‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—DECEMBER 2016
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Coming Soon: Our Popular ’12 Days of Christmas’ Specials
10 Great Gift Ideas from Klein’s This Holiday Season
December 2016 Marks 10 Years of Monthly Newsletters!
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ Is Ready for Your Questions
Check Out Our End of Season Savings
How to Design an Outdoor Holiday Container or Porch Pot
UW Student Invents a New Weapon to Fight Buckthorn
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked the Mad Gardener About Protecting Bulbs
Urban spelunking: Brewing up Milorganite®
Plant of the Month: Lemon Cypress
Our Very Favorite Adult Holiday Drink Recipes
Product Spotlight: Wilt Stop™ Plant Protector from Bonide
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From November 2016
—I Think
—Fall Clean Up
—The Rose Garden–Winter Protection
December 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
WATCH FOR OUR POPULAR ’12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS’ SPECIALS. Each day from Monday, December 12 though Christmas Eve, Klein’s will feature a new item for holiday gift-giving, culminating on Saturday, December 24 with all featured products on sale for last minute shoppers and bargain seekers. Visit our website or watch for emailed updates.
THIS EDITION MARKS OUR 10TH YEAR OF NEWSLETTERS
The first edition of Klein’s e-newsletter was sent out December 1, 2006 and has been sent out every first of the month since. A big ‘Thank You’ to our thousands of subscribers. We enjoy compiling it, we enjoy sharing it and we appreciate your comments and feedback.
10 GREAT GIFT IDEAS FROM KLEIN’S THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
1. One of our many windowsill herbs in a beautiful new pot chosen from our large selection of ceramic, glazed or resin pottery. Herb choices include lavender, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage and many, many more.
2. A naturally air purifying houseplant. Choose from our large selection of houseplants in all sizes and for any decor.
3. A Dane Buy Local Gift Card available at the Home Savings next to Klein’s at 3762 E. Washington Ave. For more details, check out danebuylocal.com.
4. A gift subscription to one of the many great green gardening magazines on the market today including Wisconsin Gardening (statebystategardening.com/wi)
5. Badger or Green Bay Packers themed flags, birdbaths, stepping stones, gazing balls or windchimes and so much more for the sports lover/gardener in your life.
6. One of our whimsical and very individual stone works of art from Stone Age Creations™ (stoneagecreations.com). Choose from ever-popular owls, hedgehogs, penguins or unique and indestructible birdbaths.
7. An Olbrich Botanical Gardens Gift Membership. Share a full year of beauty and inspiration! Choose from individual memberships (beginning at just $40) or Plus One ($50), Family ($55) or Family and Guest Memberships (just $65/year). Benefits include free entrance to many of Olbrich’s shows and exhibits and the Bolz Conservatory. Enjoy added savings at the gift shop and on most classes and seminars. Visit olbrich.org/membership/gift.
8. A yearly admission sticker to the Wisconsin’s state parks. Share the beauty of our great state with family and friends. “The Wisconsin State Park System provides places for outdoor recreation and for learning about nature and conservation. The 99 state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas report about 14 million visits a year. Come and join the fun!”
For more information on how to purchase a 2017 state park admission sticker, visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks.
9. Seed starting supplies such as seeds, grow lights, seed starting mixes, cell packs, and trays, peat or coir pots, plant tags and markers or a self-contained a growing kit. Seeds for spring aren’t quite available at Klein’s but are available through many mail order sources. Check out the following: Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogs at gardenlist.com.
10. Or, of course, a Klein’s gift certificate. Order one from the comfort of your home or office by clicking on kleinsfloral.com/gift-
DURING DECEMBER, ENJOY THESE END OF SEASON SAVINGS:
CLEARANCE on overstocked Garden Art, Floral Supplies, Selected Holiday Items, and much, much more. Hurry on in! Supplies are limited and we need to make room for poinsettias!!!
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.
DECEMBER STORE HOURS:
Holiday Hours
Monday thru Friday 8:00-7:00
Saturday: 8:00-6:00
Sunday: 10:00-5:00
Holiday hours run through Friday, December 23
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24–Open 8:00-4:00
Starting December 26:
Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31–Open 9:00-4:00
Closed Christmas Day, December 25 & New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017
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.
Early December–Order your beautiful poinsettias, blooming plants, designer gift baskets or custom-made centerpieces now for holiday gift-giving and guaranteed delivery. Early ordering ensures you top quality product for your home decorating and holiday party needs.
December 12 thru December 24–Stop in and check-out our in-store specials for any last minute gift-giving ideas. We still have a fantastic selection of homegrown poinsettias, blooming plants, houseplants, decorations and more. Shop early for the best section and we’ll deliver anywhere in Madison or the surrounding communities thru noon on Dec. 24.
December 13–Full Moon
December 21–Winter Solstice
December 24–Hanukkah
December 25–Christmas Day (Closed)
December 26–Kwanzaa Begins (runs through January 1)
December 26—The After Christmas Clearance Sale begins at 8:00! Everything ‘holiday’ must go! This is a great time to plan for this week’s New Years Eve party or to pick up some excellent bargains for next year’s decorating. Poinsettias are perfect for adding instant color to your late season holiday party and are gorgeous in fresh arrangements.
