August 1, 2017 Newsletter

Think you have the Most Beautiful Garden? Perhaps all of that hard work and creativity can literally pay off by entering our Most Beautiful Garden Contest. We invite you to submit photographs along with our entry form to Klein’s via e-mail or snail mail by September 1. Winners are selected by our staff and will be announced on our website in early September. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places include gift cards for a Klein’s shopping spree. We have a separate category for container gardens.

They say pictures say a thousand words and sometimes the most simple of designs says more than the most elaborate. Please visit our home page in the following weeks at www.kleinsfloral.com for details and entry information.

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.

Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00

Saturday: 9:00-5:00

Sunday: 10:00-4:00

Demolition and the beginning of the reconstruction of our new facility is set to begin this month. We are planning be open during the entire process. Please read our ‘Flower Shoppe’ section below for details. Ongoing specials and selection change weekly so give us a call for the most up-to-date information at (608) 244-5661 or toll free at 888-244-5661 or on our home page @ www.kleinsfloral.com or Facebook.

Later in August, watch for the appearance our fall mums, ornamental kales and cabbages, mixed fall containers and cool weather vegetables, including; chard, kale, lettuces and cole crops. We still have a nice selection of seeds for the fall vegetable garden, including; radishes, spinach, lettuce and SO much more!

August 7–Full Moon

September 4–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00

Though our open hours will be shortened, our intent at the moment is to remain up and running through the entire construction process (which should be complete by the 2018 spring season). Mums, pansies, violas, ornamental kales and fall vegetable crops will all be ready for sale in the upcoming weeks and our poinsettia crop has really taken off in the summer heat and humidity; all signs we will be open and ready for your business.

Over the past few weeks the Klein’s staff has busily been preparing and readying 5 of our growing greenhouses out back to welcome our customers. Only the archaic and inefficient front ranges nearest East Washington Avenue are being demolished and reconstructed. Our growing areas out back are newer and simpler structures and will be our temporary home in the upcoming months. We’ve been very busy making sure that your shopping experience continues to be a pleasant one. We’ve drastically tidied the new retail spaces, leveled floors, widened doors and set up new display areas; both inside and out. The ‘temporary Klein’s’ will be accessible from both East Washington Ave. and from Stoughton Rd. behind the Walgreens (though our entrance nearest the Home Savings Bank will be closed due to the construction). A temporary parking lot will be at the back of our property nearest Club LaMark.

Once inside, you’ll get a peek into our behind-the-scenes growing greenhouses. We’ll continue to have a wonderful selection of houseplants, blooming plants, succulents, air plants, pottery, soils and supplies (though a bit more limited selection until in our new facility is open).

A floral cooler will continue to be stocked daily with fresh arrangements and cut flowers and designers will be available for all of your floral needs. Floral orders and daily deliveries will continue as usual and can be made by calling our designers at 608-244-5661 or online at www.kleinsfloral.com. Our goal is to keep everything running as close to status quo as possible during construction.

In short, we’re hoping you’ll continue to visit us during these exciting upcoming months (if out of curiosity alone). Our homegrown mums will be available within weeks, spring bulbs will become available around Labor Day and our poinsettias will begin showing color in mid-October. AND…our growers are currently busy ordering product for the 2018 spring season for our brand new state-of-the-art garden center.

Please visit us at www.kleinsfloral.com or on Facebook for updated news and business hours and watch for our continued monthly newsletters for all the newest information as the project proceeds.

In advance, we ask for your patience, support and continued patronage in the upcoming months!

Many thanks,

From the staff at Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses

Hi Sherri,

Without the plants being tested for disease, I can’t be 100% sure, but the symptoms appear to be early blight. The cool and wet June we’ve been having is the perfect condition for early blight to set in. Though spread by spores in the air, early blight sets in even sooner if tomatoes are planted each year in the same general area in the garden or if the soil hasn’t been replaced in containers. In those situations the spores are harbored in the soil and affect the plant almost immediately. Crop rotation is a must. A copper fungicide should be used preventively beginning about two weeks before the problem usually appears and then every week thereafter. Once symptoms appear it’s too late and the plant slowly dies as the season progresses. You should get some produce, however, if this is the case.

