LAKE PLACID GARDEN CLUB – DISTRICT IX
HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
In March of 1952 a group of ladies began holding meetings in their homes. This group evolved into The Lake Placid Garden Club. There were 41 charter members, dues were $2.00 and the theme was “Don’t be a Litter Bug”. The first project of the club was broadcasting a garden program each Saturday morning in August on a Sebring radio station. Thirty members and ten guests attended the December 1952 meeting and three babysitters were provided to care for the children of the members.

Lake Placid Garden Club was federated in 1953, becoming a member of the Florida Federation
of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.

Over the next 60 years, the club had as many as 151 and as few as 25 members during a club year. Regardless of size, from the beginning the club has donated both manpower and money to the beautification of our community. Some of the projects have been school grounds, Oak Hill Cemetery, Stuart Park, library, post office, Masonic Lodge and North Main Avenue. The club worked with four other garden clubs to landscape the grounds of what is now Highlands Regional Hospital. In 1992 the club was instrumental in having the Blue Star Marker erected at the American Legion Post in Lake Placid.

Other community endeavors include a monthly Garden Therapy program at Lake Placid Health Care Center, Youth Gardening program at Lake Placid Library and Prison Therapy horticultural assistance at Avon Park Correctional Institution.

Our club sponsored the first campership in 1961 and the first high school scholarship in 1987. Since 2000, we have awarded $51480 to 105 Lake Placid youth for scholarships, camperships
and sponsorships.