‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—SEPTEMBER 2015
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
HUGE SHIPMENT OF HOUSEPLANTS HAS ARRIVED!
Arriving Soon . . . The Spring Bulbs!!
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ Is Ready for Your Questions
Check Out Our End of Season Savings
Introducing a New Floral Designer to Klein’s
You Asked the Mad Gardener About Plants for Sandy Soil
Wisconsin Ranks as an Agricultural Giant
Easy, At-home Fixes for Everyday Ailments
Plant of the Month: Vegetables for the Fall Garden
Our Very Favorite Rasted & Grilled Eggplant Salad Recipes
Product Spotlight: New Houseplants from Brenda’s Tropical Plants
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—from August 2015
—Living with a Black Walnut
—Who’s Who in the Milkweed Patch
—Simple Outdoor Fountain Upkeep
September in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
Join Klein’s Blooming Plant or Fresh Flower Club
Delivery Information
Related Resources and Websites
Plants Harmful to Kids and Pets
Our 2015 semi-load of houseplants has arrived! Quality and selection are now at their peak. Some of our more interesting items include a selection of air plants, braided sanseveria, pitcher plants, birds-of-paradise, assorted citrus and unique succulents, in addition to indoor tropicals in all shapes and sizes.
enjoy these end of season savings:
50% OFF all remaining Perennials, Shrubs, Hardy Vines & Potted Fruits.
50% OFF all remaining Garden Tropicals-Choose from Bananas, Mandevilla, Passion Vine, Cannas and much more. All are easily overwintered indoors.
Buy One, Get One Free on all remaining Summer Annuals.
(Sales do not apply to fall annuals, vegetables, mums or mixed fall containers)
THE MAD GARDENER
“Madison’s Firsthand Source for Expert Gardening Advice”
Ask any of your gardening questions by e-mailing them to us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. We’ve also posted a link to this e-mail address on our home page for your convenience. Your question might then appear in the “You Asked” feature of our monthly newsletter. If your question is the one selected for our monthly newsletter, you’ll receive a small gift from us at Klein’s. The Mad Gardener hopes to hear from you soon!
Sorry, we can only answer those questions pertaining to gardening in Southern Wisconsin and we reserve the right to leave correspondence unanswered at our discretion. Please allow 2-3 days for a response.
Please note that our Mad Gardener is not only an expert gardener, but can answer all of your indoor plant questions as well.
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS OR GARDEN TOURS that you would like posted on our web site or in our monthly newsletters, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com or Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Our readership is ever-growing so this is a great opportunity for free advertising. Events must be garden related and must take place in the immediate Madison vicinity.
SEPTEMBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Open Labor Day, Monday, September 7: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Week of September 6–Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and much more arrive for fall planting. We suggest that you hold off planting spring bulbs until the weather cools in October. But shop early for best selection!
And a reminder that fall is the very best time to plant and divide iris and peonies. We carry an excellent selection of reblooming iris rhizomes.
September 7–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00
September 13–Grandparents’ Day
September 14–Rosh Hashanah
September 23–Fall Begins
September 23—Yom Kippur
September 27–Full Moon
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
In the past few months a few changes have occurred in Klein’s floral department. In response to our our head designer, Kathy Lehman, going part-time, Klein’s is happy to announce the addition of Darcy Loy to Klein’s talented team of designers.
Darcy has extensive design experience, having most recently worked at J. Kinney, Florist on Monroe St. here in Madison before they closed shop this past June. Darcy’s design skills and focus on perfection are a welcome addition to the Klein’s team. Not only is Darcy an accomplished floral designer, but has expertise in landscape design and comes to us with garden center experience. An Illinois native, Darcy now resides in the Deerfield area. Along with Sue Klein and Kathy, Darcy is sure to make your experience with Klein’s floral department a satisfying one.
YOU ASKED THE MAD GARDENER . . .
Hello, I have a large scale landscaping project. There is top soil, but underneath is nearly 100% sand. I would like to plant evergreen shrubs and larger foundation plantings, but am wondering how well they’ll survive once their roots hit the sand.
Thoughts? Pam
Hi Pam,
Is the top soil layer a thin layer or a thick layer? The reason I ask is that if it’s a thick layer (12-18″), you should be fine in that most conifers and shrubs are shallow rooted with the majority of their roots spreading out just below the surface. Unlike some plants, they don’t form deep taproots.
The following is a list of shrubs that are very tolerant of sandy soil.
As for evergreen shrubs, junipers are your best bet. They thrive in dry and infertile soil. Dwarf spruces and dwarf mugo pines are also good choices. Stay away from arborvitaes and yews. Both require moisture retentive soils to thrive.
Other shrubs that are very tolerant of sandy soils include: barberry, privet, flowering quince, shrub roses, potentilla and buddleia. Many natives are also very sand tolerant, i.e. viburnum, serviceberry, etc.
Avoid hydrangeas!! They require moist, rich soil in order to survive.
As for perennials, the list is too long to mention here. It’s best to google a list of sand tolerant plants for southern Wisconsin or plants for dry locations. Many of our native prairie plants would fit the bill, including: yarrow, echinacea, liatris, rudbeckia, etc., along with salvias, daylilies, catmint, and so many more.
