If you weren't at the Valentine’s Tea, you should have been! Lucky gave us the option of having our tea “spiked” with Jack Daniels! And I opted! (Don’t know if it was real Jack Daniels but, my, was it tasty!) I must tell you that as I write this, we have a full-fledged blizzard going on out there—but take heart, friends—spring is right around the corner!

January 14, 2013--A bright sunny cold Winter Day Out started with a tour of the Growing Power Greenhouses. We saw all kinds of innovations and the hard work it takes to produce food locally in this "Good Food Revolution" organization. We lunched at Patische Bistro in the French style with lots of time for good socializing followed by made-from-scratch dishes with freshest ingredients. Our stop at the Outpost caused sticker shock when we realized the cost of commitment to local/ organic food. On the shelves were produce from the Growing Power Greenhouses we had just visited. No wonder most shoppers at the Outpost are members of the co-op. Word to the wise: For 2014 Winter Day Out, we'll be staying a little closer to home and spending some time amidst tropical plants.

March 11th meeting at 6:30 pm—Garden Art Workshop! Make one ladybug for yourself and one for the 2nd Treasures Garden Art and Plant Sale (2nd Treasures GAP Sale). Lucky will bring everything we need, including her expert instruction. Cost of ladybugs is $1.50 each. Susan will demonstrate her creations. Please bring samples or pictures of your favorite garden art to share. We have 2 months to make lovely things to donate to this fundraiser. This is a major part of our club responsibility and how we fund our programs and scholarships. If you enjoy the programs, please do your share to make them possible. AND PLEASE REMEMBER to wear your RGC nametags to our next meeting!

Since we will be participating at Gateway’s “Celebrate Earth Day” fair on Saturday, April 20, bring all your recycling ideas to our meeting on March 11th. Julie would like unique objects for use as planters. Please also bring any glass container with a lid that might work as a terrarium. Julie R. and Joan C. are looking for interested members who will help for at least an hour at the Gateway RGC’s Racine Campus table on April 20.

Our April Meeting is Monday, April 8, 6:00 pm, at Milaeger’s Garden Center, 4838 Douglas, Racine. Program is "Container Water Gardening" with Alex Gamblin, head of the Aquatic Plants Department at Milaeger’s. You don't have to have room for a pond to have a water feature. Alex will demonstrate how to find the right container and proper plants to make a lovely water garden no matter how small your space. Meet at Milaeger’s at 6:00. Some of the early water plants will be available for purchase.

BUSINESS

Racine Garden Club renewal forms will be sent out in March. Sharon Feller will have forms available at our meeting on Monday, March 11. Any members not present at that meeting will have the renewal forms mailed to them. Once you have the form, dues can be paid and sent to Sharon in March and April. There will be a late fee for any dues not paid by April 30. This schedule is dependent, however, on the passage of the proposed by-laws at the March 11 meeting. As we focus on membership in April, consider asking a friend, relative, or neighbor who enjoys gardening to join our wonderful Racine Garden Club. New members who know someone in the club often feel more comfortable in participating and may be more active members. 85th Anniversary Event a Success—WOW! Let’s hear it for Felder Rushing for making our 85th Anniversary event at the Golden Rondelle really special. Playing to a packed house, he made us laugh while giving insight into some deep and spiritual truths. He helped to explain why we gardeners prefer compost to couture and why we love to play in the dirt. The only problem with the program was that it ended too soon. We thank our club co-sponsors (Potpourri, 4 Seasons, Burlington, and, most of all, UWEX Dr. Patti Nagai) for making this exceptional evening possible.

Note from our President—Miss Chris! All members received the suggested updates on the bylaws. Be ready with your suggestions for changes at the March meeting. Any one not at the meeting will not get the opportunity to vote on these changes. After the bylaws have been approved, you will get the final copy for your handbook by April. The March meeting is going to be packed with business and activities, so please be on time and be ready to go!

Julie Rather and Sharon Feller are beginning to prepare for the 2014 Garden Tour (time flies!). We are compiling a list of prospective gardens to tour and evaluate this summer. We do have some possible interested gardeners who signed up at the 2012 Garden Tour. We want to know if any of you, our current members, are interested in being considered for the 2014 Garden Tour. Or, do you know of anyone's garden that we should consider? If so, please let Sharon and/or Julie know (e-mail, telephone call....) as soon as possible.

CONCERNS/JOYS
Maggie S. has offered to spearhead our 2nd Treasures GAP Sale again this year, so the “master” will be at work for us!

CALENDAR AND OTHER ENCLOSURES
See enclosures for more information and upcoming events and meeting details.

GARDENING TIP / INFO / APHORISMS
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” - Luther Burbank

SUNSHINE

If you know of a member who is ill, please contact Susan Blackwell, 552-8166 and she’ll send a card.