The once-fresh Noble Fir may be on the compost pile; those shiny ornaments may be safely packed away; and perhaps someone in your household is grumbling about how much space Christmas decorations take up in the garage, but our December meeting Raffle Winner is still celebrating her surprise basket win.

It took a bit of nudging, but we did it! It might have been a baby step rather than a leap, but December 8th marked the first Zoom meeting for Mill Creek Garden Club. Oh my, I cannot tell you how great it was seeing all those smiling faces. We laughed about makeup or lack thereof, casual or formal attire, and long or short hair.

The Mill Creek Garden Club Board threw down the challenge to our members with a “Thanks for Giving” food drive to benefit families served by the Mill Creek Community Food Bank.

The club donated 1,095 pounds of goods, besting last year’s total of 600 pounds.

Perhaps from childhood memories, current cravings, or just to follow the guidelines of the Mill Creek Community Food Bank, Mill Creek Garden Club ran a members’ September PB&J Drive which netted 120 jars of peanut butter and 50 jars of jam/jelly.  

In late July 2020, Pam Brandon, Doreen Feeley, Kathy Hamilton, and Carol Taylor set out to beautify the Mill Creek City Hall South entry garden. Although City Hall was closed, the area needed a clean-up and our volunteers were ready to do the job. 

Most Mill Creek Garden Club members would agree, no matter the state of the world, put us in a garden, toss in some wine, chocolate, and a little candlelight, and we will create a haven for the soul.

LeAnn Venn was the happy recipient of September's lovely basket—it’s the luck of the draw!

If the goal is to uplift the membership, it is working. Once again, President Lyndal Kennedy and her Mill Creek Garden Club officers conducted a random, “pull the name out of the hat” raffle for our members. Getting that surprise phone call was our lucky winner Gay Matteson.

Almost as certain as a June rain, dragonflies are a sure sign that summer has arrived. They hover and zip around our gardens in search of those pesky mosquitoes, no doubt their version of a takeout meal.