Thanks for your question,
Klein’s Mad Gardener
madgardener@kleinsfloral.com
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that Wisconsin ranks among America’s top agricultural states? Here are some interesting facts:
Did you know?
-Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for organic milk sales, with $85 million.
-Wisconsin ranks second behind California in the number of farms transitioning to organic farming.
-Wisconsin leads the nation in the number of organic dairy and beef farms. Wisconsin also ranks first for the number of farms raising organic hogs and pigs, layer chickens and turkeys.
-Wisconsin ranks third in the U.S. in the number of organic vegetable and melon farms.
Wisconsin Ranks…
First in…
-Cheese: 2.7 billion pounds
-American cheese: 829 million pounds
-Dry whey for humans: 289 million pounds
-Muenster cheese: 52 million pounds
-Corn for silage: 14.2 million tons
-Cranberries: 4.83 million barrels
-Mink pelts: 1,051,000 pelts
-Snap beans for processing: 318,000 tons
-Carrots for processing: 119,000 tons
-Milk goats: 46,000 head
Second in…
-Milk: 27 billion pounds
-Italian cheese: 1.4 billion pounds
-Mozzarella cheese: 951 million pounds
-Oats: 7.8 million bushels
-Milk cows: 1.27 million head
Third in…
-Potatoes: 29 million per hundred weight
-Forage (cattle feed): 6.6 million tons
-Sweet corn for processing: 586,000 tons
-Green peas for processing: 73,000 tons
Fifth in…
-Christmas trees: 1.8 million trees harvested annually
-Cucumbers for pickles: 30,000 tons
-Mint for oil: 291,000 pounds
Wisconsin’s Top Commodities…
- Milk: $5.2 billion
- Corn: $2.2 billion
- Cattle and Calves: $1.2 billion
- Soybeans: $908 million
- Potatoes: $248 million
***6. Greenhouse and Nursery: $241 million***
- Cranberries: $230 million
- Wheat: $141 million
- Hogs: $133 million
- Broilers: $108 million
Wisconsin Leads the Nation in Export of:
-Cranberries, prepared and preserved: 47.36% • Flax seed: 45.1%
-Durum wheat: 43.43%
-Ginseng roots, fresh or dried: 37.07%
-Sweet corn, prepared or preserved, not frozen: 36.99%
Wisconsin’s Top 10 Agricultural Exports
- Beverages, including ethanol: $400 million
- Miscellaneous edible preparations, such as yeasts, processed food ingredients and mustards: $290 million
- Dairy, eggs, honey, etc: $282 million
- Bakery related: prepared cereals, flours, starches and milks (not dairy): $220 million
- Preserved food (such as canned and frozen vegetables): $200 million
- Unmilled cereals, such as wheat, rye, oats and corn: $184 million
- Miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, such as soybeans, flaxseed and ginseng: $178 million
- Raw hides, raw skins and leather (no furskins): $156 million
- Prepared meat, fish, etc: $140 million
- Other raw animal skins: $120 million
Top Export Markets
-Canada, $1.45 billion
-Mexico, $217 million
-China, $177 million
-South Korea, $134 million
-Japan, $106 million
Where Does Your Food Dollar Go?
Farmers receive an average of 16 cents of every retail dollar spent on food in grocery stores and restaurants. In 1980, farmers received 31 cents out of every retail dollar spent on food in America. The remaining off-farm costs (marketing expenses associated with processing, wholesaling, distributing and retailing of food products) account for 84 cents of every retail dollar spent on food.
Source: The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation @ www.fdlac.com/sft895/wisconsinfarmfacts2014_web.pdf
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach.
ENTRY: AUGUST 20, 2015 (Living with a Black Walnut)
I both love the huge black walnut in my yard and I despise it! I love this Wisconsin native for it’s beautiful shape, longevity and the way it moves in even the slightest breeze. It has a very exotic look to it. In addition, it cools the screenhouse under its huge canopy.
The list of why I hate it, however, is a bit more impassioned: it’s messy in spring, it’s messy in summer, it’s messy in fall, it’s messy in storms–it’s an all around messy tree!
In the springtime it drops smelly, catkin-like flower parts. But in the summer, it’s those nuts!! The nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts!!!! Picture the Grinch and those drumsticks beating against his temples! The nuts are a favorite food for squirrels and once the nuts reach a certain size, the squirrels not only break them apart up in the tree; raining bits of black staining hulls and very sharp bits of shell all over the yard and gardens; they also bombard me with whole nuts!! Sometimes I’m certain the squirrels know I’m right under them when they release a nut to the ground. Each morning I’m awakened as the heavy nuts bounce off the garage, screenhouse and neighbor’s roofs, smashing any plants on which they land. Hostas, elephants ears and bananas are riddled with holes as the falling nuts pierce right through them. I sweep the patio and decks daily lest the nut casings leave their tarry, black stains. Some say the smelly nuts remind them of turpentine.
Then in the fall comes the leaf drop. They’re not just ordinary leaves, but the individual parts of the leaves and petioles that all separate into individual pieces. Raking can be tedious and difficult and because the leaves (or parts of leaves) are small they easily clog gutters and downspouts.
Yes, I love this tree and can’t imagine the yard without it!
