November 1, 2016 Newsletter

‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—NOVEMBER 2016
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com

THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Klein’s Open House Weekend! **November 18 thru 20**
Plant Your Spring Bulbs Into Early December
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ Is Ready for Your Questions
Check Out Our End of Season Savings
Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Flowers Enliven Dia de los Muertos
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked the Mad Gardener About a Sad Norfolk Pine
Spring Bulbs: Perennialize vs. Naturalize?
Plant of the Month: Cyclamen
Our Very Favorite Recipes Using Leftover Holiday Turkey
Product Spotlight: Windowsill Herbs from Silverleaf Greenhouses
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From October 2016
—A Beady-eyed Garden Visitor
—Tips for Overwintering Geraniums
—What? A Native Artichoke?
November in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Review Klein’s @: Yelp, Google Reviews or Facebook Reviews
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
KLEIN’S 2016 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE is November 19-20. Enter a winter wonderland filled with our homegrown poinsettias, holiday plants and gift ideas. Let us inspire you with our extensive collection of gift ideas and ornaments for all your decorating needs.

Receive Double Rewards Points on All Applicable Purchases (Saturday November 19 and Sunday November 20 only)! (Visit kleinsfloral.com/loyalty-program/ if you are not currently a member of our Rewards Program to sign up.)

A percentage of all sales from our Holiday Open House weekend will go towards the Badger Honor Flight.

WEEKEND EVENTS INCLUDE:
On Friday, November 18 from 5:00-8:00 join us for our HOLIDAY SNEAK PEEK SALE when everything in the store will be 30% OFF the the current price (including clearance priced merchandise)!

Enlighten your senses as you step into our warm and cozy greenhouses. The serene beauty of being in a greenhouse after dark is a truly unique experience. Surround yourself with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays!

On Saturday, November 19 and on Sunday, November 20 join us for the following workshops:

From 10:00-12:00 & from 1:00-3:00—Design & Create Outdoor Holiday Containers with fresh pine greens, branches, berries and all the traditional (and not-so-traditional) holiday baubles, bangles and beads. Oodles of pre-made containers will be available or make your own on site. Bring your own empty container(s) or purchase one of ours and we’ll get you started. This workshop is being conducted with the help of Klein’s own Sonya Kutz and Kathryn Derauf. Cost is $40 (includes evergreens, soil and design consultation) plus accessories. Please sign up on Facebook (insert link) or contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com if interested in taking part.

From 1:00-2:00—Create Your Own Miniature Garden, Fairy Garden or Terrarium. Here’s your chance to purchase pre-made miniature gardens and supplies or make your own on-site. Bring your own container or purchase one of ours. This workshop is being presented by Kathryn Derauf. No cost for soil or design consultation. Containers and plants are available for purchase. Please sign up on Facebook (insert link) or contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com if interested in taking part.

From 1:00-2:00 pm – Birch Log Decor Decorate a trio of birch logs with ribbon, permanent evergreens and accessories with floral designer Darcy Schenkel. Cost is $50. Please sign up on Facebook (insert link) or contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com if interested in signing up.

From 2:00-3:00—Growing Bulbs for Winter Blooms. Learn how to plant, grow and ensure that you will have blooming bulbs to brighten your home in the dead of winter and well into spring. Join Rick Halbach as he shares his nearly three decades of experience in forcing bulbs; including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and holiday favorites amaryllis and paperwhites. Choose from Klein’s large selection of bulbs, pots and forcing glasses for guaranteed success. Please contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com if interested in taking part. No cost for workshop. Bulbs and accessories will be available for purchase.

From 2:00-3:00 Sugar Pine Cluster – Decorate a trio of sugar cones with ribbons, permanent evergreens and accessories with Darcy Schenkel. Cost is $30. Please sign up on Facebook (insert link) or contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com.
From 3:00-4:00:
Thanksgiving Floral Centerpiece Workshop. Join owner and floral designer, Sue Klein, in Klein’s behind-the-scenes design shop in learning how to create your own stunning Thanksgiving masterpiece using long-lasting fall flowers. Once your design is complete, we’ll store it for you in our coolers, if you like, for pick-up later in the week. Cost is $35. Please sign up on Facebook (insert link) or contact Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com if interested in taking part.

AND on Sunday, November 20 from 12:00-4:00:
Holiday Family Photo Shoot. Come in with your family and/or pet for a photo in front of a beautiful, elegant Christmas display of white poinsettias and lighted trees. Julie Fix, jfixfotoworx, once again will be our photographer. Receive a free 5 x 7 and have the opportunity to purchase Christmas cards and/or additional photos. To reserve your time and for more information, contact Sue Klein at sue@kleinsfloral.com.

Holiday Open House Hours:
Friday: 5:00 pm -8:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am -5:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am -4:00 pm

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.

FANTASTIC SELECTION OF SPRING BULBS STILL IN STOCK!
We have all of your favorites–tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums–and a few not-so-well known treasures for your garden. November is the Best Time to plant your garlic and spring bulbs (planting too can early promote premature leaf growth) and nothing could be more uplifting after a long winter than crocus, snowdrops and winter aconite blossoms peeking through the snow come spring. Allow the Klein’s staff to share planting tips and ideas to keep those pesky squirrels from digging up those newly planted bulbs. And for indoor blooms, don’t forget a few hyacinths, paperwhites and amaryllis for indoor forcing. We carry a lovely assortment of forcing glasses, vases and decorative pottery. Forced bulbs make for an inexpensive and treasured holiday gift. Any bulb questions? Don’t forget our Mad Gardener @ madgardener@kleinsfloral.com!

A Reminder: Bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes . . . usually into early December. Watch for season end savings on bulbs for the garden during the month of November and as the weather cools.

NOVEMBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00

Holiday Sneak Peek Sale, Friday, Nov. 18, 8:00-8:00

Holiday Hours Begin Monday, November 28
Monday thru Friday 8:00-7:00
Saturday: 8:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00

Holiday hours run through Friday, December 23.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
The new 2017 FTD Calendar is available beginning mid-November at our checkout. These beautiful, flower-filled calendars are free. No purchase necessary.