Another question. Is there a black walnut in the area of your tomato plants. Plants in the nightshade family (of which the tomato is a member along with eggplants, petunias and many others) can’t be grown near our native black walnuts. Oftentimes customers new to the area aren’t aware of juglone toxicity. Even the leaves used as mulch are toxic to tomatoes.

I hope this was of some help.

Thanks for your question,

Klein’s Mad Gardener

The words ‘wildflower’ and ‘weed’ are by all means not synonymous and many, many of our most lovely roadside ‘weeds’ make the perfect addition to any low maintenance garden. By definition, most Wisconsin wildflowers are inherently low maintenance in the sheer fact they are meant to be here. They tolerate our cold winters, crazy seesaw springs and hot and humid (and sometimes very dry) summers. They thrive where many domesticated species whither under those same conditions. Many wildflowers are magnets for beneficial insects, butterflies and birds. Though many wildflowers can become ‘aggressive’ in the garden, they are at least not ‘invasive’. While so many of our garden perennials have come from other parts of the world and are crowding out or even destroying our native species, Wisconsin’s wildflowers are meant to be here by design and perhaps will find a home in your garden–by design.

The following is a list of common and readily available perennial Wisconsin wildflowers available at most well-stocked garden centers. While we encourage the use of Wisconsin wildflowers in the garden, PLEASE do not dig up wild plants. Though beautiful to look at, many Wisconsin wildflowers are becoming increasingly rare. Wildflowers available at garden centers have been propagated from domesticated stock and are not harvested in the wild.

Agastache foeniculum (Giant Blue Hyssop)

Allium cernuum (Nodding Wild Onion)

Allium stellatum (Prairie Onion)

Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant)

Anemone canadensis (Canada Anemone)

Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine)

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)

Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger)

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Aster divaricatus (White Wood Aster)

Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster)

Aster oblongifolius (Aromatic Aster)

Baptisia australis (False Indigo)

Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)

Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)

Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)

Echinacea angustifolia (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

Eupatorium maculatum (Joe-pye Weed)

Eupatorium purpureum (Sweet Joe-pye Weed)

Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry)

Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium)

Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)

Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower)

Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag Iris)

Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris)

Liatris aspera (Rough Blazing Star)

Liatris ligulistylis (Meadow Blazing Star)

Liatris pycnostachya (Purple Blazing Star)

Lilium superbum (Turk’s-cap Lily)

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)

Lobelia siphilitica (Blue Cardinal Flower)

Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)

Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebell)

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bee Balm)

Optunia humifusa (Prickly Pear Cactus)

Petalostemum (Dalea) purpureum (Prairie Clover)

Phlox divaricata (Wild Blue Phlox)

Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple)

Polemonium reptans (Creeping Jacob’s Ladder)

Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower)

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)

Rudbeckia laciniata (Green-headed Coneflower)

Rudbeckia triloba (Thin-leaved Coneflower)

Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)

Silphium laciniatum (Compass Plant)

Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant)

Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod)

Solidago rigida (Stiff Goldenrod)

Tradescantia occidentalis (Spiderwort)

Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio Spiderwort)

Trillium grandiflorum (Large-flowered Trillium)

Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain)

Vernonia fasciculata (Ironweed)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s Root)

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.

For generations, plain old clay pots have been have been the go-to pot type for gardeners. Both practical and inexpensive, terra cotta pottery will survive for years if properly cared for. The porous clay makes it far easier to avoid overwatering than when using plastic, resin or ceramic containers. And though heavy, their added weight prevents plants from blowing over in high winds. At Klein’s, plain clay pottery from Ceramo™ has long been the backbone of our extensive pottery selection. In addition, terra cotta pots are far and away your best choice when planting cacti or succulent gardens.

We’ve been in the flower pot business for a long time, producing and distributing our first planter from raw Missouri clay shortly after the end of World War II.

The red clay Standard Flower Pot is one of the most iconic consumer products in the world – everyone can immediately identify its timeless design. This means that no garden center is complete without these classic planters on their shelves.