December 26 thru December 31–Order your New Years Eve centerpieces and custom designed arrangements early!
January 1, 2017–New Year’s Day (Closed)
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
How to Design an Outdoor Holiday Container or Porch Pot
Nothing says “Happy Holidays” and “Welcome” like an attractive arrangement of greens, branches, flowers, and other decorative items. Designing a holiday pot is not difficult, if you follow a few guides.
Get a nice container. It does not have to be expensive. You can choose cheap plastic pots that can be painted or covered with paper for a bright look. If you have an attractive, largish pot, use that one. You should also think about where your container will be placed. If you have a dramatic entrance to your home, you need a big pot — or maybe two or three of them. If your house is cozier, a smaller container will look best.
Choose your greens. The best holiday pots involve several kinds of greenery. You can buy mixed bundles or get greens from your yard. (Please do not take greens from public or private property without permission. Although yard waste dump sites can be a great source!!) You want a mixture of textures–short fir, pines with long needles, spruce. It’s recommended that a well-balanced container needs 4 to 5 kinds of greens, but 3 kinds looks fine.
Choose your extras. In addition to greenery, pick 3 or 4 extras, like flowers, twigs or berries. Again, no need to spend a lot of money. If you have a shrub with tall branches that needs trimming, cut a few. Don’t worry about mixing real and fake elements, either. If you’ve got some fake poinsettia flowers, add them to the mix. Extra ornaments? Sure. Get creative. Just don’t overdo it. If you have too many elements in your pot, it will look chaotic.
Do the math. Containers are all about proportion. For a pot to look “full enough,” the top of the display should be at least 1.5 times the height of the pot. But it can be more, and some designers suggest the top of the display be two times the height of the pot, plus the width of the pot (2H + W = Pretty). So, if your pot is 15 inches across and 12 inches high, the formula would be: [ (2×12) + 15 = 39]. The top point on the container should be about 39 inches above the container.
Start with the greens. To build your container, start by putting potting mix in the container. Garden soil is fine. You want a fast draining material. Then, keeping in mind the angle from which your pot will be viewed, start building a base of greens. Don’t think about this too much. Just cut the greens to the size you want, and stick them in the pot. Start at the outside and move inward. Use several kinds of greens — remember, this is mostly about texture. The contrasting colors and shapes of the greenery provide interest and a substantial backdrop for the contrasting elements to come.
Add the exciting elements. Once you are satisfied with the scale, size, and texture of the base, add the exciting elements. We like red-twig dogwood branches for height and color contrast, but you can also add hydrangea blooms, curly willow or other tall branches, gorgeous red silk flowers, a ribbon wound through the greenery, or large pine cones. Berries, ornaments such as woven balls or metal or glass holiday ornaments, berries, spent flowers that still look nice, fruit — the only limits on what you put in your container are your taste, your budget, and your creativity. Make sure your pot has a focal point — a spot you look to right away.
Water the pot. Once your container is completed, water it thoroughly and set it outside to freeze. (In Wisconsin, no problem. In warmer climates, just set it out.) The water keeps the elements in the pot healthy and prevents them from blowing away. A container planting like this one can look vibrant and attractive a long time — up until March. You may want to change out some elements to change the theme from holiday to winter.
Source: mynortherngarden.com/how-to/
YOU ASKED THE MAD GARDENER . . .
The November newsletter states: ‘Allow the Klein’s staff to share planting tips and ideas to keep those pesky squirrels from digging up those newly planted bulbs.’ I am asking what those tips and ideas are. Where I had no plans to ‘fill in’ with annuals, I tried with chicken wire under the surface of the soil. Any other suggestions for those areas with bulbs that chicken wire is not a real possibility?
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
Based on how your question is worded, I have a feeling that you’re not quite using chicken wire correctly. Squirrels primarily only eat tulips and crocus of the most popular bulbs. However, they will dig anywhere that soil has been disturbed in order to bury and store their nuts and acorns for the winter. If the bulbs are other than tulips or crocus, that is probably all they’re doing…just burying things in the loosened soil. Chicken wire or hardware cloth prevents them from digging, but allows the bulbs to be watered. That’s why boards are not a good option. The chicken wire is cut to shape over the area that needs to be protected; whether a huge area or just an 8″ circle. It should remain on the surface and be weighted down with rocks, bricks, whatever. Once the ground freezes, the chicken wire can be removed. You can also wait until spring, but it must be removed before the bulbs sprout through the soil. The bulbs should not be allowed to grow through the chicken wire. Chicken wire or similar is one of the only tried-and-true means to prevent squirrels from digging.
Thanks for your question,
Klein’s Mad Gardener
madgardener@kleinsfloral.com
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that there may be a new means to battle invasive buckthorn that is overtaking our woodlands?
The following fascinating article appeared in our local Isthmus magazine for the week of November 17-23, 2016.
Battling Buckthorn
UW Student Invents a New Weapon to Fight the Invasive Tree
By Denise Thornton and Doug Hansmann
There’s not a lot to like about the stout, spiked branches of the aggressively invasive buckthorn tree. “Buckthorn is spreading actively across the landscape, facilitated by birds eating the berries and spreading seeds,” says Mark Renz, assistant professor of agronomy at UW-Madison and a UW-Extension weed specialist. “The way it is changing the forest understory is really an epidemic in the upper Midwest.”