Watch for great specials on all remaining spring bulbs. November is the perfect month for planting next spring’s bloomers. Selection becomes limited and includes daffodils, tulips, crocus and more. Sale does not include paperwhites, amaryllis, forcing hyacinths and gift boxes.

November 6–Daylight Savings Time ends

November 8–Election Day

November 11–Veterans’ Day

November 14–Full Moon

November 18 thru November 20–KLEIN’S CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAYS. Enter a winter wonderland filled with holiday plants and gift ideas. Let us inspire you with our extensive collection of gift ideas and ornaments for all your decorating needs. Free refreshments on hand and receive Double Rewards Points on all applicable purchases! See above for event details.

November 24–Thanksgiving Day (Store Closed)

November 25—Black Friday. Escape to Klein’s from the hustle and bustle of the malls and big box chain stores for a more relaxing and intimate holiday gift shopping experience. We not only carry merchandise for the gardener in your life, but many fun, interesting and unique gift ideas.

November 26—Small Business Saturday. In our appreciation for supporting our small and local business, Klein’s will give you a $20 gift on future purchases for all purchases of $100 or more.

November 28–Klein’s Holiday Hours begin

‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here are a few ideas from the Society of American Florists’ website at www.aboutflowers.com. For more decorating ideas give Klein’s a call at 608/244-5661 or 888/244-5661 and ask for one of our talented designers—Darcy or Sue. Be sure to order early for prompt delivery. kleinsfloral.com/delivery.php

Appointed as a day to give thanks for the bountiful gifts of the land, the first national Thanksgiving day was proclaimed by George Washington and celebrated on November 26, 1789. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. The Canadian observance of Thanksgiving began in 1879 and is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October.

Thanksgiving Floral Decorating Ideas

• Accessorize a large table by placing a long, narrow centerpiece in the center of the table. Add a few smaller accent pieces or candles on each side of the arrangement for an added effect.

• Ask your florist to create a centerpiece in a treasured family vase or bowl, or in seasonal pieces such as a cornucopia or a utility vase surrounded by dry corn cobs.

• To create a lot of drama and variety, place a topiary at one end of the table leading to a cluster of small potted plants, then two smaller topiaries with candles leading to a tray of votive candles and flower petals, and so on…

• Ask your florist to use vegetables or fruits as accents in your floral arrangement.

• Garnish your serving trays with flowers and greens.

• Scatter colorful fall leaves, flowers and votive candles along the center of your dining table.

• Float flowers in crystal wine glasses.

• Place a single long-stem rose on each plate to welcome your guests to the table.

• Decorate small desserts with flowers or make an ice ring with flowers to chill champagne or wine.

• Ask your florist to design the arrangements for your buffet table on several different levels to keep the eye flowing all along the table.

• Place a garland of fruit, flowers and fall foliage over your front door.

Flower Suggestions
Chrysanthemums, bittersweet, gerbera daisies, roses, carnations, alstroemeria, lilies, wheat, solidago, monte casino, marigolds. Potted plants in season include chrysanthemums, daisies and cyclamen.

YOU ASKED THE MAD GARDENER . . .
A family member recently gave me a Norfolk pine that they had for 10+ years I have had it for a little over a month and it doesn’t appear to be in the best health. The tips are browning and it is dropping needles. Thanks, Melanie

Hi Melanie,
Your Norfolk is probably OK and simply adapting to its new environment. One month is a very short time–especially this time of the year as the days are getting very short—to be sure how your Norfolk is doing. Any change in its environment means a plant has to reacclimate to new light and temperature conditions. For most plants, that usually means leaf loss. Norfolks also like higher than normal humidity. Perhaps your apartment or home is on the drier side than it was used to. All that said, Norfolks are 100 foot trees in their native New Zealand. As they age, they drop all bottom branches and eventually begin forming a trunk. This a a natural part of its aging process.

Ideally Norfolks enjoy bright light, but not direct sunlight. An east window is perfect and a north window is a bit too shady. Soil should remain moist, but never soggy. Water thoroughly when you do water. Norfolks are light feeders. Don’t feed this time of the year through February. After that, use a dilute fertilizer with each watering; cutting back on the feeding come September. Keep your plant away from drafts, both hot and cold. Drafts also contributes to leaf loss. And don’t move the plant around! Once you think it’s in an ideal spot, it’s best to leave it; only spinning the pot as the plant grows toward the light. Moving the plant too much means it’ll have to reacclimate with each move.

As for pests, spider mites are the biggest problem on Norfolks. Webbing around the tips of the branches and yellowing foliage are telltale signs of spider mites. These microscopic arachnids are notorious on houseplants during the winter months.

Thanks for your question,
Klein’s Mad Gardener
madgardener@kleinsfloral.com

DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that certain flowers are inherently linked with our Latin community’s Dia de los Muertos?

Flowers Enliven Latino Holiday Honoring Dead
By Maureen Gilmer for the Tribune News Service

Every year, the traditions of Dia de los Muertos are spreading beyond the Southwest. Popular in Latino communities, it is a commemoration of loved ones who have died in an annual blending of Aztec and Spanish spiritual traditions. The pageantry, color, animated skeletons and sugar skulls lend a family-friendly festive atmosphere that laughs at death with flowers. This made it popular with local artists inspired by this three-day celebration at the end of October over Halloween, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

This age-old tradition is focused on flowers that are displayed everywhere during the holiday, but mostly on home altars dedicated to family members who have passed away. If you want to create the same feel at home, for a party or gathering, knowing exactly which flowers to use is key to authenticity.

Marigold: The popular bedding marigold originated in Mexico as a wildflower. Breeding resulted in the much larger flowers we know today. It was known before Cortez as cempasuchil (sempa-suchi), then later flor de muerto due to the potent scent of both flower and foliage. The aroma was thought to be recognized by the dead, luring them to the family home with scattered marigold petal pathways. The scattered petals are important to the marigold presence, allowing you to tell a story and naturally scent the room as the oils evaporate.

Red Amaranth, Cockscomb: This decorative form of amaranth, a pre-maize grain, is used only in its blood red form. It is a remnant of the war god Huitzilopochtli, to whom Aztecs honored their dead at his altar, with amaranth cakes in pre-Columbian times.