ENTRY: AUGUST 21, 2015 (Who’s Who in the Milkweed Patch)
For the past few weeks I’ve seen many a female monarch laying her eggs on the common, swamp and annual milkweeds throughout my yard. She lays a single white egg on the underside of milkweed leaves. But to date, I have yet to see a single caterpillar this season.
In addition, I’ve found that instead of monarch caterpillars, I have tons of fuzzy black, white and orange caterpillars on nearly every plant plant. Then in just the last few days I’ve found clusters of orange, aphid-like insects inhabiting many of the plants. Unlike regular aphids these giant “aphids” scurry right back to the plant when knocked to the ground.
What are all these strange creatures inhabiting the milkweed in my garden and are they harming my monarchs? Time for a web search!
Who’s Who in the Milkweed Patch?
Paper Wasp
Although the adults feed on nectar, the larvae of this insect are carnivorous. They only eat moth and butterfly caterpillars, including monarchs!! The adults do not attack their prey by stinging. Instead, they repeatedly bite the caterpillars until they are a manageable size, and then carry pieces back to the paper nest to feed their hungry young.
Tachinid Fly
This clear-winged, brown-eyed organism is a parasite of moths and butterflies, including monarchs!! The adult lays its eggs on the caterpillar. When the egg hatches, the maggot burrows through the caterpillar’s skin and feeds on its internal organs. The monarch caterpillar dies as the larva of this insect emerges.
Aphids
These tiny insects have plump, pear-shaped bodies. They feed by sucking plant juices, and they excrete droplets of a sugary waste product called honeydew. Large numbers feed together in colonies. They are often called plant lice. When these insects are abundant they can damage the milkweed plant.
Milkweed Tussock Moth
This organism lays its eggs on milkweed in clusters of a dozen or more eggs. When they hatch, the caterpillars feed together on the same milkweed plant in groups or “colonies.” Because they feed together, the caterpillars cause noticeable leaf damage to milkweed. These caterpillars are typically found in the late summer. These are my fuzzy caterpillars.
Milkweed Beetle
This red and black herbivore eats milkweed, and is named after its host plant. Like monarchs, its coloration warns and protects this insect from predators. The toxins in milkweed provide a chemical defense. This insect belongs to the world’s largest order of insects, the Coleoptera.
Milkweed Bug
This insect’s name includes “milkweed,” the plant on which it spends all stages of its life. Like monarchs, its bold orange and black warning colors protect it from predators. This insect is classified as a “true bug,” with characteristic sucking mouthparts. Milkweed is this bug’s primary food source. However, when milkweed is scarce, it can shift from being a herbivore to a scavenger and predator.
Spider
This organism is not an insect, but it is an insect predator. It can eat a wide variety of insects, including monarchs. To feed, it injects venom into its prey. Next it pumps digestive juices that turn the prey’s body tissues into a liquid that the creature can consume by sucking. If you find an empty monarch egg, or a larva with only its exoskeleton remaining, it may have been killed and eaten by this 8-legged predator.
Source: www.learner.org
ENTRY: AUGUST 26, 2015 (Simple Outdoor Fountain Upkeep)
With company coming this weekend, there’s added incentive to get the garden into tip-top shape. Along with the regular deadheading and weeding, it’s time to get my three fountains looking and working their best. Slow water flow due to debris clogging the pump intake and algae buildup are the two most common problems that need regular attention. Here are a few simple tips to keep your outdoor fountain good working order:
How to Clean & Maintain Outdoor Fountains
by Amelia Allonsy
The sound of trickling water from a fountain adds a sense of tranquility to your outdoor space. Available in a wide range of sizes, outdoor water fountains rely on submersible water pumps to constantly circulate the water in the fountain, preventing algae buildup and stagnation. Even with a constantly running water pump, however, your fountain can accumulate mineral deposits and debris, requiring regular cleaning and maintenance to keep it operating smoothly.
- Check the water level frequently and add more water as needed, making sure to keep the water pump covered with water at all times. Use distilled water, if possible, to reduce the amount of mineral buildup in the fountain and on the water pump.
- Remove debris, such as leaves, twigs and insects, from the water several times a week, using a small net. Check the water pump to remove any debris that might clog it, preventing it from circulating water properly.
- Unplug the pump and drain the water from the fountain at least once monthly or when the water appears dirty. Most fountains have a small plug on the bottom to make draining easy, otherwise scoop or siphon the water with a piece of tubing.
- Remove the pump from the fountain and soak in a 50 percent solution of diluted distilled white vinegar to loosen tough mineral stains. Wipe the outside with a soft cloth.
- Remove the pump cover and remove any large debris from the inside with your hands. Use an old toothbrush to clean and remove small deposits of algae and mineral buildup in hard-to-reach areas. Rinse thoroughly and replace the pump cover.
- Scrub the inside of the fountain with a stiff-bristled scrub brush, hot water and mild dish detergent. If needed, use vinegar to soak off mineral stains or baking soda, which acts as a mild abrasive to loosen and lift stains.
- Rinse the inside of the fountain thoroughly, wiping with a rag to ensure the fountain walls are completely free of detergent.