Buckthorn was imported from Europe over a century ago as an ornamental hedge. But it began to crowd out native plants in woods and natural areas, and nurseries stopped selling it in the 1930s for the most part. A century later, environmentalists and homeowners are still battling it. Now they have a new weapon — Buckthorn Baggies.
Matthew Hamilton, a UW-Madison senior majoring in mechanical engineering, and the Buckthorn Baggie creator, entered the fray when his dad assigned him backyard buckthorn duty at age 12. “He would have me cut them down every year, and they would just grow back even stronger,” Hamilton says. “By my senior year in high school we were trying to kill them with gasoline and other potent chemicals, which was not good.”
Because buckthorn sends up multiple shoots from each cut stump, foresters have recommended cutting in the fall and treating the stumps immediately with glyphosate, the chemical name for Monsanto’s popular Roundup weed killer. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, but last year, the World Health Organization announced that it is a probable human carcinogen. It is restricted or banned in some countries.
In high school, Hamilton began looking for a nonchemical way to kill buckthorn. He tried attaching bags of different materials, colors, sizes and thicknesses to cut stumps. “We had 30 prototypes that we left on for times ranging from a week to a year, and ultimately, we came up with the Buckthorn Baggie. It has the right properties to completely kill a buckthorn stump when you leave it on for a year.”
The Baggie, covering the stump and held in place with a cable tie, cuts off enough light to prevent the vigorous re-sprouts from growing, starving the tree’s roots and leaving behind one dead buckthorn.
One of the many places in Madison where buckthorns have been doing serious damage is Picnic Point on the UW-Madison campus. Buckthorns quickly grow to 40 feet. They leaf out early and lose their leaves late. Native trees leaf out later, and that used to allow spring wildflowers to thrive on the forest floor. But buckthorn shades out that early spring light.
The leaves buckthorns eventually drop in late fall are very high in nitrogen and decompose much more quickly than the leaves of native trees. That encourages critters in the soil that can take up nitrogen quickly and reproduce rapidly, such as destructive non-native earthworms.
Birds gobble up the blue buckthorn berries, but it doesn’t do them any favors. They give the birds diarrhea, which can weaken them. “Birds lose not only nutrients from the fruit, but also any proteins from insects they may have eaten recently,” says Susan Foote-Martin of the Madison Audubon Society.
Autumn Sabo, who manages the UW Forest Ecology Laboratory, says the understory at Picnic Point is primarily buckthorn now. “We found the Buckthorn Baggies online and ordered some. Then we saw that they were made by Matt, who is a UW student. He agreed to come out and demonstrate the Baggie for us.”
Sabo bought 200 bags, and Hamilton donated another 200.
Buckthorn Baggies are a family enterprise, with Hamilton’s mother and sister helping to pack and ship about 20,000 Baggies to date. “The spring of 2015 was our breakout year,” Hamilton says. “It took a little time, but our name is out there, and in the last three years we have never had anyone say it didn’t work or request a refund.”
After graduation, Hamilton will be working for a company that makes commercial heating and cooling equipment. But he plans to keep searching for potential environmental problem-solving products like the Buckthorn Baggie. Says Hamilton: “I’ve always respected nature and tried to take care of it.”
Source: isthmus.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.
Bonide’s Wilt Stop™ RTU Plant Protector
This natural, non-toxic anti-desiccant, derived from the resin of pine trees, has the unique ability to form a soft, clear flexible film on treated plants. This film protects plants from drying out, drought, wind burn, sunscald, winter kill, transplant shock and salt damage. WILT STOP™ also extends life of cut flowers and Christmas trees. Great for use year around on deciduous trees, evergreens, shrubs, roses, transplants, vegetables, fruit–5% Pinene.
What Are Anti-Desiccants?
Anti-desiccants, also called anti-transpirants, are sprays that provide a protective coating to evergreen foliage that reduces the amount of water that escapes. Anti-desiccants such as Moisturin are made of chemical polymers, and products such as Wilt Pruf and Wilt Stop are made from pine oil.
Anti-desiccants are gradually washed and worn away over several months, so by springtime they’re gone. While all anti-desiccants are marketed as biodegradable, the ones with the most natural ingredients will be safest for you and your plants.
In areas with harsh winters, anti-desiccants are applied twice, in November/December and again in February. In areas with more moderate winters, one application in December or January should see you through the coldest months.
How to Use Anti-Desiccants
Anti-dessicants are most often used on:
Broadleaf evergreens such as azalea, boxwood, holly, and rhododendron.
Conifers such as arborvitae, cedar, cypress, juniper, and pine.
Tender stems such as rose canes and hydrangea stems.
Caution: Don’t spray waxy-blue conifers such as blue spruce – they already have a natural coating that you don’t want to damage.
Follow all package instructions with your anti-desiccant, and also keep in mind these tips:
Pick a Nice Day: Anti-desiccants are best applied when temperatures are in the 40s-50s, with no rain forecast for a few days. Foliage needs to be dry when applied, and the spray needs time to dry afterward.
