Originally, from North Carolina, Maria Wolfe has lived in Florida for more than 45 years.  Married to Jim Wolfe, they have three daughters, a son-in-love, and two grandsons.  After attending Elon University, Maria enjoyed working  for SunTrust/Truist for 16 years as a Vice President in Corporate Cash Management.  She left corporate America to raise her family and then reentered the work force by becoming the Registrar for the private school where her daughters attended.  She likes to say that she has worked with individuals two most cherished assets:  Their children and their money.

Upon retiring, Maria joined the Wellington Garden Club to learn about cultivating plants in South Florida.  She furthered her education by attending Tropical Short Courses and becoming an NGC Gardening School Consultant.  Her love of children led her to become a volunteer at Wekiva Youth Camp and her passion for gardening led her to serve as President of the Wellington Garden Club from 2021-2023.  During her presidency, the Club won the Nell Coe Award for increased membership and Maria earned the FFGC Leadership Award - #3. 

During 2023-2025, Maria served as District Director for District X, where she started two new Garden Clubs and traveled over 3,000 miles visiting Clubs within the District’s seven counties.  She finds great joy in getting to know the members of FFGC and feels encouraged by meeting educated, talented and authentic people who share her love of  gardening, the environment and floral design.  This encouragement has inspired her to serve on the FFGC Board of Directors. 

Maria also serves as a Poll Worker and volunteers with EagleWatch and the  Nursery at her church. 

Jana Purvis Walling has been a member of Tallahassee Garden Club for 30+ years. She has been Chairman of the Jasmine Circle during several terms and Circle Treasurer for numerous years. Jana served as President of Tallahassee Garden Club 2009-2011, and served as its Treasurer for three years preceding her term as President. She has been on the FFGC Board since 2011, serving as SEEK Finance until 2015, and then serving as Scholarship Endowment Chair until 2015. She is currently serving on the FFGC Finance Committee and has been since the beginning of the 2015-2017 term. She serves as Treasurer of the District III Flower Show Judges and served as FFGC Recording Secretary during the 2017-2019 term.

Jana has served as a member of the Board of Goodwood Museum and Gardens, Inc., a Tallahassee house museum and gardens. She served as Chair of the Board during 2013-2015. Jana has also served as a member and Treasurer of the Friends of Maclay Gardens, a support group for the Alfred B. Maclay State Park. She assists University Lutheran Church and Student Center with their payroll and tax filing. Jana is a graduate of Florida State University and was a Florida Certified Public Accountant for over 30 years. She retired from State of Florida government after 32 years of service. She and her husband Ken have two grown sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and two adorable grandsons.

Rosita was born in Santiago, Chile. Her working career began as a legal secretary for a law firm and later in the accounting departments of several insurance companies. She relocated to Coral Gables, FL in 1980 and studied English at the University of Miami before moving to Villanova, PA.

In 2003 as a member of The Garden Club of Stuart, her gardens were included within two garden tours. Her gardens received FFGC, NABA and Monarch Watch butterfly certification and, most recently NGC Wildlife Habitat Certification.

Rosita has served on the board of the Garden Club of Stuart for 20 years in various capacities including as 1^st VP and President. She has received Pillar of Pride, Earth Stewardship and Hall of Fame honors. She served as District X Blue Star Chair, FFGC Blue Star Chair, Deep South Blue Star Chair, and served on the FFGC Bylaws Committee from 2021-2025. She is a Life Member of FFGC, of Deep South Garden Clubs and of NGC. In 2024 she became an NGC Accredited Life Judge. She is a member of the Audubon Society and the Native Plant Society.

Rosita has travelled extensively, having visited all 7 continents. And when not working in her own garden, which includes award-winning Bromeliads, she enjoys volunteering at gardens in the community including at a local Audubon property.

Blanca moved to Miami, Florida when she was 15 years old, coming from New Jersey, Puerto Rico & Cuba.  As a  University of Miami student, she completed her B.A. in Politics & Public Affairs/Foreign Languages. She worked her way through college employed with several airlines, and as an interpreter in Immigration/ Customs, at Miami International Airport (Dade County Aviation Department).  For 26 years in the Miami Dade Police Department she held various positions, the last 15 as a detective in CID, Robbery Division.

Blanca ’s mother and grandmother, both avid gardeners, inspired her interest in exploring all phases of gardening.  She was happy to become active with the Garden Club of Fort Pierce, serving as recording secretary, and president (2018-20, 2024 to present) and was a recent recipient of the Pillar of Pride award. 

She is also completed the Master Gardeners program.

After participating in educational opportunities with FFGC membership, Blanca dedicated time to take office as District X recording secretary for the last two administrations.  She is also a member of the Fort Pierce Orchid Society (vice president, recording secretary), Treasure Coast African Violet Society (recording secretary) and Fort Pierce Art Club (vice president).

Blanca calls “Art” her meditation and although she dabbles in various  forms, working with clay is her passion.  No wonder she especially enjoys creating floral designs!

Linda was born and raised in West Palm Beach and enjoyed a career with AT&T and Southern Bell as an Electronics Technician. She was always interested in gardening, so after retiring and moving to Steinhatchee in 2000, she sought to learn about the North Florida garden. Shortly after joining the Steinhatchee Garden Club, she became First Vice President, then President. She has served on most of the committees and held every officers position in her club at least once. She has taken the Master Gardeners course and had the first yard in Taylor County certified as a Florida Friendly Yard. After her husband passed away in 2016, she was asked to become District Director. She readily agreed and has fallen more in love with FFGC.

Linda had been secretary of HOG (Harley Owners Group) for 3 years in West Palm Beach and also served as secretary of the Steinhatchee Community Projects Board for 10 years. 

As well as getting her hands dirty in the garden, she enjoys working with the local PAWS (Pets Are Worth Spaying) where she has been a member for the past nine years. Linda has been adopted by FIVE kitty fur babies who have showed up on her doorstep over the years. Occasionally, she finds enough free time to ride her Harley.