- Replace the plug and fill the fountain with distilled water containing fewer minerals than tap water, if possible. For larger fountains requiring a lot of water, add a few teaspoons of chlorine bleach to tap water or treat the water with a fountain enzyme product designed to prevent mineral and algae buildup. Use only about one teaspoon of bleach for smaller fountains.
- Put the pump back in the water, plug it into an electrical outlet and turn it on to begin circulating the water.
- Drain, clean, disassemble and store your fountain indoors from early fall to spring if you live in an area with frost danger in which you can’t operate the fountain year-round.
Source: www.sfgate.com
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
We are a country divided. There are eggplant lovers, and those who absolutely cannot stand it. Hate? Really? It’s only a vegetable.
Mediterranean cultures eat lots of eggplant, and because it has a slightly meaty taste, it’s a key component of many vegetarian diets around the world. But even an eggplant lover can sympathize with anti-eggplant people. It can be wrong in so many ways. If it’s too oily (which it often is), forget about it. If it’s hidden in thick layers of mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce (eggplant parmigiana), you often can’t even find it, and when you do, it’s a slippery, greasy thing.
Cooking it at home is fraught with all sorts of conundrums: to salt or not to salt; to sauté or to bread it and fry; to peel or not peel. And so on.
The key to optimum eggplant enjoyment is simple: Buy the freshest ones you can find. That means eggplants with taut, shiny skin and ones that are firm to the touch. Look for a stem that’s still bright green. Take it home and use it quickly. Eggplant is more perishable than you might think.
And far more versatile. Isn’t it time you gave eggplant another chance?
(Ellise Pierce for the The Dallas Morning News @ www.dallasnews.com)
The following are some head-turning roasted and grilled eggplant salad recipes that may even convert the eggplant hater in your family.
(TRULY AMAZING!) ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD—From the May 2012 issue of Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food. This recipe is always a hit at family get-togethers!
3 medium eggplants (about 3 lbs.), peeling left on, cut into 1” cubes
3 TBS. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 TBS. white wine vinegar
2 more TBS. olive oil
1/2 tsp. additional salt
1/4 tsp additional pepper
1 pint halved cherry or grape tomatoes
1 cup snipped fresh basil
To roast the eggplant:
Preheat the oven to 450º. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant cubes with the 3 TBS. olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Spread onto two rimmed baking sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Roast on two shelves in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. At 15 minutes, stir and turn the eggplant cubes and switch the sheets on the shelves to ensure even roasting. Cook 15 minutes more. Remove the sheets from the oven and allow the eggplant to cool completely on the sheets (do not stir at this time).
In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar and the remaining oil, salt and pepper. Add the cooled eggplant cubes, tomatoes and basil and toss to combine. Allow to chill. Serves 6.
(TRULY FANTASTIC!) ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD—An Asian twist on the above for those who love intense flavors.
3 medium eggplants (about 3 lbs.), peeling left on, cut into 1” cubes
3 TBS. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 x 10 oz. pkg. frozen peas
3 TBS. fresh lime juice
2 TBS. vegetable oil (canola)
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1/4 tsp. additional pepper
1/2 cup chopped, roasted cashews
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
To roast the eggplant:
Preheat the oven to 450º. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant cubes with the 3 TBS. olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Spread onto two rimmed baking sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Roast on two shelves in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. At 15 minutes, stir and turn the eggplant cubes and switch the sheets on the shelves to ensure even roasting. Cook 15 minutes more. Remove the sheets from the oven and allow the eggplant to cool completely on the sheets (do not stir at this time).
Cook the peas per instructions and rinse under cold water to chill. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the juice, vegetable oil, curry powder, coarse salt and pepper. Add the cooled eggplant cubes, peas, cashews and cilantro and toss to combine. Allow to chill. Serves 6.
(TRULY NUMMY!) ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD—And yet one more twist on the above recipes; this one using Middle Eastern flavors.
3 medium eggplants (about 3 lbs.), peeling left on, cut into 1” cubes
3 TBS. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 TBS. fresh lemon juice
2 more TBS. olive oil
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 x 15 oz. can garbanzos, drained and rinsed
1 cup (4 oz.) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
To roast the eggplant:
Preheat the oven to 450º. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant cubes with the 3 TBS. olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Spread onto two rimmed baking sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Roast on two shelves in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. At 15 minutes, stir and turn the eggplant cubes and switch the sheets on the shelves to ensure even roasting. Cook 15 minutes more. Remove the sheets from the oven and allow the eggplant to cool completely on the sheets (do not stir at this time).
In a large bowl, whisk together the juice and the remaining oil, salt and pepper. Add the cooled eggplant cubes, garbanzos, feta, and mint and toss to combine. Allow to chill. Serves 6.
GRILLED EGGPLANT SALAD—A summer favorite from the pages of Cooking Light magazine from June 2007.
2 x 1 lb. eggplants cut into 1/2” slices (peeling left on)
4 cups coarsely chopped tomato
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
4 TBS. snipped fresh basil
2 TBS. red wine vinegar
2 TBS. balsamic vinegar
4 tsp. capers
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cloves minced garlic
Preheat the grill. Spray both sides of the eggplant slices with cooking spray and grill 5 minutes per side until tender. Allow to cool. Cut each slice into quarters. In a large bowl, combine the cooled eggplant with the rest of the ingredients and toss. Serves 6-8.