Don’t Spray too Early: Wait until at least December to spray conifers, because these plants can be damaged if you apply the anti-desiccant too early. These plants must be completely dormant (which involves moving water down to the roots) before applying, or else the spray will trap water in the leaves that will freeze and burst the plant cells later.
Spray Thoroughly: Plants lose water from both the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Be sure to spray the plant completely!
Other Uses for Anti-Desiccants
If you have spray left over, hang on to it. Anti-desiccants can also be used for:
Bulbs: You can apply an anti-desiccant to tender bulbs before storing.
Transplanting: If you find yourself transplanting a stressed shrub in midsummer, an anti-desiccant can help hold in moisture until the plants put out new roots.
Pumpkins: Apply anti-desiccant to your carved jack o’lantern to help it last longer.
Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Greens, etc.: Anti-desiccant can help keep your cut Christmas greenery from drying out as fast.
Source: www.todayshomeowner.com
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: NOVEMBER 11, 2016 (I Think)
Today Sue (Klein) forwarded my the following sweet poem that we received from an anonymous young newsletter reader (and poet). Thanks for the submission…and, by the way, autumn is my favorite season, too!
I Think
Those yellow leaves falling from my tree,
all that lovely beauty for free.
And then there is the Autumn Sweet,
whose fragrance is really hard to beat.
The Hostas with their faded leaves are fast asleep,
knowing that winter will soon creep.
Tiny Impatiens have been gone long ago,
they were so pretty all in a row.
Bleeding Hearts are deep in slumber for another year
and they are the ones I hold so dear.
Fuchsia with her drop earrings an all
are still with me this fall.
And then we have the Geraniums in their last pink
all of this makes me know that fall is my favorite season I THINK.
* * * * *
ENTRY: NOVEMBER 16, 2016 (Fall Clean Up)
Garden clean up continues. But with the exceptionally warm weather, shut down has been progressing slower than normal. In fact, my petunias, salvias and geraniums are in full bloom. My Heavenly Blue morning glories have just finished blooming! In most years the only plants left in the garden by the first week in November are a few remaining mums and the ornamental kales. I haven’t even started my perennial bed clean up.
People generally clean up their perennial beds in the fall for two reasons. First off, gardeners usually have more time in the fall than in the spring. The first hard freezes usually occur during early October, giving us two full months to put the garden to bed before the ground freezes and the arrival of the first snowstorms. Springs, on the other hand, tend to be very short in Wisconsin. Weather warms quickly between mid-April and mid-May. In addition to the lack of time, the weather can be very rainy and the garden very muddy, making any cleanup rather unpleasant. On top of that, there are spring bulbs and the early bloomers popping up everywhere, making it even more difficult to walk through the perennial beds.
The second reason for cleaning up in the fall is to cut down on disease problems from the previous season. Fungal problems tend to be the most obvious and are easily carried over in the garden from year to year. Therefore, it’s best to remove all foliage and stalks from garden phlox, bee balm, asters, hollyhocks, peonies, vervain and many others.
On the flip side, however, many perennials add interest to the winter landscape. These include grasses, coneflowers and sedums. Still others will bring more wildlife into the garden. Goldfinches and juncos are drawn to the seeds of many native prairie plants like rudbeckia, liatris and goldenrod. And still more birds and mammals are drawn to the garden for protection from predators–namely hawks. Birds like sparrows and mourning doves seek shelter amongst the standing foliage and twigs. Therefore, complete clean up depends on one’s goals and whether one will have time in the spring when there’s so much planting to do.
* * * * *
ENTRY: NOVEMBER 23, 2016 (The Rose Garden–Winter Protection)
Though it’ll still be a few weeks until I get my rose bushes ready for winter, I pulled all needed items down from my garage attic just to make sure it’s ready when I need it.
The tendency is for gardeners to protect their garden plants from winter weather a little too early. Protection for both perennial beds and shrubs (including roses) should be applied once the soil freezes (and stays frozen), once all pests are dormant and once all growth has ceased for the season. These conditions usually don’t occur until the first weeks of December here in the Madison area; and sometimes even later if the temperatures stay above normal. Roses can be particularly susceptible to future problems if not ‘winterized’ properly.
The following comes to us from the University of Illinois Extension at urbanext.illinois.edu
The Rose Garden–Winter Protection
Many of the roses that are classified as old garden roses are extremely tolerant of cold temperatures, while others like hybrid teas experience considerable damage. Also, budded roses, if not properly planted, stand a greater chance of injury or death due to severe cold than do own-root roses. When selecting roses, always select cultivars that are able to tolerate the coldest temperatures in your area based on USDA hardiness zone maps. One of the ways to protect roses for the winter is to be sure they go completely dormant. To accomplish this, stop fertilizing early enough so growth slows down. No fertilizer should be applied after August 15 (August 1 here in Madison). To further encourage dormancy, stop dead-heading or cutting flowers after October 1 (mid-September here) and allow the plant to form hips.
There are many methods to provide winter protection for roses. The whole idea of winter protection is to keep the plant uniformly cold and frozen all winter and prevent the damaging effects of alternate freezing and thawing. Whatever method is chosen, don’t begin covering plants too early. Wait until a hard killing frost has caused most of the leaves to fall. You may also want to wait until the temperature has dropped into the teens for several nights. Prior to covering, remove any foliage or other debris that might harbor disease for the next season.
