRAIL CALLED ANDREW JACKSON TRAIL.

AND THE REASON WHY I LIKE TO HIKE THIS TRAIL SO MUCH IS BECAUSE IT'S THE ORIGINAL SECTION OF FLORIDA'S FIRST FEDERAL ROAD.

FLORIDA BECAME A U.S.

TERRITORY IN 1821, AND BY 1824 THEY WANTED TO CONNECT FROM ST. AUGUSTINE, THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF THE OCEAN, TO PENSACOLA, WHICH WAS ON THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE COMMUNICATION AND SUPPLIES TRAVELING OVERLAND, THEY WANTED TO HAVE A RELIABLE LAND ROUTE THAT WAS WIDE ENOUGH THAT WAG GONES COULD ACTUALLY BE TRANSPORTED TO THOSE ROADS.

SO IN 1824 THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION OF THIS ROAD AT AN AREA CALLED DEER POINT.

DEER POINT IS WHAT WE CALL GULF BREEZE TODAY.

TO CONSTRUCT THIS ROAD FOR THIS SECTION, THEY USED ABOUT 70 SOLDIERS TO BUILD THIS ROAD, BUT IT WASN'T ALL CONSTRUCTED USING THE LABOR OF SOLDIERS.

BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO AROUND THE TALLAHASSEE AREA, THEY ACTUALLY STARTED USING SLAVE LABOR.

NOW, THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FEDERAL ROAD WAS THAT IT WOULD BE ABOUT 25 FEET WIDE.

FORTUNATELY, THOUGH, THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE MANPOWER OR THE MONEY TO MAKE IT 25 FEET WIDE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT SPOTS, SO THEY HAD TO SETTLE FOR A LOT OF THE SPOTS TO BE ABOUT 15 FEET WIDE, WHICH IS ABOUT HOW WIDE THIS TRAIL IS TODAY.

NOW, THE REASON WHY WE HAVE GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE NAVAL LIVE OAKS HERE TODAY, IN 1828 THIS AREA BECAME AMERICA'S FIRST NATIONAL TREE FARM.

AND IT WAS DONE BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

YOU SEE LIVE OAKS, THIS TREE BEHIND ME, WERE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SHIPBUILDING, ESPECIALLY FOR NAVAL WARSHIPS.

THE HARDWOOD OF THE TREE WAS VERY STRUCTURALLY STRONG.

IT RESISTED ROT, AND ALSO THE SHAPE OF THE TREE LIMBS MADE THEM GREAT FOR MAKING THINGS LIKE KNEES THAT SUPPORTED HEAVY DECKS OR SHIP'S RIBS THAT SUPPORTED THE HULLS OF THESE LARGE VESSELS.

BUT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS DIDN'T DO THIS JUST ON HIS OWN.

HE HAD A FRIEND THAT OWNED A LOT OF LAND RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA, A GUY NAMED HENRY MARIE BRACKENRIDGE WHO BECAME THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NAVAL LIVE OAKS PRESERVE.

BUT HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A TREE FARMER, HE WAS ALSO A FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE IN WEST FLORIDA.

WE'RE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS AREA IN GULF BREEZE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T NEED TO PRESERVE ANY EXTRA LAND IN THE '70 BECAUSE NOT A LOT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED AT THE TIME.

BUT NOW THE ONLY REAL AREA YOU CAN GO HIKING LIKE THIS IS RIGHT HERE AT THE NAVAL LIVE OAKS AREA.

♪ ♪ >> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EPISODE OF "LOCAL ROUTES."

I'M SUZANNE SMITH IN QUINCY, FLORIDA.

YOU CAN SEE THESE STORIES AND MORE ON OUR WEB SITE, WFSU.ORG/LOCALROUTES.

AND WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

PLUS, SIGN UP FOR OUR WFSU COMMUNITY CALENDAR NEWSLETTER DELIVERED WEEKLY TO YOUR E-MAIL.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS HAPPENING LOCALLY IN PERSON AND IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYBODY.

FOR EVERYONE AT WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

♪ MAGNOLIA TREES GREET THE SOUTHERN BREEZE IN THE LAND WHERE RIVERS WIND.

♪ SEEDS THAT SPRING UP FROM THE PAST LEAVE US TREASURES YET TO FIND.

♪ WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY ALONG THE LAND OUR FATHERS BUILT WITH HONEST HANDS -- ♪ TAKE A MOMENT NOW AND LOOK AROUND THE PARADISE WE HAVE FOUND.

♪ TAKE THE LOCAL ROUTES AND JOURNEY DOWN THE ROADS WE CALL OUR HOME ♪