NATURAL NEWS–
Kitchen Rx
Easy, at-home fixes for everyday ailments—from sunburn to sore muscles.
By Karyn Repinski for Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, August 2015
For damaged, dry hair:
1 ripe avocado
2 TBS. plain yogurt
tsp. honey
Blend the ingredients in a shallow bowl to form a paste. Massage the mixture into damp hair and then cover with a shower cap or old cotton towel. Let the mixture soak in for 20 minutes, then shampoo and rinse.
For yellow teeth:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. water
Create a paste by combining. Dip a toothbrush in the paste and brush for 2 minutes @ 30 seconds per quadrant-upper right and left, then lower.
For a headache:
4 TBS. almond, grape seed or sunflower oil
a small squeeze bottle or a bottle with dropper
20 drops peppermint essential oil
Pour the oil into the bottle and then add the peppermint oil. Secure the lid and shake well. Rub a few drops into temples, forehead, neck and shoulders, avoiding the eyes.
The cooling effect of peppermint interrupts pain signals to the brain.
For bug bites:
Tea bags
Lightly dampen tea bags and store in the freezer. Place a frozen tea bag on a bug bite and allow to sit 5 minutes.
The compounds in white, green and black tea called tannins ease inflammation.
For acne outbreaks:
1 aspirin, crushed
1 tsp. water or enough to make a paste
Combine to form a paste, then use a cotton swab to dab on the blemish. Leave overnight and rinse.
Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which treats by exfoliating clogged pores and reducing inflammation.
For sunburn:
Enough plain yogurt to cover the affected area
Gently apply to sunburned skin with a soft sponge, dabbing gently. Let sit 5-10 minutes then rinse.
The proteins in yogurt have an anti-inflammatory, soothing effect.
For rough skin:
1 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup sesame, coconut or almond oil
4-5 drops favorite essential oil or 1 TBS. zest of grapefruit, orange or lemon to add scent
Mix the ingredients and spoon into a clean container with a tight fitting lid if not using immediately. Massage a tablespoon or two all over your body to gently exfoliate and moisturize then rinse. Use weekly.
SEPTEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
VEGETABLES FOR THE FALL GARDEN
Plan the Fall Vegetable Garden
by Erika Jensen for Wisconsin Gardening magazine
In the heat of July, it’s time to plan for fall. That’s one of the liabilities of our short gardening season in the Upper Midwest. But the payback for the planning is a great fall garden. I love this season, because the weeds grow slower and I can relax, harvest my vegetables and enjoy life.
Why plan a fall garden? First, frost-tolerant vegetables can extend the harvest into October or November. A surprising diversity of vegetables will survive even a hard frost, especially with a little protection. Second, you can boost your garden’s production considerably, using the same beds that were used for spring greens or other early crops. Lastly, fall brings out the flavor of many vegetables, making them sweeter and tastier.
Tips for the Fall Gardener:
Time your plantings carefully
Succession planting is the key to extending the harvest until late in the fall. While some vegetables, such as leeks and Brussels sprouts, require a full season of growing, many more mature in 50 to 70 days and need to be started in mid to late summer. Figuring out an appropriate start date is both an art and a science. Yearly record keeping can help you become more accurate.
Transplant your fall vegetables
There’s more than one reason to transplant fall vegetables. Since most of your transplants will be in their flats for about four weeks, this gives you an extra month for your spring and summer plantings to finish. It’s also a way to control the germination environment, which tends to be hot and dry this time of year. Place your flats in the shade, water them daily and most vegetables will germinate without problems. You may be surprised to learn that many vegetables that are traditionally direct-seeded, such as beets, can also be transplanted.
***Please note*** that Klein’s has already done this step for you! We have a fantastic selection of fall starter plants on hand including chard, kale, mustard and collard greens and many of our most-loved fall producing cole crops; in addition to ornamental kales and cabbages, pansies and so much more!
You’ll need to plant a few vegetables (such as carrots) directly into the garden. In order to get a good germination rate, you’ll need to provide very consistent moisture. If the weather is hot and dry, your best bet is to water daily with a soaker hose or drip-irrigation tape.
Fall insect pressure
I’d like to tell you those insects slow down in the fall, but often they don’t. I frequently have a late infestation of flea beetles in early September, which damages transplants. I’ve seen cabbage loopers make it through a hard frost to munch on broccoli as soon as the next spell of warm weather sets in. What’s a gardener to do? Make sure your plants are watered consistently to help them cope with the insect damage. You can also use spun-poly row covers as soon as daytime temperatures cool down a little.
Protection
Frost protection can go a long way toward extending the harvest. I use a double layer of lightweight spun-poly row covers to protect my plants. Even vegetables that tolerate hard frosts can benefit from row covers, since they help plants deal with the stress of temperature changes.
Anything that grows fairly close to the ground, such as beets or leeks, can be mulched with straw or hay to protect the crop and keep the ground from freezing. In both cases, you’re trapping and using the ground heat to keep your vegetables warm and cozy.
A Few Notes on Fall Crops:
Brassicas (the Cole Crops): Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi
Vegetables in this family are a great staple of the fall garden, getting sweeter and tastier with frost. Cauliflower is probably the least cold tolerant of the group, while cabbage and Brussels sprouts are the toughest.