Gladiolas: Not native to Mexico but widely grown for their long blooming wands of brightly colored flowers, gladiolas are the tallest flower in these compositions. Most often set back to flank an altar, they gradually open over many days in water as the more short lived annuals begin to lose their beauty.

Calla lily: From southern Africa, these white lilies became the signature of Diego Rivera, the most famous Mexican muralist. The flowers proved ideally adapted to much of tropical Mexico and are present in home gardens, so they naturally become part of these celebrations. They are essential for all parties involving a Frida Khalo theme, which is a popular crossover celebration during this time.

For those not familiar with the details, there are three nights of celebration in the Mexican tradition. It is believed the dead wander on these nights to briefly commune with the living. Their graves are prepared with these flowers. Families sit by graves late into the night illuminated by candles. It is fun and festive and sad all at the same time. It is a healthy way of remembering with flowers.

Each of the three nights differs in its focus. The first night is Oct. 31, commemorating children who died the previous year. The second night, Nov. 1, is for family members who died recently, often parents. The third is more general for all who have passed and for ancestors generally.

What defines the holiday is creating an offrenda, or altar, in the home, which is often the focus of contemporary party decor. The altar is where you lay out vices the dead love such as tequila, candy and cigarettes. They’re lured with food, too, favorite dishes and fruit. Everything is decorated with flowers, marigold chains and petals raining down overall.

Due to how late this holiday falls in the year, it’s difficult in colder climates to harvest much out of the garden. The big marigolds and cockscombs are not often carried by florists, either. The key is to place your flower order well in advance of the celebration. And don’t forget extra marigold blossoms to tear into individual petals, scattering laughter with hot color to lure your loved ones home for one special night of the year.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal @ host.madison.com/

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.

Fresh Windowsill Herbs from Silverleaf Greenhouses
There’s nothing like the smell of fresh rosemary, thyme, lavender or oregano and it’s easier than you think to have these and many other herbs on hand for quick snipping year round–even during the dead of winter.

Bright light is the most essential requirement in successfully growing herbs on your windowsill during the winter. Many of our most popular herbs originate from the sunny Mediterranean, so in the home, a south windowsill works best, with an east or west sill coming in second. A north window is far too dark to grow herbs well. It’s important to be as near the light source as possible. That’s one of the reasons we refer to them as windowsill herbs. Light intensity drops rapidly even a few feet from a south window. Placing plants as near a window as possible will also help keep your herbs more compact. Not only will they not reach for the light, but the cooling effect off the glass will keep gangly growth in check. In addition, the cooler temps tend to keep any pests at bay. Most herbs hate wet feet, therefore, t’s also easier to control the watering of plants placed on a sunny sill. Herbs like to dry out a bit between waterings, but don’t allow them, especially rosemary, to get too dry. As with all plants, water thoroughly when dry to the touch, but do not allow the plants to sit in a saucer of water. It’s also important to use your herbs frequently. Your snipping acts as pruning and will make for bushier, more compact and shapely plants.

Which herbs work best for windowsill culture? Nearly all except the fast growing annuals like cilantro, basil, dill, etc. These plants simply grow too quickly for indoors and become rather unsightly. Favorites include rosemary and bay laurel, which can live for many years under ideal conditions. With thyme and oregano, a little goes a long way. Parsley looks great, though recipes usually require more than your plant will produce. But as a garnish in soups or snipped onto salads, the beautiful green color is indispensable. Mints work well, too, but be warned. They grow quickly!

Where can I get my herb plants during the winter? Why at Klein’s, of course! We have far and away the largest selection of herbs for winter culture in the Madison area. We grow hundreds of herbs in 5” pots for both holiday sales and then to sell at the Wisconsin Public Television Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February. Our selection includes rosemary, bay laurel, lavender, oregano, sage, thyme, mint, parsley, stevia, marjoram, scented geraniums and even sweet basil. Our herbs are grown quite cool so are, therefore, compact, bushy and pest-free.

You can also purchase your herbs in the springtime and bring them indoors next fall. But after a summer of growing outdoors, size usually becomes an issue. If you have any questions on how to acclimate your outdoor herbs for their life indoors at the end of the season, feel free to ask any of our helpful staff or e-mail us your questions at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com.

About Silverleaf Greenhouses of Walden, New York:
“We consistently provide healthy young plants through a network of national brokers as well as hearty and attractive finished plants to regional independent retailers and landscapers.

We offer over 280 varieties of herbs, 26 types of scented geraniums, and a list of hedera ivies.

Owned by Larry & Cynthia Silverman, Silverleaf Greenhouses was founded in 1979. Starting out as a small, three-acre farm, Silverleaf Greenhouses has grown today into a thirty-five acre farm, with over 100,000 square-feet of technologically-enhanced greenhouses, located just outside the village of Walden, New York.

At Silverleaf Greenhouses, we strive to be eco-friendly in all of our growing practices. That’s why we use a beneficial insect program, which includes nematodes, predatory mites, and biological fungicides, to safely and naturally keep harmful pests and pathogens at bay. When we do use chemicals, they are always labeled for edibles and compatible with the beneficial insects we use. Most importantly, they are completely safe for the consumer as well as the natural environment.”

Visit www.silverleafgreenhouses.com/product-category/herbs/ to see their extensive selection of herbs and feel free to contact Rick at rick@kleinsfloral.com if you feel we should add something to our selection.

NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach

We so often blame the weather for everything, both good and bad, but keep in mind:

‘Whether the weather be fair or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot,
We’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!’

ENTRY: OCTOBER 2, 2016 (A Beady-eyed Garden Visitor)
Though by far not rare in the Madison area, I saw my first tufted titmouse at one of my birdfeeders today, after 30 years of feeding birds in my yard. The presence of tufted titmice in Madison (along with the abundance of cardinals and red-bellied woodpeckers this far north) is a phenomenon that appeared first in the early 1900’s. Until then, they appeared only in the south.