Before covering, some tall roses may need minor pruning to reduce their height, and tying of the canes together to prevent wind whipping. Pruning, however, at this point should be kept to a minimum. The majority of the pruning will be done in the spring to remove dead and diseased canes.
The most common way to provide winter protection is to pile or “hill-up” a loose, well-drained soil/compost mix around and over the plant to a depth of about 10-12 inches. A variety of hilling materials can be used, but the key is to be sure that the material is well drained. Wet and cold is far more damaging than dry and cold. Also, the decisions that are made when preparing the site for roses really governs what kind of success you will have in winter survival. A rose that is planted in poorly drained soil will suffer and often not survive the winter when that same rose, planted in a well-drained site, will flourish.
Soil that is used to “hill-up” plants should be brought in from outside the rose garden. Scraping up soil from around the plant can cause root injury and lessen the plant’s chance for survival.
After the soil mound has frozen, the mound can be covered with evergreen boughs, hardwood leaves, or straw to help insulate and keep the soil frozen.
The best way to protect roses in our area is to mound the base of each plant with 10-12 inches of soil. When the soil has frozen, another 10-12 inches of leaves, hay or evergreen branches should be applied.
A variation of the “hilling” method that may offer a bit more protection is one utilizing collars. An 18-inch-high circle of hardware cloth or chicken wire is placed around the plant. (We sell plastic rose collars at Klein’s). The collar is filled with soil, allowed to freeze and then mulched with straw. The benefit of the collar is that it holds the soil in place all winter and prevents it from being washed or eroded away. Over the winter, this erosion can reduce the mound to a very ineffective level, exposing roses to possible winter damage.
Another popular method of winter protection for roses is the use of styrofoam rose cones. If these are used, they need to be used properly. First, don’t cover the plants too early. Follow the timing guidelines as for other methods of covering roses. Second, cones need to be well ventilated to prevent heat build-up on the inside during sunny winter days. Cut four to five 1-inch holes around the top and bottom of the cone. These holes will aid in ventilation and keep the air inside the cone from heating up, causing the rose to break dormancy. It is also advisable to mound soil around the crown of the plant before putting the cone in place. For extremely tender varieties, some rose growers cut the top off the cone and stuff it full of straw for added protection. It is also a good idea to weight the cone down with a brick or stone to keep it from blowing away.
Climbing and rambler roses offer challenges with regard to winter protection. In very cold climates and for marginal varieties, climbers may need to be removed from their supports and bent to the ground, then covered with six inches of soil and mulched.
When laying climbers on the ground for covering, one needs to be very careful not to injure or crack the stems. As the weather gets colder their long stems are not as pliable, and they are easily cracked resulting in the loss of that cane.
Another method that can be used is to physically pack straw around the canes while they are still attached to the trellis or support. The straw is held in place with twine to keep it in place over the winter. Burlap can then be used to wrap the entire plant, providing protection as well as holding the straw in place.
Finally, always remember that healthy roses are much more likely to make it through severe winters than are roses weakened by disease, drought, insects, or nutrient deficiencies.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Normally we share recipes with you using homegrown garden vegetables. This month, however, it’s time for a little holiday cheer. The following holiday drink recipes are a combination of tried and true family concoctions along with some new favorites. All are meant to warm the body and/or soul on cold winter nights. Enjoy—and please drink responsibly!
HOMEMADE BAILEY’S IRISH CREME—A holiday favorite passed from friend to friend. Origin unknown. Stores very well so make a batch ahead of time to have on hand when guests drop in. Makes a wonderful homemade gift for family and friends.
1 cup whiskey or scotch
1 TBS. chocolate syrup
1 x 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
1/4 tsp. instant coffee
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. coconut extract
Mix ingredients well in a blender. One batch=one quart.
GREAT GRANDMA MALSACK’S FAMOUS TOM & JERRYS—A family tradition. Simply eliminate the alcohol for the kids and add more water to taste. The batter can be made before the guests arrive, but the fresher the better.
6 eggs
1/2-3/4 lb. powdered sugar
cinnamon
Per mug:
1 shot brandy
1/2 shot rum
nutmeg
boiling water
Separate eggs, beating whites in a large bowl till foamy. thick and firm. Beat together the yolks in another bowl. Gradually add the sugar to the yolks, beating slowly. As it thickens, add a bit of the whites to the yolk mix. Once all the sugar has been added, fold the yolk mix into the whites. Stir gently. Add a few shakes of cinnamon.
Place a heaping tablespoon, or to taste, of the batter, along with the brandy and rum in a mug. Stir in boiling water and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve piping hot.
PUMPKIN PIE MARTINIS—Haven’t tried this one yet, but flavored martinis are all the rage and this one seems exceptionally festive. let us know what you think.
Ice cubes
2 oz. (1/4 cup) vanilla vodka
2 oz. (1/4 cup) creme de cocao
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
whipped cream
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add the vodka, creme de cocao, cream and spice. Shake well. Dip the rims of chilled martini glasses into the whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into the glasses. Makes 2 drinks.