Though brassicas can take a hard frost, alternating temperatures can be hard on them. For this reason, I often cover them with row covers.
Roots: beets, radishes, turnips, carrots
Many root vegetables are easier to grow and taste better when they mature in the cool temperatures of fall. For example, radishes won’t bolt as quickly during the short days of autumn and don’t get as spicy. Carrots and beets that mature in cool weather are sweeter and denser than those that mature during the summer heat.
Klein’s has seed available for most in stock!
For something different, try one of the new hybrid salad turnips such as ‘Hakurei’, which are intended to be harvested at a small size and eaten fresh. You’ll be surprised by how good they are.
Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, arugula, endive, mesclun, mâche
So many greens make a great addition to the fall garden and have wonderful cold tolerance. I don’t worry too much about trying to find special cold-tolerant varieties, since so many of them do just fine. You won’t need to worry about lettuce and spinach bolting as long as the weather stays cool. Arugula is best grown from September through the end of October.
Klein’s also has most of these seeds available in stock!
Flea beetles, which heavily damage the leaves in warmer weather, aren’t as much of a problem as the days grow shorter.
AROUND TOWN:
For neighborhood events or garden tours that you would like posted in our monthly newsletter, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com or Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Events must be garden related and must take place in the Madison vicinity and we must receive your information by the first of the month in which the event takes place for it to appear in that month’s newsletter. This is a great opportunity for free advertising.
GLEAM, Art in a New Light
September 2 thru October 30, 2015
Wednesdays thru Fridays from 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. rain or shine
In the gardens @ Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Definition: Gleam n. a flash of light; n. an appearance of reflected light; v. shine brightly like a star or light; v. appear briefly
This fall, Olbrich Botanical Gardens unveils GLEAM, Art in a New Light, a cutting-edge exhibition featuring site-specific art and light installations in the outdoor gardens. Local artists and professional lighting designers will collaborate to create sculptural art, featuring light as a major component in each installation.
GLEAM will be viewable daily, during regular public daytime hours in September and October. When the sun sets, the Gardens will open for extended viewing hours and art installations will be illuminated, inviting visitors to see the Gardens in a whole new light.
Admission for the general public is $12 for adults 13 & up ($10 for members) and $6 for children ages 3-12 ($5 for members). There is an additional service charge for tickets purchased on-line @ www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2019198
Tickets available at the door starting at 7 p.m. pending online ticket sales. Gardens will close to the public at 6 p.m. on evening viewing dates. Last ticket sold at 10 p.m.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Native Garden Tour:
Fall in the Native Plant Garden
Saturday, September 5, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
At the Visitor Center
Color, fruits, seeds, late blooming plants, late-season insects—we will find these and more in the varied garden around the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or uwarboretum.org/events
Community Hummingbird Garden Tours
Wednesday, September 9, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 1:00-5:30 p.m.
5118 Buffalo Trail, Madison, 53705 (near Hilldale & Oscar Rennebohm Park)
Note: People attending should be aware of the road construction on Eau Claire Avenue and may wish to approach our home from North Whitney Way and Door Drive instead.
Wisconsin’s hummingbird bander, Mickey O’Connor will be joining us again on both days and banding hummingbirds and educating people about this important process. We have 100+ plants and shrubs on display (including some rare salvias from South America and an experimental Nicotiana from Kentucky), 20 hummingbird feeders, a garden pond and a door prize drawing on each day with birding related items donated by Wildbirds Unlimited in Middleton. We will also provide printed information about hummingbird gardening.
For more info please contact Kathi or Michael Rock at kathijr@yahoo.com.
Also visit the Hummingbird Gardening in the Upper Midwest website @ www.hummingbirdgardening.net
17th Annual Fall Plant Sale
Saturday, September 12, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
At the Horticulture Center
Featuring:
- Hundreds of varieties of perennials for all garden situations
- Huge garden mums
- Spring blooming bulbs
- Shrubs
- Roses
- Bagged Compost
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885 or www.rotarygardens.org for details.
Fall Flowers in Grady Oak Savanna and Greene Prairie
Sunday, September 13, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a late summer walk through goldenrods, asters, sunflowers and gentians. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or uwarboretum.org/events
Family Walk:
Fun with Fungi
Sunday, September 13, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
This family–friendly walk is about mushrooms growing in the natural areas and wood chip mulch of the gardens.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or uwarboretum.org/events
Olbrich’s Garden’s Bulk Mulch Sale
Saturday, September 19, 9:00-1:00
Saturday, September 26, 9:00-1:00
Buy leaf mulch in bulk and save money during Olbrich’s Fall bulk Mulch sale! The shredded, composted leaves enrich soil and provide nourishment and protection for your gardens, shrubs, and trees. While applying mulch to gardens in the spring is most common, applying leaf mulch in the fall helps regulate soil temperatures during the winter, and gives the garden a head start in the spring. Bulk mulch is loose and is loaded with a tractor. Bring your own truck or trailer and Olbrich will load bulk scoops for you. Each scoop is $40 and covers approximately 350-square feet at a 3-inch depth.