Titmice are shy birds that prefer the quiet of the woods, rather than the hustle and bustle of urban feeders. Though far from common, they are seen throughout southern Wisconsin; especially at feeders during the winter months when food is more scarce.

I enjoy taking note of bird sighting firsts in my yard. I still remember the first time I saw a house finch once they appeared in Madison for the first time in the mid-1980’s. We knew they would be arriving from eastern states and spreading through the area years in advance, so it was kind of exciting once it finally happened (House finches were introduced to the east coast from the west coast earlier in the 1900’s).

Not so many years ago I had a northern shrike spent the entire winter in my yard preying on, for the most part, the English sparrows that visit the feeders pretty nonstop. Though gruesome, it was fascinating watching them dismantle and devour the pesky sparrows.

In 2008, a male European goldfinch spent much of the winter visiting my feeders. I contacted the local Audubon society via email (along with tons of pictures) and was told that there had been other sightings in the area. They said it was probably an escaped pet that settled in the area because of the number people who feed birds in Madison. To date, that is far and away the most exciting observation in my yard.

About Tufted Titmice:
A little gray bird with an echoing voice, the Tufted Titmouse is common in eastern deciduous forests and a frequent visitor to feeders. The large black eyes, small, round bill, and brushy crest gives these birds a quiet but eager expression that matches the way they flit through canopies, hang from twig-ends, and drop in to bird feeders. When a titmouse finds a large seed, you’ll see it carry the prize to a perch and crack it with sharp whacks of its stout bill.

Tufted Titmice look large among the small birds that come to feeders, an impression that comes from their large head and eye, thick neck, and full bodies. The pointed crest and stout bill help identify titmice even in silhouette.

Tufted Titmice are acrobatic foragers, if a bit slower and more methodical than chickadees. They often flock with chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers and are regular visitors to feeders, where they are assertive over smaller birds. Their flight tends to be fluttery but level rather than undulating.

Tufted Titmouse are regulars at backyard bird feeders, especially in winter. They prefer sunflower seeds but will eat suet, peanuts, and other seeds as well.

Look for Tufted Titmice flitting through the outer branches of tree canopies in deciduous woods, parks, and backyards. A quiet walk through woodlands will often turn up the twittering of a mixed-species foraging flock, and you’ll likely find titmice in attendance. You’ll often hear the high, whistled peter-peter-peter song well before you see the bird.

* * * * *

ENTRY: OCTOBER 15, 2016 (Tips for Overwintering Geraniums)
My mom, dad and brother Charlie were in town today for the huge evening Badger football game against Ohio State. Because it’s a late game, mom and I spent the day in the garden enjoying the warm autumn weather and doing a bit of fall cleaning. Among the tasks mom worked on was pruning back the geranium pots I move to the basement for winter storage. I currently overwinter over 40 potted geraniums; some of which are now going on 20 years old (and many of which are varieties that are no longer available-even online-so I’m glad I kept them!).

Back in the old days, the preferred method of overwintering geraniums was to remove them from the ground or their pots, shake off the soil and hang them bareroot in the basement root cellar at under 45º. Even under the best conditions, success rate by this method is usually about 25% at best. Much depended on the temperature, humidity and the condition of the plants being stored.

Nowadays, few homes have root cellars or rooms where roots, bulbs or storage vegetables can be stored at the required winter temps of 38-45º. Geraniums are best stored while still in their pots (or potted up if they were grown in beds).

Geraniums can be kept growing as a houseplant throughout the winter in a sunny window. They’ll oftentimes bloom throughout the winter depending on variety. They’ll lose a lot of leaves and be pretty ragged looking by late winter. They should be cleaned up throughout the winter and pruned as needed, with their last pruning about March 1 for early summer blooms. They can be pruned back pretty hard at that time–back to 4-6″.

I store my potted geraniums in the basement near a few windows. I have an older home so I’ve rigged up some shelves dangling from the ceiling joists. Freestanding shelves work, too, but waste floor space. I’ve added supplemental florescent lighting in the smaller, darker windows. Lights are on a timer that pretty much replicate day length. My basement remains in the upper 50’s or low 60’s for most of the winter. Overwintered geraniums in pots perform equally well when placed under timed florescent lighting exclusively and without any natural light. Regardless, timers should be set for 13 hours on and 11 hours off.

The greatest key to success is probably the watering. I cut way back on the watering allowing them to get bone dry during the winter months; perhaps watering them just once a month or even less. I water them well when I do water them. They shouldn’t be fertilized while overwintering. We’re wanting them to drastically slow down their growth.

I prune my geraniums just once while overwintering–about March 1—and then move them to the garage usually toward the end of April, while nights are still a little too cool to put them outside. They’ll oftentimes be completely shocked by the time I move them outside in early May, but they rebound quickly once the weather warms. At the onset, they won’t look as nice as the geraniums you purchase at a garden center in early May, but you save money and are able to keep treasured varieties that disappear from the marketplace. However, by mid-June your overwintered geraniums are usually larger and fuller than those newly bought at a garden center.

If overwintering space is limited, cuttings are another option in the fall . . . but that’s a whole other story.

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ENTRY: OCTOBER 23, 2016 (What? A Native Artichoke?)
Today my coworker, Sonya, brought me a huge bag of beautiful and edible sunflowers…sunchokes. Being a cook, a farm kid and a lover of all veggies, I’m shocked that I have yet to try these tasty native tubers. Can’t wait to explore!

The following ‘all you need to know about sunchokes’ (Jerusalem artichokes) comes to us from Mother Earth News @ www.motherearthnews.com/

All About Growing Jerusalem Artichokes
By Barbara Pleasant

Once they’re established, growing Jerusalem artichokes is more a matter of containing than encouraging them. These productive, nutty-flavored tubers can stand in for potatoes.

Potatoes aren’t the only terrific tuber out there. Native to central North America, Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) — often called by the more modern name “sunchokes” — are so prolific they can become invasive, but if handled properly, they will be a productive and rewarding crop. The edible parts of these plants are their knobby roots, which have a crisp texture like that of water chestnuts. When cooked, they become a soft, nutty alternative to potatoes.

