Thursday's (June 19) dedication and groundbreaking ceremony for the Lady Bird Johnson Wild­flower Garden marked the beginning of a project that has been long in the works.

Mary Ray, City of Prattville Urban Forester, expressed gratitude for the most recent do­nation received by Friends of the Garden, the nonprofit group that will oversee the garden's construction and its operation. That donation demonstrates the historic ties that existed between the former First Lady and the community she once visited every summer during her childhood. As Lady Bird explained, "Until I was about 20, summertime always meant Alabama to me. With Aunt Effie, we would board the train in Marshall and ride to the part of the world that meant watermelon cuttings, picnics at the creek, and a lot of company every Sunday."

"Sherry George's stepfather was the farm manager for the land Lady Bird's family owned in Au­tauga County," said Mary Ray. "Ms. George has assembled the collection of documents into a book which she has generously donated to the Heritage Museum. There are letters about the land, rent re­ceipts, several other topics, which she will be allowing us to reproduce."

"These letters are something else," said Prattville Mayor Jim Byard Jr. "Lady Bird Johnson had strong connections to our county, and she came back to Autauga County often." The originals of the letters will be displayed at the Heritage Museum, but a reproduction of each will be featured at the wildflow­er garden along with the replicas of the donated works of art. The original art work can be viewed at the Prattville Autauga Public Library.

Those who attended traveled to the back corner of the Auburn University Agricultur­al Experiment Station off Coun­ty Road 4 to witness the groundbreaking. Mayor Jim Byard introduced State Sena­tor "Walking" Wendell Mitchell, reminding all that Mitchell is frequently in Autauga County, and that he liked to see him coming because it usually meant he was delivering a check of some kind. Mitchell presented a $5,000 check to Mary Ray, as the chairperson of the Friends of the Garden Committee.

(From L to R) Debbie Boutelier, Don Moore, Mary Ray, Yvonne Thomas, Mayor Jim Byard, Councilman Bill Gillespie,
Councilman Mike Renegar, Senator Wendell Mitchell, Mary Anne Lovell (obscured from view), and Bob Lee

"Mary, when you mentioned that I was giving you seed money for this project, I thought that in this instance it was seed money in more ways than one," Mitchell said. "I guess you could charac­terize it both ways."

Each of the event's speakers recognized the three year effort by Bob Lee, the 81-year-old re­tired forester who has not tired in his pursuit of this project. "This project is based on the persistence of one man that's been behind us for the last three years," Ray said. "He has refused to give up, and it has paid off."

Mitchell said Lee was largely responsible for his procurement of state discretionary funds to help get the garden off the ground, or into the ground. "Bob Lee called this project to my attention several years ago, and I started searching for ways I could be a part of it," he said. "Bob is the catalyst for my inter­est in this. I am confident that it will be a reality very soon."

"As you know, Bob Lee is wor­risome sometimes to folks in the community, like the mayor," Byard said. "But I will say this: He has been very persistent. I think you could put the word 'persistent' next to Bob Lee's name. We are standing here, in many ways, because of his per­sistence and his original idea."

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jeremy Arthur, City of Prattville Urban Forester & Friends of the Garden Executive Committee member Mary Ray, Auburn University's Agricultural Experiment Station Director Don Moore, Autauga County Extension Service Coordinator Yvonne Thomas, Councilman Bill Gillespie, Councilman Mike Renegar, Friends of the Garden Executive Committee member Debbie Boutelier, Mayor Jim Byard, Jr., Friends of the Garden Executive Committee member Mary Anne Lovell, Friends of the Garden Executive Committee member Kathy Fuller, Senator "Walking" Wendell Mitchell, Friends of the Garden Executive Committee member Bob Lee

Walkways have been plowed around the entire garden, which is actually going to be comprised of 4 individual areas or "sub-gardens" and a broadcast field. The funds presented at the groundbreaking will be used for irrigation, website development, sanitation system, and the walkways for the children's and bird/butterfly gardens.

The plan calls for a budget of $150,000, including in-kind donations and cash. Because the project is not a 501(c)3 endeavor, the project comes under the Autauga Area Community Foundation, which is 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Tax deductible donations can be made to AACF and earmarked for the LBJ Garden. Friends of the Gardens is also selling bricks inscribed with the purchaser's name to help fund the project's budget. A 4"x8" brick may be procured for $35; an 8"x8" brick can be sponsored for $75; and the largest bricks, 12"x12", requires a dona­tion of $150. The group is presently seeking more members. Those interested in joining the group are urged to contact her by phone, at 358-3245, or by e-mail.