Bringing spring back...

Two weeks ago, the sun was shining, crocuses were popping up in the garden and people were walking around in short sleeves. And, it was January!

Leave it to Wisconsin to bring us all back to reality in a heartbeat. Now, most places have snow on the ground, there's a thick paste of salt residue on everyone's cars and the thermometer this morning registered a brisk four degrees in Madison. After just a few days of winter, Be more Tuned In is ready for spring.

So, since Wisconsin's probably not going to give it to us anytime soon, WPT is coming to the rescue with the 14th-annual Garden Expo, Feb. 9, 10 and 11 in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Prepare to smell, see and touch all of the wonders of spring with more than 200 exhibitors offering the latest and greatest in gardening, lawn and landscaping merchandise, services, advice and technology. Walk through an amazing central garden display that brings a bountiful landscape inside. Take part in any of the more than 100 educational seminars or dozens of hands-on workshops. Also, take the opportunity to meet Shelley Ryan, the host of The Wisconsin Gardener.

Tickets will be available at the door for $7, but if you act soon, you can save money by purchasing your tickets in advance from this secure Web site or any of these retail locations.

There also are still some volunteer opportunities available for the event. to learn more about how you can help out, visit this page.

As we get closer to the event, keep your eyes on Be more Tuned In for a special behind-the-scenes look at how much work goes into creating a land of plant, grass and landscape pavers inside a giant 100,000-square-foot hall.

WPT thanks it's event funders -- WLCA and Blain's Farm & Fleet.