American and European gardeners have been selecting superior strains over the course of 300 years growing Jerusalem artichokes. A few of these are distinctive enough to bear variety names. Keep in mind that unnamed strains grown by local gardeners may be a great fit for your garden, so look for them at local farmers markets or plant swaps. You can also try growing from supermarket sunchokes, purchasing and planting them in early spring.

Strains vary by skin color, root shape, and maturation time. White-skinned strains include the early-maturing ‘Stampede’ variety, which develops crisp, round roots quickly enough to be grown in climates with short summers. The roots of slower-growing ‘Clearwater’ and ‘White Fuseau’ are longer, which makes them easier to scrub and peel.

Red-skinned strains include ‘Red Fuseau,’ which has red skin over topshaped roots with few attached round nodules, making the roots easy to clean. The roots of ‘Red Rover,’ ‘Waldspinel,’ and a few other red varieties are so long that these varieties are sometimes called “fingerling sunchokes.”

Plant small, whole tubers in early spring, or as late as you’d plant tomatoes. To get Jerusalem artichokes with big roots, give plants the longest growing season possible. After the first year, small tubers you missed while harvesting will usually shoot up sufficient plants to form a good crop.

A hardy, widely adapted perennial, Jerusalem artichokes grow best in well-drained soil with a near-neutral pH of about 7.0. Locate your crop in full sun but behind smaller vegetables, because the 10-foot-tall plants cast ample afternoon shade. A 5-by-5-foot bed (located outside the garden, where its perimeter can be easily mowed) is ideal for this exuberant crop. A 25-square-foot planting can produce more than 100 pounds of harvested tubers.

To prepare the site, dig out weeds and grasses, and dig in a 2-inch layer of compost to improve the soil’s structure. Plant small seed tubers 4 to 5 inches deep and 16 inches apart. When the plants are about a foot tall, mulch with grass clippings, rotting leaves, or another organic mulch that will help retain soil moisture.

Tubers, seeds or both are available from Jung’s and many other online sources.

KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!

November and turkey seemingly go hand in hand. Below are a few of Klein’s staff members’ very favorite recipes for using up leftover turkey from your holiday feasts.

TURKEY & BUCKWHEAT GROATS CHILI—This all-time favorite appeared in the Feb. 3 2002 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal. Buckwheat groats are available at most large supermarkets in the natural foods aisles and at the Willie St. Co-ops.
1 TBS. vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
6 cups water
2x 15.5 oz. cans chicken broth
1 1/3 cups buckwheat groats
4x 4.5 oz. cans mild chopped green chilies (sub with one or more cans chopped jalapeños for heat to taste)
2 tsp. salt
3 TBS. chili powder
1 TBS. ground cumin
4 cups chopped, cooked turkey or chicken
4x 15 oz. cans cannellini, rinsed and drained
sour cream and/or shredded cheese as toppings

Heat the oil on medium in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Cook the onion and garlic until softened. Add the water, broth, groats, chilies, chili powder and cumin. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until the groats are tender. Stir in the cooked poultry and the beans. Cooke 15 minutes or until heated through. If desired, season with Tobasco or a similar hot sauce to taste. Serve with sour cream and cheese to top. Serves 8.

TURKEY CURRY—A super-tasty and very easy leftover turkey option from the pages of Cooking Light from August 2007.
2 TBS. butter
3 cups finely chopped Golden Delicious or similar sweet apples (about 2)
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 TBS. curry powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1/2 cup milk
2 TBS. cornstarch
2 cups chicken broth
6 cups chopped, cooked turkey or chicken
1 1/2 TBS. lemon juice
Cooked rice

Possible toppings: raisins, chutney, diced peppers, diced cucumber, chopped tomatoes, roasted almonds

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Cook the apple, onion and garlic, covered, for 12 minutes until the onion is tender. Add the curry powder, salt and red pepper. Whisk together the milk and cornstarch in a small bowl then add to the pot. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook 4 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring. Add the turkey and lemon juice and cook until heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve over cooked rice with assorted toppings of choice. Serves 8.

TURKEY CRANBERRY ENCHILADAS— Two holiday favorites combined into one tasty dish. From Better Homes & Gardens magazine, November 2006
2-2 1/2 cups shredded, cooked turkey
1x 16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce (or homemade), divided
1x 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups salsa of choice, divided
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8x 7-8” flour tortillas
1 tsp. Tobasco sauce (or to taste)

Preheat the oven to 350º. Coat a 9 x 13” baking dish with nonstick spray. In a bowl, combine the turkey, half of the cranberry sauce, the beans, 1/2 cup salsa, 3/4 cup cheese, the sour cream, onions, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper. Spoon 2/3 cup of the mixture on to each tortilla and roll. Place each in the prepped dish, seam-side down. In a bowl, mix together the rest of the cranberry sauce, the rest of the salsa and the Tobasco. Spoon over the enchiladas. Cover the dish with foil and bake 45 minutes. Uncover, top with the rest of the cheese and bake 10 minutes more. Sprinkle with extra green onions and cilantro as garnish if desired. Serves 8.

TURKEY TORTELLINI SOUP—An early 2003 recipe from the Wisconsin State Journal.
4x 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
4x 14.5 oz. cans Italian style tomatoes with the juice
2x 15 oz. cans drained and rinsed cannellini
4 cups slice mushrooms
6 cups coarsely chopped spinach
2x 9 oz. packages refrigerated cheese tortellini
2 cups chopped, cooked turkey or chicken
Parmesan to sprinkle on top

In a large soup pot, mix together the broth, tomatoes, beans and mushrooms. Heat to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce to low. Add the spinach and the tortellini, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Add the turkey and cook until the tortellini is tender and the soup is hot. Serve with parmesan. Serves 10.

TURKEY CHOWDER—A favorite go-to recipe from Jane Brody’s classic Good Food Book.
1 1/2 TBS. butter
1 large thinly sliced onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cups diced carrots
3 cups diced potatoes
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups cooked, diced turkey
1x 15 oz. can creamed corn
2 TBS. chopped jarred pimiento or roasted red pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
a dash of cayenne
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried basil
pepper to taste
3 cups milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot over medium heat and cook the onion and green pepper until tender. Add the broth and carrots. Heat to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, celery and salt. Simmer, covered, another 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the turkey, creamed corn, pimiento, herbs and seasonings and the milk. Heat thoroughly, but do not allow to boil. A few minutes before serving, stir in the fresh parsley. Serves 6-8.