ANN’S HOT BUTTERED RUM BATTER—Ann recommends changing the below delicious concoction by adding the cinnamon and the nutmeg with the sugar over low heat until smooth and then off heat adding the ice cream. Either way it’s a winner!!
1/2 lb. butter
1/2 lb. brown sugar
1/2 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 qt. vanilla ice cream, softened
1/2 TBS. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Blend in the sugars. Remove from the heat and whisk in the ice cream, cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth. Pour into a plastic container, seal and freeze.
In a coffee mug, measure 1 TBS frozen batter and 1 oz. rum. Fill with boiling water, stir and top with a little nutmeg if desired.
WINTER SANGRIA—A new twist on a Spanish classic.
1 cup dried figs
1 cup prunes
1 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup molasses
1x 750 ml. bottle Pinot Noir or Gamay
1x 750 ml. bottle sparkling apple cider or club soda
1 orange, sliced
Halve or slice each of the dried fruits. In a glass container, combine the fruits and the molasses and stir well. Slowly stir in the wine. Cover and chill 12-24 hours. Add the cider and orange and stir gently. Serve in ice filled glasses. Serves 8.
NATURAL NEWS–
At Klein’s, we’ve been a number of questions lately as to the effectiveness of Milorganite® as an animal repellent (due to the ‘human factor’); specifically when planting bulbs this time of the year. Though there is some evidence of it’s effectiveness, the results are far from conclusive. And like all natural repellents, the effects are very temporary. As we looked into the topic further, it seems that Milorganite® may be most effective at warding off deer and rabbits, rather than the squirrels that are digging up bulbs as quickly as they are planted. The desire to stash food outweighs any foul scents. That said, the jury is still out.
But what exactly is Milorganite®? The following article comes from the On Milwaukee website @ onmilwaukee.com
Urban spelunking: Brewing up Milorganite
By Bobby Tanzillo
Let’s get this straight from the get-go.
Despite what you’ve heard, Milorganite is not made out of human feces.
On a recent tour of the Jones Island plant, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District agency services director Jeff Spence and public information manager Bill Graffin wanted to dispel that myth at the start.
It is sorta true, however, if you believe that you are what you eat. Let me explain.
Three thousand miles of household laterals and another 3,000 miles of sanitary sewers send water and liquid waste to the MMSD via the sewer system. The deep tunnel project, which is 28.5 miles long, serves as an overflow storage system that can hold up to 521 million gallons.
The water is pumped to two plants – one on Jones Island and the other in Oak Creek – and at Jones Island it first undergoes a screening process that removes objects of all sizes, like towels, gravel and sand.
That water then moves to a series of circular holding tanks for a process called primary clarification. Here solids sink to the bottom and oils and grease rise to the top for skimming.
The next step is where Milorganite (a smashing together of Milwaukee Organic Nitrogen) really begins to happen. The water flows from the primary clarification pools to long storage channels where biological treatment takes place. These pools of churning water are murky and tiny solids can be seen. But that’s not human waste. It’s bacteria – like aspidisca, arcella, vorticella and others – that breaks down the organic material in the water.
As we gaze at the water, Graffin explains that the murkiness is the coagulation of the microscopic bacteria, which live a very short life span in the water. About a fifth of the bacteria comes out to enter the Milorganite-making process and the rest is reintroduced to the churn.
So Milorganite is actually the dead bacteria, not poop (which is the bacteria’s food).
“The bacteria require a tremendous amount of air and that’s where most of the energy cost comes from, pumping these big tanks full of air,” says Graffin.
Behind us is a low building with a sign that reads “Mixed Liquor Gallery.” Spence and Graffin chuckle graciously at my booze jokes, as if they hadn’t heard them a million times before, then explain.
“South Shore is a different kind of plant, it’s an anaerobic digestion plant,” says Spence. “So what we have down there is a breakdown of solids, digested solids. They’re shipped back up here. Milorganite is made of two different types of sludge: digested and waste-activated. You’ve got flows coming in – water that’s processed here and water that’s processed at South Shore – and it comes together (in the Mixed Liquor Gallery) in a certain percentage and all those bugs make up Milorganite.”
Entering the manufacturing building – it’s the big one you can see from the Hoan and from Summerfest, with the big smokestack on top – I’m immediately reminded of the industrial scenes in Antonioni’s film, “Red Desert.”
There are rows and rows of pipes of all sizes, the din of machinery, darkness illuminated by a yellowish light.
“I just marvel at this place from an engineering perspective,” says Spence. “For something that seems so simple, there’s so much that’s going on here.
“As you walk through you’ll see a lot of duplication of systems, from filter beds to dryers. There are 24 belt filter press beds and we’ve got 12 dryers, and it can all be managed depending on flow; how much you’ve got coming into the plant. We don’t get to run 12 dryers until the heavy season, which is from January through April or May (when) we have so much flow coming through.
“There’s a lot of redundancy … to deal with volume.”
Spence adds that the repetition of systems also allows the plan to run continuously while being able to keep everything in good working order, too. The Milorganite itself is extremely abrasive and takes a toll on machinery, requiring constant upkeep.
During summer, the plant produces an average of around 105 tons of Milorganite a day. During other parts of the year that average can go up to nearly 200 tons per day. MMSD expects to make about 45,000 tons of Milorganite this year.
