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Bill Arndt holds up two of his hand-crafted birdhouses.

After a four-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Racine Garden Center is putting together its biannual Summer Magic Garden Tour (racinegardenclub.org/summer-magic-garden-tour1.html). A Union Grove area farm, two Mount Pleasant gardens and a Racine yard were chosen to have their organic artistry featured in self-guided walking tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $10 "at the door" of each garden.

"What is fun and interesting about working with the tour garden owners is to see them blossom as they take care and pride in preparing for the big day. They change, embellish and/or enhance their already beautiful and unique gardens,” wrote Carolyn Seeger, co-chair for the 2022 Summer Magic Garden Tour, in an email. “We see these special people put their whole selves into their work for this event. We couldn't do the tour without people like them who are willing to share their passion for gardening with the members of the Racine Garden Club and the Summer Magic Garden Tour attendees."

Gardeners: Bill and DeDe Arndt

MOUNT PLEASANT — Bill Arndt had his current home built in 2005. He had been an avid gardener since he first lived on his own in the mid-1970s. Arndt took it upon himself to make his garden look nice after he had his house built, and he has not stopped since.

Arndt’s garden features several ornamental trees like seven son flowers, Japanese lilac, Japanese maples and a few Cleveland pears.

Arndt prides himself in growing everything in his garden, as well as building several of its features himself.

Bill Arndt admires his handbuilt pergola.

The different parts of his garden can be taken in from his hand-built pergola, a type of patio shading made with wooden slats. Other handmade items in Arndt's garden include a woodshed, and handcrafted and painted birdhouses, which Arndt also sells.

Bill says his wife, DeDe is more into admiring the garden from the patio and pergola.

“She’s more of the supervisor,” Bill joked. "She likes sitting on the patio, so I want to fix it nice for her.”

Carrie Bergs inspecting a tree branch

Carrie Bergs walks toward her rose garden. 

But before his days in the Air Force, Teddy Bergs, Pictured, planted a pine tree seed in the yard in the spring of 1995. Today, that tree stands among the many on the farm, Carrie says that it reminds her of a tree that would be found in the Hobbit Forest. “We used to hang Christmas lights on it but we can’t do it anymore,” Carrie said.

The original name given to the farm by the Skewes Family, Chibarlys, is Cornish for “house across the meadow.” the Bergs honor the Skewes family with this stone, which Carrie painted herself.

Bill Arndt holds up two of his hand-crafted birdhouses.

Bill Arndt admires his handbuilt pergola.

A Garden Gnome keeps watch over Bill Arndt's Garden.

Mary Terselic found a set of topiaries at an estate sale a few years back, and she just had to have them for her patio that was currently under construction. After finding someone to finally help her get the two 70-pound sculptures in her car, Mary made sure two pillars were added to her patio to hold them.

Elliot is a stray cat that finds comfort in Mary's garden from time to time.

A statue of a boy riding a fish used to be apart of Mary Terselic's mother's garden. Now, it sits in hers, so a apart of her mother is always with her.

Mary Terselic replaces one of the shrubs in her garden with a new one Tuesday morning. Terselic attributed the original shrub not surviving to the lack of snow and hotter climate the past season.

The deck of the Juliano’s yard is surrounded by dozens of pots on stands, a collection that Marry Ellen has acquired over the years from different rummage sales and discounted at different plant stores.  "i want to be aurrounded," Mary Ellen said.

While the Juliano's garden is filled with many of Mary Ellen's hand crafted artwork, a stain glass picture of a pelican is one of the first things to greet visitors to the home.

Mary Terselic stands under a crabapple tree in her garden, surrounded by decorative orbs and a roosting nest.

Mary Ellen Juliano, Right, and her husband Len sit on the deck of their Mount Pleasant home.

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Raised just outside of Mchenry, Illinois, Alex is a business reporter and a photographer for The Journal Times. He considers himself a Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen all-in-one. Alex is a graduate of SIUC in Carbondale, Illinois. Twitter:@arodatjt

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And on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled against the city in a piece of the case.

"He was the best dad ever."

The Racine Police Department is investigating the shooting death of a 21-year-old man that occurred Monday night on the city's south side.  

Twin Mount Pleasant brothers face charges for selling drugs and allegedly had more than seven-tenths of a kilogram of marijuana as well as a ghost gun in their home.

A 36-year-old died on Saturday, July 9, after a jet ski accident on Lake Beulah in Walworth County, according to the Town of East Troy Police Department.

As he was led away, William Q. Howell repeated to his father in the courtroom gallery, "I'm sorry Dad. I'm sorry Dad. I'm sorry Dad."

A second Racine man faces an attempted homicide charge for allegedly shooting a 16-year-old on March 20 on Racine's north side in what authorities are calling "an attempted execution" that was captured on video.

The Racine Police Department believes the shooting is a case of mistaken identity, with the shooters believing the teenager was a Northside For Life gang member even though he is not actually affiliated with any gang.

Police also have asserted that the March 20 shooting was intended to be in retribution for the March 13 killing of 14-year-old Eugene Henderson. According to court documents, both of the men charged in the March 20 shooting were wearing clothing in tribute to Henderson when they were arrested and police asserted that those charged believe the NFL gang was responsible for Henderson's death.

A Racine man was reportedly found passed out drunk in his truck after a crash and was later charged with his fifth OWI after nearly hitting another car.

Caledonia is continuing to move to fill empty land with new high-end housing along and near the lakefront.

The Willkomm family will be opening a new Rocket Wash location in Mount Pleasant in late 2022.

Bill Arndt holds up two of his hand-crafted birdhouses.

Bill Arndt admires his handbuilt pergola.

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