NATURAL NEWS–

Spring Bulbs: Perennialize vs. Naturalize?
Many gardeners treat these two terms as though they are synonymous. Although they are not quite the same, both will get better every year.

Perennialize means that the bulb will grow and rebloom for several years. New bulbs will be formed, increasing the size of the clump and eventually may benefit from dividing.

Naturalize means that the flowers also set seed, multiplying somewhat more quickly. Bulbs to naturalize are ideal for ground cover or to fill large open spaces.

There are also certain varieties that fade after the first year, requiring replanting every one to three years. These are usually cross bred and hybridized bulbs and will NOT state “good for perennializing” or “good for naturalizing” on the package..

Here is a starter list of bulbs well suited to perennialize or naturalize, either type is generally good for gardening, but to truly naturalize bulbs, make sure you get something well suited.

Bulbs for perennializing:
Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
Allium schuberti
Allium ‘Globemaster’
Crocus chrysanthus
Most Daffodils
Hyacinth
Darwin Hybrid Tulips – multiply very rapidly
Asiatic Lilies

Bulbs for naturalizing:
Crocus sieberi
Most Daffodils
Daylily
Iris
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Scilla siberica
Wild Tulips
Wood Hyacinth
Chionodoxa

Most bulbs will require full sun to bloom well, but some will take partial shade. Choose varieties suited to the planting site. If you are in region that experiences high winds, choose a short variety to minimize breakage.

A Reminder: Bulbs can be planted until the ground freezes . . . usually into early December.

Source: www.midwestgardentips.com

NOVEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:

CYCLAMEN
Few indoor blooming plants thrive on neglect, but the cyclamen certainly come close. Historically, cyclamen were only available during the winter months, but are now available nearly year round. Their love of cool temperatures makes them the perfect candidate to brighten the home during the long winter months. A bright east windowsill is the ideal condition for growing cyclamen, but they are tolerant of any bright and cool location.

Why cool? Cool temperatures not only stimulate bud development, but also prevent the leaf and blossom stems from elongating and becoming floppy. Given a cool location, a cyclamen will bloom almost nonstop from late fall through late spring. In addition to being kept cool, cyclamen also prefer to be kept on the dryish side. Overwatering can lead to rotting. Allow a cyclamen plant to become rather dry between thorough waterings. Remove all standing water from the saucer, and when watering, be careful to water around the base of the corm and not in the center of the plant. Doing so can also lead to rot. The corm is the “bulb” (actually an elongated stem) from which the leaves and flowers sprout.

Cyclamen flowers generally appear in shades of red, pink, violet and white and combinations thereof. The bright petals appear reflexed on short stalks and are tough as nails. New flower buds sprout tirelessly from the corm. Deadheading is necessary to maintain the overall appearance of the plant. To deadhead, simply grasp the spent flower stalk and carefully twist it away from the corm. It should easily break away at the base. The leathery, gray patterned foliage seldom needs maintenance. Simply break away any yellowing leaves at the base.

After your cyclamen has finished blooming in late spring, it can be moved to any shady spot in the garden and allowed to spend the summer outdoors. Remove the saucer and water only as needed. The corm may or may not go dormant. By late summer and early fall one should see new growth and new flower buds. Keep in mind that the cool nights stimulate new bud development. Therefore, keep it outdoors as long as possible, short of freezing. An alternative method is to allow your bloomed out cyclamen to go completely dormant by cutting back on the watering entirely and allowing the pot to dry out completely. After a few weeks the leaves will wither and dry up. Store the dormant corm in a cool and dry spot for the summer months. In late summer, gradually begin your regular watering regimen. Experience has shown us more limited success with this latter method. Cyclamen prefer a dilute fertilizer just once a month while actively growing. Too much fertilizer promotes vigorous growth at the expense of flowering.

Cyclamen are available as traditional and as miniatures. Some even have double flowers, though those are a bit harder to find. Some of the miniature pinks are even delightfully fragrant–an added bonus. The miniatures are also more tolerant of warmer locations.

Cyclamen make the perfect holiday gift and are nice alternative to poinsettias. Klein’s own homegrown cyclamen become available during October and remain available through March. They look especially lovely in a decorative basket or pot. The miniatures work nicely in mixed European gardens of mixed green and blooming plants.

Visit Klein’s today to experience our hundreds of cyclamen now in bloom!

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.

Herb Fair
Saturday, November 5, 9:00-3:00
Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Hear about herbs from speakers and vendors. Purchase herbal products. Make & take projects, demonstrations, and a Q & A station. Free! Sponsored by the Madison Herb Society. Visit www.madisonherbsociety.org.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Fall Garden Symposium:
The Midwest Garden
Saturday, November 5, from 9:00 to 3:30

Join us for an exciting and inspirational day as we explore the Midwest Garden!

Speakers Include:
Kerry Ann Mendez
Award-winning garden designer, author and lecturer, Kerry Ann Mendez focuses on time-saving gardening techniques, workhorse plants and sustainable practices. Kerry Ann will present The Right-Size Flower Garden: Exceptional Plants and Design Solutions for Time-Pressed and Aging Gardeners and The Art of Shade Gardening – Seeing Your Way Out of the Dark.

Edward Lyon
Director of Reiman Gardens, Ed writes and speaks for both public and professional audiences across the Midwest. He focuses on gardening with regionalism and will give a talk based on his book titled Growing the Midwest Garden.

Mark Dwyer
Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens for the past 18 years. Mark directs the continued maintenance and improvement of this 20 acre botanical resource. He will speak about The Best Perennial Ornamental Grasses and How to Use Them.

Registration is $65 for RBG members, $65 for Master Gardeners & & $75 for the General Public. Register online @ www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/event/fall-garden-symposium/ by November 3.

Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI,
608/752-3885 or www.rotarygardens.org

Rotary Garden’s Evening Garden Seminar: The Best Winter Interest Plants
Tuesday, November 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, WI

Despite harsh winters in our Midwestern climate, our gardens should still have visual interest from November through March. Often neglected, this “fourth season of interest” can focus on colorful conifers, plant form, ornamental stems and bark, ornamental fruiting, grasses and other features. We’ll discuss how to add more impact in your winter garden.

Admission: $3 for RBG Friends members and $5 for the general public. No registration required

Seminar is conducted by Mark Dwyer, RBG Director of Horticulture

Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/

Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 16 thru November 5, 6:00-2:00
On the Capitol Square

Wednesdays, April 22 thru November 2, 8:30-2:00
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

For details visit www.dcfm.org

Dane County Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, November 12 thru December 17, 7:30-noon
Monona Terrace

For details visit www.dcfm.org

NOVEMBER IN THE GARDEN—A checklist of things to do this month.
___Visit Olbrich, Rotary or Allen Centennial Gardens and note plants of fall interest for
spring planting and best selection.
___Put up all birdfeeders and fill daily as needed. Begin feeding raw suet.
___Make water available to the birds. Begin using a de-icer as needed.
___Dig new beds now! It’s easier now than in spring when super-busy.
___Continue planting spring bulbs till the ground freezes.
___Plant bulbs for forcing and put in a cool location for 10-12 weeks.
___Stop feeding houseplants and cut back on watering.
___Continue planting deciduous shrubs and trees until the ground freezes.
___Clean up stalks and leaves of annuals and vegetables, preventing viruses and pests
for next year’s garden.
___Continue harvesting brussels sprouts, kale, greens and root crops.
___Cut perennials back to 4-6”, leaving those for winter interest.
___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.
___Mow the lawn at shortest setting for last mowing of the season.
___Ready lawnmower and tiller for winter. Prep the snowblower.
___Keep gutters clear of leaves and debris.
___Clean empty pots and containers for winter storage.
___Purchase marsh hay and rose protection. Wait till the ground freezes to apply.
___Wrap trunks of susceptible trees to protect from rodents.
___Visit Klein’s—The poinsettias are just about ready. Look for end of the season savings on all remaining spring bulbs.

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 NOVEMBER:
—Our employees prep the store inside and out for the upcoming holidays.

—The employees have brought to Klein’s many of their own tender plants for winter storage–one of the perks of working at a greenhouse. See some of the fascinating things we grow in our own gardens in the back of our Number 1 and 2 Showrooms.

—Wreaths, roping and pine boughs arrive mid-month from northern Wisconsin.

—Violas, hardy annuals and herbs continue to arrive for next February’s Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center.

—Most plant material has been ordered for the 2017 growing season. We order early to ensure you best selection in spring.

PERMANENT FEATURES–
KLEIN’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Have our monthly newsletter e-mailed to you automatically by signing up on the right side of our home page. We’ll offer monthly tips, greenhouse news and tidbits, specials and recipes. . .everything you need to know from your favorite Madison greenhouse. And tell your friends. It’s easy to do.

THE MAD GARDENER–“Madison’s Firsthand Source for Expert Gardening Advice”
Ask us your gardening questions by e-mailing us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. The link is posted on our home page and in all newsletters.

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.

TO WRITE A REVIEW OF KLEIN’S, PLEASE LINK TO
Yelp, Google Reviews or Facebook Reviews

FACEBOOK
Follow Klein’s on Facebook where we post updates and photos on a regular basis.

TWITTER
Join Klein’s on Twitter where we post company updates and photos on a regular basis.

SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
We offer a 10% Off Senior Citizen Discount every Tuesday to those 62 and above. This discount is not in addition to other discounts or sales. Please mention that you are a senior before we ring up your purchases. Does not apply to wire out orders or services, i.e. delivery, potting, etc.

RECYCLING POTS & TRAYS
Plastic flower pots and garden edging can now be recycled as part of the City of Madison’s rigid plastic program. Flowerpots and edging must be free of dirt and can be placed in your green recycling bin. For more information call 267-2626 or visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/plastic.cfm

KLEIN’S “BLOOMING PLANT OR FRESH FLOWER CLUB”
Send or receive 3 month’s, 6 month’s or a whole year’s worth of seasonal blooming plants or fresh flower arrangements and SAVE!!

There’s no easier way to give gorgeous blooming plants or fresh flower arrangements, month after month. Each month a seasonal blooming plant or fresh arrangement will arrive on yours or a loved one’s doorstep. You choose the start date and we’ll make your special delivery the very same day each month.

For just $75, $150 or $300, respectively, we’ll send 3 month’s, 6 month’s or a year’s worth of seasonal blooming plants–perhaps a bulb garden or azalea in the spring, one of our famous large geraniums or a tropical hibiscus in the summer, a chrysanthemum or Thanksgiving cactus in the fall or one of our homegrown poinsettias or cyclamen for the holidays and winter months. Selection of the blooming plant will be based on availability.

And for just $90, $175 or $350, respectively, receive one of Klein’s lovely fresh floral arrangements. All arrangements will be seasonal and will contain only the freshest flowers. All arrangements are Designer’s Choice, but are sure to satisfy the most discerning lover of fresh flowers.

Prices include delivery within our delivery area. Enclosure cards will accompany all gift deliveries if desired. For delivery details visit the “Permanent Features” section of our newsletter below. If your chosen delivery date happens to fall on a Sunday or holiday, we will deliver it on the next available delivery day. All regular delivery conditions apply.

Join our Blooming Plant or Fresh Flower Club by calling Klein’s at 608/244-5661 or 888/244-5661 or by stopping in. We request that payment be made in full before the first delivery and prices do not include sales tax.

DELIVERY INFO
Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses delivers daily, except Sundays, throughout all of Madison and much of Dane County including: Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and Windsor. We do not deliver to Cambridge, Columbus, Deerfield or Stoughton.
Current delivery rate on 1-4 items is $7.95 for Madison, Maple Bluff, Monona and Shorewood Hills; $8.95 for Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor; and $9.95 for Marshall, Middleton, Oregon and Verona. An additional $3.00 will be added for deliveries of 4-10 items and $5.00 added for deliveries of more than 10 items. For deliveries requiring more than one trip, a separate delivery charge will be added for each trip.