We have a deep partnership with Spang, the German manufacturer of amazing clay planters. Our larger German terra cotta flower pots (6” diameter and larger) feature a reinforced rim unlike anything else found in the market. These rims are specifically engineered to enhance both the quality and the durability of these incredible pots. The banded portion of the rim helps to keep these clay pots perfectly round during the production and firing processes – this structural integrity allows the flower pots to stack correctly, keeping them from scraping and scratching each other during transit.

Not all flower pots are suitable for year-round outdoor use – generally, only “high-fired” pots are able to survive the temperature changes and the freeze/thaw cycle. Examples of pots that don’t make this cut are most Mexican terra cotta planters, and most Italian red clay pottery. Also, any pots or vases that do not have drainage holes should be brought inside.

Once you’ve determined that you have a flower pot that will most likely survive the worst that winter has to offer, it’s important to note that it’s generally not OK to just leave the pots in the same condition that they were in during the growing season.

Obviously, the best option is to bring your ceramic flower pots inside, or to at least cover them with a tarp. If those aren’t options for your containers, or if you really like the way the pots look, and you want to keep looking at them all winter, there are lots of things you can do to ensure that your beautiful pots continue to look great and last through the winter:

Keep the Drainage Holes Open – Hands down, this is the single most important factor in determining if your planters are going to make it through the winter. Do NOT plug up the drainage holes in any way on pots that you intend to leave outside through the winter. Please note that this does NOT mean that the pots need to be totally empty, but if you pour water into the pot, it should start dripping through the drainage holes within minutes. This is best accomplished by placing a layer of small rocks, broken pots, Styrofoam peanuts, or similarly-sized materials on the bottom of the pot, which will prevent the drain from getting blocked with soil clots. Ideally, this layer will be about 10-15% of the interior height of the pot.

Use A Potting Soil Blend that Allows for Drainage – You should be doing this anyway, but if you aren’t, Fall is a great time to change out your potting soil. Again, the goal here is to make sure that water can drain fully to the bottom of the flower pot.

No Saucers – Seriously. Saucers do a lot of great things – they help to keep your plants hydrated through the hot seasons, they protect your decks and floors, and they look great with many flower pots. They are also your flower pots’ worst enemy during a deep freeze. Any residual water left in a saucer when the cold hits will freeze. This will not only cause the saucer to become stuck to the planter, but it can also pressure the foot of the pot, causing breakage or crumbling. The ice-filled saucer will also plug the drainage holes on the bottom of your pot, allowing the pot to retain water, and in turn presenting the opportunity for ice to expand and break the pot from the inside out.

Use Pot Feet – Again, there are a lot of reasons for doing this. First, using pot feet keeps the bottom of the pot elevated, which enhances drainage. This elevation also keeps water from pooling below the pot, eliminating the risk of the pot freezing to the ground.

Source: ceramousa.com/index.html

As a rule, foxgloves are not one of my favorite garden plants. Though the flowers are exceptionally showy, the plants tend to be very brittle and prone to breaking. Both leaves and stems snap easily when bumped up against. In addition, the common foxgloves are a biennial; meaning that after they flower, the original plant dies away. Unless seedlings appear, new plants need to be added to the garden continuously for best show.

Having said that, there is one foxglove I’m particularly fond of. Yellow foxglove (Digitalis lutea) is perfectly suited for the wildflower garden that makes up my entire front yard. Instead of being biennial, yellow foxglove is a short-lived perennial. And though short-lived, I’ve never had a shortage of seedlings throughout the yard. Small colonies have appeared throughout the flower beds. Their appearance is quite elegant and the color nicely subdued.

Like most foxgloves, yellow foxglove is rather shade tolerant. The glossy foliage is never bothered by insect pests. Smallish, pale yellow, tubular blooms appear on tall stalks in late spring and early summer. Plants grow to 2-3‘ tall and never need staking. Though they self-sow readily, the plant never gets out of hand and is easy to recognize and pull as needed. Regular visits by hummingbirds are an added bonus.