Milorganite was first sold for commercial use in 1926 and its popularity soared in the following decades. It is now sold across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. It exceeds the criteria for the EPA’s “Exceptional Quality” rating and is certified by the USDA because it is made from renewable sources. It’s production is among the largest recycling programs in the world.
I express my surprise at how few people I’ve seen so far, both outside and inside and Spence says, “It’s such a large facility but you don’t see a lot of folks. Most of the folks you’ll see are maintenance folks, repair guys.”
Graffin adds that there are about 220 employees here. Scientists and other employees work at MMSD headquarters on Seeboth Street in Walker’s Point.
We head to the top of the building and work our way back down. From the roof – which offers amazing views of Milwaukee in every direction – the Hoan Bridge seems almost so close you could reach out and touch it. It also provides a perfect place to get an aerial view of the systems at the Jones Island plant.
Up here there are solar panels, which help run the plant. Recaptured methane is also used to defray energy costs.
After snapping more than a few pictures and getting an “aerial tour” of the plant, we go back inside, passing a floor with a relatively low ceiling. On the access door, which is partially ajar, there is a plain engraved sign that reads “Penthouse.”
We stop to view the belt filter presses first. Here, a series of wide, flat beds are covered in Milorganite. It’s sopping wet on one end and almost completely dry on the other. The water is pressed out so that less than 10 percent moisture is maintained. At the end, rollers squeeze out some more, dropping the product down a few floors to the dryers.
Twelve dryers may not sound like much, but each dryer is a giant horizontal cylinder that looks like it might be longer than your average freight rail car. The noise and the heat in this part of the plant verges on intense.
Here I finally get an answer to a question I’ve had since I was a child visiting my grandparents on the far end of Walker’s Point. “What’s that smell?” That corn-ish, somewhat acrid odor is the scent of Milorganite being made!
Graffin leads us to the north end of the first dryer, where there’s a round door that reminds me of a coffee roaster. He opens the door and we can see the nearly finished Milorganite swirling around. Sticking in a ladle, he draws out some pellets and I can see that they are not uniform in size.
Different sized pellets are destined for varied uses. Tiny ones – or greens grade – work perfectly on golf courses, bigger ones are good for residential/retail use and some Milorganite is sold to other manufacturers, too.
“We sell different nitrogen percentages to those markets, as well,” says Spence. “So at some points of the year we produce a product that’s six percent nitrogen. At this time of year we can’t get to six and we don’t add anything to get it up to six so we market it as a five percent nitrogen.
“Nitrogen content is an effect of what’s coming in and with any treatment process you’ve ammonia coming off of it that’s carrying away nitrogen. At hotter times of the year ammonia’s coming off at faster rate so you’ve got less nitrogen.”
Inside, everything is monitored by two workers – the day of my visit they were both named Andre – seated in an air-conditioned room full of screens monitoring the facility.
Outside, we can see the silos that store the finished Milorganite and like agricultural silos, care must be paid here to avoid hot spots. Next to the silos a covered hopper car is ready to be filled with Milorganite.
The water that came into the plant at the start of the process? After it left biological treatment, it was disinfected and neutralized before returning to Lake Michigan. Often, a gathering of fishermen in boats – especially at South Shore – marks the site the outflow, where the warm water attracts fish.
When we stopped to see the site of the outflow on Jones Island, we peered into one of the pools of water waiting to go back to Lake Michigan. A seagull floated on the water’s surface. Spreading its wings, it lifted itself into the air, leaving behind a contribution of its own. The water is now truly ready to go back to Lake Michigan.
DECEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Lemon Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
The lemony fragrance and golden yellow-to-chartreuse coloring of this dwarf evergreen make it an outstanding choice for containers. The Lemon Cypress tree, also called Goldcrest after its cultivar, is a variety of Monterey cypress. It gets its common name from the powerful strong lemon scent that its branches exude if you brush against them or crush their foliage.
Read more at Gardening Know How: Lemon Cypress Care: How To Care For Lemon Cypress Outdoors And In The Home http://www.gardeningknowhow.
Indoors, Lemon Cypress should be close to a window where it will receive as much light as possible…the more the better. Placing it in front of a south or west facing patio door or large window works best.
Plants prefer cooler temperatures of 55-65°F. Water when the top 1-2 inches of potting mix is dry to the touch. Be sure not to over water, which can lead to problems with root rot.
Lemon Cypress can spend the summer outdoors in a sunny location. Move it outdoors after danger of frost is past. Zone 7 hardy, Lemon Cypress must be grown in a container here in the north using a fast-draining soil mixture. Although it prefers full sun, it can tolerate some light shade. It is not fussy about soil as long as it is well drained with a pH of 6.6 to 7.5. It will grow to 6-8ft in 10 years with a width of just 1-2ft, having a narrow columnar habit. Pruning is seldom needed, although it can be gently shaped in spring if necessary.
Lemon Cypress are available usually in late fall and through the holidays. Klein’s currently has a small selection on hand.
Sources: gardeningknowhow.com and www.whiteflowerfarm.com
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.
Olbrich Garden’s Holiday Express:
Flower & Model Train Show
December 3 thru December 31
All aboard for Olbrich’s Holiday Express!