Bagged mulch (@ $6.50/bag) is available daily starting September 18 while supplies last. Pay for bags at the gift shop and drive around back. Bagged sales are load-your-own with assistance loading on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00-3:00.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Native By Design:
Gardening for a Sustainable Future
Sunday, September 20, 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Using the Arboretum’s Native Plant Garden as an outdoor classroom, this one-day conference offers workshops, take-home tips, & living examples to help you develop, maintain, & improve a native plant garden. Keynote: “Wild Gardening with Art and Purposefulness,” Nancy Aten from Landscapes of Place, LLC. Registration required by Sept. 10.
Register @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/native-gardening-conference/ngc-registration/
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or uwarboretum.org/events
Crackle–Fire & Froth in the Gardens
Friday, September 25, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Be inspired by the beauty of a crisp fall evening in Olbrich’s outdoor gardens. Watch the flames from bonfires dance on the Great Lawn, groove to live music, savor a variety of tasty foods from Food Fight restaurants, and sip frothy Wisconsin micro-brews. Food and beverage offered at an additional cost.
Must be 21 years old to attend. In the case of inclement weather the event will be relocated indoors. A limited number of advance tickets are available. Additional tickets may be available the day of the event, weather permitting. Tickets are available both at Olbrich’s Growing Gifts shop or on-line beginning September 8. Ticket proceeds benefit the Gardens. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members).
Headliner: Newport Jam
2015 has been a big year for Wisconsin’s Newport Jam. They played their first shows in Florida, Minnesota, and Iowa, they hosted the 2nd annual Toodeloo Shakedown Fest, and have returned for the third summer of “Newport Jam & Friends at Mama’s Garage.” Even after all that, there’s more: the year still holds a follow-up recording to the 2013 EP “Searching for Substance,” more traveling, and more energized performances delivered to fans across Mid-West. Whether they’re rocking nostalgic favorites or new original music, get ready for even more face-melting solos and funky bass-lines that make a Newport Jam show a can’t-miss experience.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Bolz Conservatory Exhibit-Integrated Pest Management
August 10 thru October 25, 2015
Daily from 10:00-4:00, Sundays 10:00-5:00
In the Bolz Conservatory
Beneficial insects have been used in the Conservatory since it opened in 1991. These bugs provide control of plant-damaging insects, minimizing the need of more dangerous traditional insecticides. These controls, along with several others, are part of the Conservatory’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This widely accepted program strives to use the least toxic method of insect and disease control to be more environmentally sensitive. Learn about Olbrich’s environmentally friendly pest control methods and get ideas you can use to reduce or eliminate pesticide use at home.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Guided Garden Strolls
Sundays, June thru September, 1:30-3:00
Get an insider’s view of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens during a free guided garden stroll. All ages are welcome for this casual overview of the Gardens. Guided garden strolls will vary somewhat according to the season to reflect the garden areas that are at peak interest.
Strolls start and end in the lobby near the Garden entrance and are about 45 to 60 minutes in length. No registration is required; strolls are drop-in only. Strolls are held rain or shine and will be cancelled only in the event of dangerous lightning.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 18 thru November 7, 6:00-2:00
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 22 thru November 4, 8:30-2:00
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
Northside Farmers Market
Sundays, May 3 through October 18, 8:30-12:30
In the Northside TownCenter at the intersection of N. Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr. across from Warner Park.
The Northside Farmers Market is a nonprofit community enterprise. It is one of the newest and fastest growing farmers’ markets in Dane County. In keeping with the innovative spirit of Madison’s Northside, we are surpassing what defines the traditional farmers’ market. Our fundamental principles include:
–Providing an abundant selection of high quality, locally grown foods.
The market accepts Quest, WIC and Senior FMNP vouchers.
–Supporting our local agricultural entrepreneurs who are increasingly important today in ensuring that we have the best and safest food possible.
–Educating the community about traditional foods and the history of local agriculture in an attempt to preserve (and expand upon) our rich heritage.
–Promoting nutrition and the market by hosting dinners for neighborhood groups and seniors.
Parking is always FREE!
For details visit www.northsidefarmersmarket.org
SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN—A checklist of things to do this month.
