Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Happy Anniversary Mandarin Garden Club!

 Mandarin Garden Club Celebrates their 

75th Anniversary “Through the Decades”
November 8, 2020 2-5 pm

The Mandarin Garden Club is celebrating the 75th anniversary on the actual day of their 75th Anniversary on November 8, 2020.  They are celebrating history in Mandarin “Through the Decades”.

On November 8, 1945, 30 local members of the Mandarin Garden Circle joined together. This group wanted to be a non-profit organization that would help to beautify the Mandarin area.  They chose to help save and plant more live oaks along the Mandarin Road. For years they cleaned areas, had bake sales and bazaars.  They helped to pay for the firetruck and learned to fight fires.  They hired a tree specialist fand planted more live oak trees. The women also used the truck to water the live oaks.

Meetings were at the Mandarin Community Club basement, the building donated by Harriet Beecher Stowe.   In 1959 the basement flooded and was not usable.  Members then met in private homes discussing gardening problems while having tea and cookies. They participated in flower shows and citrus festivals.  In 1957 there were 62 days of cold with frosts and freezes.  Citrus and flowers were damaged and there were no shows that year. 

The current Mandarin Garden Club property was purchased in May 1963 for $5,500. The mortgage was $10,595 with payments of $500 per year.  Louise Hill and Bess Perimeter signed for the mortgage without the knowledge or approval of their husbands. Plants were donated and master gardeners made demonstration gardens. Festivals were successful selling baked goods.  Many remarkable women and a few men have made the Mandarin Garden Club what it is today.  Work was done to make walkways, expand gardens, fund raising, social events, writing their cookbook and many other jobs.

The building, designated a historical landmark, has been a popular venue for weddings and events.  The Garden Club (4) Circles meet monthly along with several other non-profit organizations providing activities and lectures of interest to gardeners.  On November 7, 2020, from 9 am to 4 pm there will be a Craft Fair free and open to the community. Rental  information is on the website, mandaringardenclub.org.  It is time to see these lovely gardens in our community.


Historical information from Fredi Olson, historian
Written by Diana Openbrier