Donna Peck was born
August 25, 1938, in Wisconsin and grew up on
an apple orchard and dairy farm. She earned a BA in Elementary and Christian
Education from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where she met and married
Richard E. Peck. For fourteen years she taught kindergarten, first grade,
remedial reading, and art. In Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, she created, managed, taught, and
directed "The Young People's Theater Workshop" at the Players Club.
Donna's interest in daylilies began when she and her husband lived in Swarthmore. One day in June they stopped at a roadside garden nursery to buy some flowers for a troublesome spot near their driveway. It was suggested they try daylilies and they were amazed to see all the various colors of daylilies this nursery had. Richard and Donna were both from Wisconsin where they had seen only orange daylilies. After buying a dozen plants, Richard decided they needed to extend all down the driveway to the main road, but they couldn't afford to buy that many. So he put an ad in the local newspaper - "Wanted. Free! Various Colored Daylilies. If they need thinning, I will dig!" A woman who saw the ad was thrilled to have someone help get her daylilies under control. Richard brought home two dozen clumps of various colors, and blistered hands. That started their addiction! Richard and Donna have taken their favorite daylilies with them whenever they have moved - Alabama, Arizona, and New Mexico..
In 1990, when Richard became University of New Mexico President, Donna found many more opportunities to use her talents. She renovated the President's House, helped with fund raising, and volunteered for various organizations - New Mexico Symphony, Art Alliance (President), Rio Grande Hospice (President), and Tingley Hospital Raspberry Festival (Chair). She created and edited the Very Special Raspberry Cookbook as a fundraiser for the hospital.
Donna joined the Albuquerque Daylily Society and American Hemerocallis Society in 1991 and established daylily beds, including a Stout Medal Awards bed at the President's House which was on tour for the 1994 Region 6 Meeting. She has served terms as President, Vice President, and Secretary as well as Chair on various committees for the Albuquerque Daylily Society. She served on the Planning Committee for the 1994 Region 6 Meeting and was Co-Chair for the 2002 Region 6 Meeting.
Donna served as Region 6 Newsletter Editor 1998-2000 and Regional Publicity Director 2002-05. She is an American Hemerocallis Society Senior Exhibition Judge and Exhibition Judges Instructor, and has judged flower shows for the Albuquerque club, Region 6, and in other Regions. She exhibits in daylily flower shows and is a frequent winner of top awards.
Her judging activities are not limited to daylilies. She has judged sewing and baking at the New Mexico State Fair since 1991 and national contests for SPAM, Ranch Dressing, and Calumet Baking Powder.
Cooking is another of Donna's talents. She studied Italian cooking in Rome, Italy, and then worked as a chef, developing recipes using fresh pasta for Pasta Natale in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. She opened and managed a successful catering service and an Italian restaurant, Primavera, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Donna considers her greatest accomplishments their two children, Laura and Mason, and three grandchildren.
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