___Continue sowing lettuce, endive, escarole and spinach.
___Plant garlic now! This is the best time in Wisconsin.
___Plant bearded iris rhizomes and transplant peonies.
___Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
___Apply a systemic pesticide to plants to be wintered over indoors.
___Continue planting shrubs and trees.
___Plant grass seed. September is one of the best times as nights cool.
___Aerate your lawn.
___Divide and plant perennials as desired.
___Stop deadheading perennials for winter interest, i.e. sedums, grasses, etc.
___Dig tender bulbs as the foliage yellows.
___Give the garden at least 1” of moisture per week.
___Collect seeds for next year’s garden.
___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.
___Take pictures of your garden for record keeping.
___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.
___Shop for spring bulbs, mums and pansies.
___Bring dormant amaryllis bulb indoors for 3 mo. of rest.
___Begin checking out the garden centers for spring bulb selection.
___Take cuttings of geraniums, coleus and other plants to winter over.
___Late in the month, begin planting spring bulbs, but wait as long as possible.
___Begin moving houseplants back indoors.
___Visit Klein’s—Great selection of mums, kales, cabbages, pansies & more!
Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:
For seeds:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds @ www.rareseeds.com or 417/924-8887
Burpee @ www.burpee.com or 800/888-1447
Harris Seeds @ www.harrisseeds.com or 800/514-4441
Johnny’s Select Seeds @ www.johnnyseeds.com or 207/861-3901
Jung’s Seeds @ www.jungseed.com or 800/247-5864
Park’s Seeds @ www.parkseed.com or 800/845-3369
Pinetree @ www.superseeds.com or 207/926-3400
Seeds of Change @ www.seedsofchange.com or 888/762-7333
Seed Savers @ www.seedsavers.org or 563/382-5990
Select Seeds @ www.selectseeds.com or 800/684-0395
Territorial Seeds @ www.territorialseed.com or 888/657-3131
Thompson & Morgan @ www.thompson-morgan.com or 800/274-7333
For bulbs:
Brent & Becky’s Bulbs @ www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com or 877/661-2852
Colorblends @ www.colorblends.com or 888/847-8637
John Scheeper’s @ www.johnscheepers.com or 860/567-0838
McClure & Zimmerman @ www.mzbulb.com or 800/883-6998
For plants:
High Country Gardens @ www.highcountrygardens.com or 800/925-9387
Logee’s Greenhouses @ www.logees.com or 888/330-8038
Plant Delights Nursery @ www.plantdelights.com or 912/772-4794
Roots and Rhizomes @ www.rootsrhizomes.com or 800/374-5035
Wayside Gardens @ www.waysidegardens.com or 800/213-0379
White Flower Farm @ www.whiteflowerfarm.com or 800/503-9624
Note: To receive every possible seed, plant or garden supply catalog imaginable, check out Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogs @ www.gardenlist.com. Most catalogs are free and make for great winter reading!
BEHIND THE SCENES AT KLEIN’S—This is a sneak peek of what is going on each month behind the scenes in our greenhouses. Many people are unaware that our facility operates year round or that we have 10 more greenhouses on the property in addition to the 6 open for retail. At any given moment we already have a jump on the upcoming season–be it poinsettias in July, geraniums in December or fall mums in May.
IN SEPTEMBER:
—The poinsettias continue grow and thrive in our back greenhouses. They’re almost ready to bring into our retail greenhouses before the weather gets too cold.
—Crops arrive for winter sales: cyclamen, azaleas.
—We begin weatherizing the greenhouses for winter.
—All remaining perennials are cut back, cleaned up and put into winter storage.
—We continue stocking fall mums as they go into bloom. We’ll continue to have a good selection into November.
—Ordering plants for spring 2016 is going on fast and furious. Our growers order early to ensure best selection. They pore over stacks of catalogs containing the newest plant material for 2016.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT—Each month we spotlight some product that we already carry or one that we’ve taken note of and plan to carry in the near future. Likewise, if you would like to see Klein’s to carry a product that we don’t currently, please let us know. Our goal is to be responsive to the marketplace and to our loyal clientele. If a product fits into our profile, we will make every effort to get it into our store. In addition, we may be able to special order an item for you, whether plant or hard good, given enough time.
New Houseplants from Brenda’s Tropical Plants of Boca Raton, Florida
You may already know that Klein’s is your one-stop, full service florist for any occasion and serving most of Dane County. But being a greenhouse, we also offer an amazing year round selection of blooming plants and houseplants. Whether a housewarming gift, a “thank-you” blooming plant, a condolence peace lily or a potted plant for dorm, home or office, we can fill your needs.
Each August we receive a semi-load of plants in all shapes and sizes fresh from Florida growers. Selection ranges from the smallest plants for terrariums and dishgardens, to tropical trees, to succulents and cactus. Overnight, our greenhouses become a lush, tropical jungle. Our knowledgeable staff will help select the perfect plant for any location and occasion, offering care tips and sound advice. We also have an excellent selection of pottery and baskets to complement any decor. Purchase a pot from us and we’ll pot up your plant for free (time permitting).
New items in our 2015 shipment include:
Sanseveria Cylindrica Flat Braid—
Sansevieria cylindrica plant is also known as Snake Plant, African Spear or Spear Sansevieria. The plant consists of strong green round leaves that are various shades of green. This braided version is a happy low maintenance houseplant that will thrive in most indoor conditions and makes for an interesting novelty item.
‘Silver Satin’ Scindapsis—
Satin Pothos is just as easy to grow as its relative, golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Keep it warm and take care not to overwater this house plant. Cold drafts and soggy soil are two things it won’t tolerate. Big, heart-shaped leaves are dark-green and splashed with silvery gray, giving them a satin sheen. Its compact growth habit makes Scindapsus pictus a beautiful hanging basket plant.
‘Starlight’ Ficus benjamina Hanging Baskets—
A delightful variety of the ever popular evergreen, weeping fig bearing cascading branches of shiny green and white pointed, oval, variegated leaves.
‘Amstel King’ Ficus alii Braided Satandards—
This ficus variety has long, banana-shaped leaves. The large, leathery, fast- growing foliage has a lush tropical appeal. This plant has similar growth habits to Ficus alii, but has many wider, thicker and somewhat larger leaves. During active growth periods, growth tips are a very pronounced pink to red that contrasts beautifully against the broad, shiny leaves. ‘Amstel King’ holds its foliage extremely well indoors.