A minimum order of $25.00 is required for delivery.
We not only deliver our fabulous fresh flowers, but also houseplants, bedding plants and hardgoods. There may be an extra charge for very large or bulky items.
Delivery to the Madison hospitals is $5.95. Deliveries to the four Madison hospitals are made during the early afternoon. Items are delivered to the hospital’s volunteer rooms and not directly to the patients’ rooms per hospital rules.
There is no delivery charge for funerals in the city of Madison or Monona, although normal rates apply for morning funeral deliveries to Madison’s west side (west of Park St.). Our normal rates also apply for funeral deliveries in the surrounding communities at all times. Although we don’t deliver on Sundays, we will deliver funeral items on Sundays at the regular delivery rate.

Morning delivery is guaranteed to the following Madison zip codes, but only if requested: 53703, 53704, 53714, 53716, 53718 and Cottage Grove, DeForest, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Monona, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor.
We begin our delivery day at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 3:00 p.m. We do not usually deliver after 4:00 unless specific exceptions are made with our drivers.
Except for holidays, the following west-side zip codes and communities are delivered only during the afternoon: 53705, 53706, 53711, 53713, 53717, 53719, 53726, Fitchburg, Middleton, Oregon, Shorewood Hills and Verona.
During holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.) we are able to make morning deliveries to all of the above areas. We are not able to take closely timed deliveries on any holiday due to the sheer volume of such requests.
It’s best to give us a range of time and we’ll try our absolute hardest. Orders for same day delivery must be placed by 12:30 p.m. or by 2:30 p.m. for Madison zip codes 53704 and 53714.

DEPARTMENT HEADS: Please refer all questions, concerns or feedback in the following departments to their appropriate supervisor.
Phone: 608/244-5661 or 888/244-5661

Horticulturalist & General Manager–Jamie VandenWymelenberg jamie@kleinsfloral.com
Accounts, Billing and Purchasing—Kathryn Derauf kathryn@kleinsfloral.com
Delivery Supervisor & Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach rick@kleinsfloral.com
Owner, Floral Designer & Purchasing—Sue Klein sue@kleinsfloral.com

RELATED RESOURCES AND WEB SITES
University of Wisconsin Extension
1 Fen Oak Ct. #138
Madison, WI 53718
608/224-3700
http://hort.uwex.edu

Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic
Dept. of Plant Pathology
1630 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/index.php

Insect Diagnostic Lab
240 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/

U.W. Soil and Plant Analysis Lab
8452 Mineral Point Rd.
Verona, WI 53593
608/262-4364
http://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/

American Horticultural Society
http://www.ahs.org/

Garden Catalogs (an extensive list with links)
http://www.gardenlist.com/
also http://www.mailordergardening.com/

Invasive Species
http://www.invasiveplants.net/
http://www.ipaw.org/

Community Groundworks
3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4
Madison, WI 53704
608/240-0409
http://www.communitygroundworks.org

Madison Area Master Gardeners (MAMGA)
http://mamgawi.org/

Wisconsin Master Gardeners Program
Department of Horticulture
1575 Linden Drive
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Madison, WI 53706
608/265-4504
http://wimastergardener.org

The Wisconsin Gardener
http://www.wpt.org/garden/

Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
608/262-8406
http://www.allencentennialgardens.org/

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/246-4550
http://www.olbrich.org/

Rotary Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr.
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885
http://www.rotarygardens.org/

University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888
http://uwarboretum.org/

University of Wisconsin-West Madison
Agricultural Research Center
8502 Mineral Point Rd.
Verona, WI 53593
608/262-2257
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/westmad/

PLANTS POISONOUS TO CHILDREN:
Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you’re in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don’t keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it. The following list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.

• Bird of paradise
• Bull nettle
• Castor bean
• Chinaberry tree
• Crocus
• Daffodil
• Deadly nightshade
• Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
• Foxglove
• Glory lily
• Hemlock
• Holly berry
• Indian tobacco
• Iris
• Jimsonweed
• Lantana
• Larkspur
• Lily of the valley
• Marijuana
• Mescal bean
• Mexicantes
• Mistletoe
• Morning glory
• Mountain laurel
• Night-blooming jasmine
• Nutmeg
• Oleander
• Philodendron
• Poison ivy
• Poison sumac
• Pokeweed
• Poppy
• Potato
• Privet
• Rhododendron
• Rhubarb
• Water hemlock
• Wisteria

PLANTS POISONOUS TO PETS:
Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction. Source: The National Humane Society website @ http://www.humanesociety.org/

• Aconite
• Apple
• Arrowgrasses
• Autumn Crocus
• Azaleas
• Baneberry
• Bird-of-Paradise
• Black locust
• Bloodroot
• Box
• Buckeye
• Buttercup
• Caladium
• Carolina jessamine
• Castor bean
• Chinaberry tree
• Chockcherries
• Christmas berry
• Christmas Rose
• Common privet
• Corn cockle
• Cowbane
• Cow cockle
• Cowsliprb
• Daffodil
• Daphne
• Day lily
• Delphinium (Larkspur)
• Dumbcane
• Dutchman’s breeches
• Easter lily
• Elderberry
• Elephant’s ear
• English Ivy
• European Bittersweet
• Field peppergrass
• Foxglove
• Holly
• Horsechestnut
• Horse nettle
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Jerusalem Cherry
• Jimsonweed
• Lantana
• Larkspur
• Laurels
• Lily of the valley
• Lupines
• Mayapple
• Milk vetch
• Mistletoe
• Monkshood
• Morning glory
• Mustards
• Narcissus
• Nicotiana
• Nightshade
• Oaks
• Oleander
• Philodendrons
• Pokeweed
• Poinsettia
• Poison hemlock
• Potato
• Rhododendron
• Rhubarb
• Rosary pea
• Sago palm
• Skunk cabbage
• Smartweeds
• Snow-on-the-mountain
• Sorghum
• Star of Bethlehem
• Wild black cherry
• Wild radish
• Wisteria
• Yellow jessamine
• Yew