Large-scale model trains wind through a holiday scene overflowing with hundreds of poinsettias, fresh evergreens and exciting LEGO® displays in Olbrich’s Holiday Express: Flower and Model Train Show.
During the show, members of the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society come from all over the state to show off their large-scale model trains. You may see a bullet train, steam train, Santa train, circus train, or freight train, depending on the day.
See elaborate LEGO® constructions along the tracks in an exciting display of engineering and imagination. These intricate LEGO® models are constructed by members of the Wisconsin LEGO® Users Group (WisLUG).
Admission for Olbrich Botanical Society members is free. Admission to Olbrich’s Holiday Express for the general public is $5 for adults, and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and under are free. Admission to the tropical Bolz Conservatory is included.
Olbrich’s Holiday Express is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Olbrich will close at 2 p.m. on December 24, and will be closed all day on December 25 and January 1.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Rotary Botanical Gardens’ Holiday Light Show
December 9-11, December 15-23 and December 26-30
For 2016, the show will be bigger, better and more beautiful than ever, as the wintery garden paths are brought to life with just under a half million lights. This year’s Holiday Light Show includes 100 individual displays, 125 lit archways, 100 beautifully decorated Evergreen trees, and 60 decorated garden obelisks. You’ll also find 600 dangling icicle lights hung from the tallest trees in the Garden, over 2,000 luminaries, and more! In addition to being a beloved community and regional event, the Holiday Light Show serves as a major fundraiser for Rotary Botanical Gardens and creates significant economic impact to the Janesville area.
We’ve added FREE shuttle service on the busiest nights to make getting to and from the show easier. Visitors can park at Dawson Field beginning at 3:45, catch the shuttle and be delivered right to the front door of the Gardens. After you’ve enjoyed the show the shuttle will return you to Dawson Field.
Kids of all ages will enjoy peeking in the windows of the all-new child-size Elf Workshop and Santa House located in the gardens amid the light show.
Santa will visit December 16-23 and live reindeer will visit December 19 & 20.
Doors open 4:00 pm. Last ticket sold 8 pm.
Admission is $5 for those aged 3 & up.
Tickets available at the door or online at www.rotarybotanicalgardens.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.
Family Walk: Winter Birds
Sunday, December 11, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and other birds spend the entire year here. Some species consider our area “south for the winter.” Prepare for the Christmas bird counts on this informative walk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or www.uwarboretum.org for details.
Family Walk: Our Feathered Friends
Sunday, December 11, 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Because birds are easier to spot when leaves are off trees and shrubs, this is a good time for youngsters to learn about them. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or www.uwarboretum.org for details.
Family Walk: Conifers
Sunday, December 18, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Arboretum is home to many species of conifers. On this walk you’ll learn about pines, spruces, and firs. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or www.uwarboretum.org for details.
Dane County Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, November 12 thru December 17, 7:30-noon
Monona Terrace
For details visit www.dcfm.org
DECEMBER IN THE GARDEN—A checklist of things to do this month.
___Mulch perennials to protect from the cold and prevent heaving.
___Purchase marsh hay and rose protection. Wait till the ground freezes.
___Mulch roses by mounding soil and wrapping, rather than using rose cones.
___Keep birdfeeders full. Clean periodically with soap and water.
___Make water available to the birds. Begin using a deicer as needed.
___Plant bulbs for forcing and put in a cool location for 10-12 weeks.
___Plant bulbs until the ground freezes.
___Prep lawnmower for winter storage and snowblower for weather to come.
___Mark driveways and sidewalks with stakes.
___Finish garden cleanup to make spring easier and prevent pests.
___Do any last minute raking to prevent smothering delicate plants or beds.
___Spread fireplace ashes over beds to amend the soil.
___Make sure clay pots are stored inside and dry to prevent cracking.
___Place your used Christmas tree in the garden for added wildlife protection.
___Have trees trimmed–it’s often times cheaper and easier to schedule.
___Inspect stored summer bulbs like dahlias, cannas and glads for rotting.
___Stop feeding houseplants and cut back on watering.
___Inventory last year’s leftover seeds before ordering new ones.
___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.
___Wrap trunks of susceptible trees to protect from rodents.
___Visit Klein’s—it’s green, it’s warm, it’s colorful—it’s always spring!
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 DECEMBER:
—We’re prepping the hundreds of poinsettias and holiday plants that go out for orders each day. After choosing the most gorgeous plants, we need to foil, bow and sleeve each order before loading into our vans for delivery to Madison’s homes, businesses and churches.
—Tropicals for next summer sale continue to arrive. Our tropicals (such as bougainvilleas, bananas, colocasias, alocasias, etc.) arrive now so we are able to get the best selection and are able to offer you substantial sized plants next summer.
—Hundreds of herbs for windowsill culture are thriving in the sunny, warm greenhouses . We have chosen only the best assortment for indoor growing and winter harvest. Choose from rosemary, lavender, parsley, thyme and more.
—We continue to plan and prepare for Wisconsin Public Television’s Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February by sprucing up display pieces and potting up thousands of violas, primrose, cineraria, etc. for sale at the show. This is Klein’s biggest annual event and our most important advertising.
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/
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/
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.
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.
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.
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/
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