Morris Area Garden Club has had a very successful and productive 2010.  Become a member of MAGC so that you
won't miss out on anything else!

We started in January with three mini-programs.  Pam Coley spoke about natural air fresheners, Barbara Hildy brought
some of her beautiful art work and Carrington Flatness, our first scholarship recipient, spoke about her first semester
at JJC and her classes in horticulture and floral arranging.  She showed us some of her silk arrangements. We
inducted Phyllis Dew into the MAGC treasurer position.  We voted to change the MAGC fiscal calender from April to
January through December for tax purposes.  MAGC donated 22 cans of meat products, such as tuna, SPAM, Vienna
sausages, etc. to We Care.

David Woodruff from W & M Land Corp. in Woodstock, IL was the speaker at the February meeting.  David has an
organic nursery that specializes in plant starts and vegetables.  We welcomed Carol Posey as our newest member to
MAGC.  We collected 7 boxes of pancake mix, 8 bottles of syrup and 6 jars of jelly for We Care.

March brought us award winner, Harry Peterson, a beekeeper from Aurora, who talked about "Life as a Beekeeper".  
Harry had honey and honey products for sale after the meeting.  We collected and donated 18 boxes of assorted
oatmeal for We Care.  We welcomed Craig and Kathy Williamson, winners of the Grundy County Environmental Fair
membership raffle.

April had Janet and Steve Erio from Moon and Stars Soaps.  They spoke about herbs and plants they grow and use in
soap making.  Janet is demonstrated a salt scrub for gardening hands and everyone was able to take a sample home
with them.  We held our first Rt. 47 IDOT clean up this month with 8 members helping out.   We welcomed Floyd and
Debbie Clark as our newest MAGC members.   We voted to amend our bylaws and the motion was passed.  
Carrington Flatness was our winner and only candidate for the 2010 MAGC Scholarship.  We collected 31 cans of soup
for We Care.

The May meeting began our summer hours and Margo McIntyre led the program with her slides of flora and various
gardens she has visited and photographed.  She explained how  to take great photos of our gardens using our own
cameras.  We also held our annual spring plant exchange.  We collected several packages of toilet tissue (totaling 61
rolls) for We Care and $25 to be donated to the World Wildlife Fund.

June was a busy month for MAGC.  We had no regular monthly meeting due to everyone working so hard on the garden
walk.  Approximately 281 guests toured the ten gardens on the walk.  Paul and Diane Sprole, Margie and Dave
This page last updated 02/01/11.
Hunnewell, Rob and Nicole Chaplin, Scott and Debbie Sanders, Tom and Sarah Sayers, Betty Melick, Judy Stemen and Carol Williams were
welcomed as new MAGC members.

In July we enjoyed our annual "mini-tour" of members' gardens.  This year we began in Emmett and Bonnie Joneson's garden then to Pam
Coley's, Ginny Bellamy's and ended at Kevin Ballard's to tour his garden and had refreshments.

August brought our annual field trip.  This year we car pooled to the gorgeous Fabyan Japanese Gardens in Geneva then enjoyed a
scrumptious lunch in the gazebo at Mill Race Inn.  Our second Rt. 47 IDOT clean up for 2010 was accomplished with 6 members enduring the
heat that early morning.

September began the fall/winter meeting hours as we moved back into our regular meeting place at New Community Christian Church at 705
E. Washington St. in Morris.  Nancy and Larry Christian, from Redbud Creek Farm, brought many native plants and there topic was, "Using
Natives, Why and How".  The plants were offered for sale after the meeting.  We had our annual autumn produce exchange.  We donated 15
cans of soup to We Care.  

The October meeting had Carrington Flatness demonstrating floral arrangement techniques she has learned at JJC.  She crafted a faux
pumpkin with wheat, leaves, nuts and flowers and it was raffled off after the meeting.  MAGC collected and donated 13 cans of soup, 2 jars of
jam, a box of oatmeal and 6 cans of tuna to We Care.

November brought us "Fairy Gardens" by Debbie Sanders of Fairytopia Creations.  Debbie brought her portable fairy garden for us to enjoy and
had fairy houses, windows, doors, porches and many miniature "fairy" items for us to purchase to begin our own fairy garden.  We collected 19
cans of fruit and 11 cans of vegetables and 3 cans of soup for We Care.

December always brings our annual potluck and Yankee Swap game.  Dr. David Bainbridge DVM joined us again this year and brought his
Peregrine Falcon, Nijji Benay, and several Koi.  Dr. Bainbridge once again discussed pesticides and human greed as dangers to birds and
other wildlife, but his main topic was Koi and pond care.   We collected 2 boxes of oatmeal, 2 cans of soup and 5 cans of vegetables for We
Care of Grundy County.  Our last Rt. 47 IDOT clean up was cancelled due to 6 inches of snow.

A new schedule is in the works for 2011 Upcoming Events  and promises to be just as rewarding, educational and fun as 2010.  Guests are
always welcome at our meetings.  For information regarding meetings or MAGC, please contact us.

Come grow with us!
MAGC 2010 Year in Review
You are listening to Thomas
Newman - All that Love is About.