Red Pepper Garden Club    A club that grew out of love . . . for plants and beauty Originally an offshoot of the Dirt Daubers Circle of the Winter Park Garden Club, the Red Pepper Garden Club was founded in 1951 . . . the first meeting taking place at the home of Amelia Clark.  The club became totally independent in 1954. The bylaws of the club included this statement that defined their purpose:                        The purpose of this club shall be to stimulate the knowledge                        and love of gardening among its members;                        to aid in the protection of native plants and birds;                        to encourage civic planting;                        and to participate in civic beautification programs. For 50 years, the group met on the second Wednesday of every month from October to May.  Meetings were held in members’ homes and each session usually included a gardening program. Twice a year for the first 30 years, the members would weed, prune, and plant new items at Lake Knowles Triangle and the Country Club Triangle. Later events included many Christmas-time projects in various locations around the city.  Locations included: Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Central Park, Lake Knowles (the floating tree) and the Christmas Parade down Park Avenue. In 2001, the final meeting was held at the home of Arlene Showalter and Louis Hughes.  It was the 50th anniversary of the group, and the official disbanding of the club was combined with an anniversary luncheon.     Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Notation: "Hayne's cottage: Reserection Fern on Live Oak" Date: March 1992 Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: Gathering to decorate Christmas tree in Central Park Date: December 7, 1992 Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: The Red Pepper Garden Club plot at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, FL Date: July 1994   Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: Making bows to decorate Christmas tree in Central Park Date: November 1996     Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: Decorated Christmas tree in Central Park Date: 1996 Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: Decorating the Christmas tree in Central Park Date: 1997     Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: Gathering in Central Park, displaying red pepper plants that were a gift Lee Mackin and the City of Winter Park Date: 2000 Photograph Source: RPGC Photo album Scene: RPGC sign in the Country Club Triangle. The sign reads: "All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." Date: March 1993 Booklet Contents: Lists of officers, committees, programs,  membership rolls, and by-laws. Dates: 1965-1980 Booklet Contents: Lists of officers, committees, programs,  membership rolls, and by-laws. Dates: 1994-1995 Book Title: New Pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names Notation: "Donated by Boo Stoner" Date: Copyright c1939   Article Source: City of Winter Park Update Title: "Red Pepper Garden Club Celebrates 20th Anniversary" Scene: Members of the Tree Decorating Committee presenting a check to the city for the cost of decorations used for the Christmas tree that stands in Central Park. Article Source: City of Winter Park Update Title: "A Day in Time in Winter Park History" Author: Jane Goodrich Hurst Scene: The RPGC Historic Committee donating all of their materials that document the history of the club to the Winter Park History & Archives Collection. Date: August 2001