The dog days of summer are about to begin; signaled by the incessant humming of the cicadas in the neighbor’s silver maple. Their high-pitched buzz is loved by some and despised by others. For me, the noise fondly reminds me of the long, warm, summer days of my childhood on the family farm. Like the wren in the spring or geese in the fall, the sound of cicadas in summer is a song I long to hear.

by Charles Fonass

Who among us hasn’t heard that persistent hum in the trees on a warm summer afternoon? Most everyone knows the sound and many know the source, but few take the time to see the noisy little buzzer who simply insists on being heard.

Although more than nine species of cicadas are found in Wisconsin, the one most frequently encountered is Tibicen canicularis, sometimes called the Dogday Harvestfly. Although it might look a bit fearsome to the person lucky enough to see one up close, it is completely harmless; buzzing is the way it attracts a mate. The cicada looks like a fly to some, but it is actually closely related to the much smaller aphids and leafhoppers.

The droning sound is produced by a pair of drumskin-like organs on the base of the abdomen. These vibrate at a high speed thus buzzing when the male cicada calls for a mate usually between mid-July and mid-September.

Once mating is complete, the female slits an opening in a small branch or twig with her ovipositor and deposits a small cluster of eggs. When the eggs hatch, the young nymphs drop to the ground, burrow down and begin feeding by sucking nourishing juices from the tree roots.

The nymphs remain in their subterranean (underground) world for approximately two years before they are ready to emerge into daylight and begin their adult lives. Other cicada species have a 4-17 year life cycle.

After cicada emerge, the 1-1.5 inch nymph climbs up the tree trunk for several feet but usually stops below the branches. Then its skin splits lengthwise down its back and the adult cicada slowly pushes out.

As with several other members of the insect world, the adult cicada has a rather short life span, a few weeks, compared to its exceptionally long term juvenile stage. The adult cicada is not known to feed although it possesses a rather scary looking mouth part that has been known to give a good poke to a careless handler or two.

If the robin is to many the harbinger (messenger) of spring, then the cicada is perhaps an advance scout for autumn warning all who hear it to “enjoy the summer while you can for the end is near.”

Charles Fonass writes about nature for Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

Source: eekwi.org/index.htm

This has been a banner year for the Japanese beetles in my garden. I don’t like to use chemicals in my garden. After all, anything I use for the beetles will surely affect the bees and butterflies I’m wanting to attract to my garden. I could pick them off by hand and drown them as some suggest, but I have better things to do with my time. I could purchase traps, but we all know that only brings in the beetles from all the neighbors’ yards. Attracting even more beetles is not one of my goals. Rather, I’ve learned to live with these non-native invaders. Yes, they’ve decimated my roses, morning glories, cannas, hollyhocks, basil and much more, but the cosmetic damage is only temporary. The adult beetles are currently breeding like crazy, meaning they’ll be around for just a few weeks more–plenty of time for my plants to recuperate and many more weeks of late season blooms. I’ve noticed that many plants rebound with enhanced vigor after the attack. It’s as though I’ve pinched back the plants with none of the work. Besides, I find the beetles kind of pretty and fun to watch. Kids are particularly fascinated by their antics.

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

Reports have it that with all the rain this growing season, the sweet corn crop is rather hit and miss in 2017. The crop is a few weeks behind due to late planting and much of the crop succumbed to deluges throughout southern Wisconsin. On the up side, the local corn now available is of very good quality–apparently quite juicy and exceptionally sweet. Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

SOUR CREAM CORN BREAD–Good cornbread recipes that actually use fresh sweet corn can be hard to find. This recipe appeared in Burpee’s American Harvest Cookbook–The Early Summer Garden by Perla Meyers.

1 1/4 cups, coarse yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup flour

3 TBS. sugar

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup whole milk

6 TBS. butter

1 cup fresh corn kernels, lightly minced

Sift together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside. In another large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream and milk. Whisk till well blended. Generously butter a 9” square cake pan. Place in the center of an oven and preheat to 400º. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the corn and cook on medium-low until tender, 5-7 minutes. Whisk the corn into the egg mixture. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Do not over mix. Pour the batter into the hot pan and return to the oven. Bake 20-25 minutes till golden. Test center with a toothpick that should come out clean when done. Let cool slightly. Serve warm.

CORN SALAD–This excellent and very refreshing recipe comes from the Wisconsin Herb Cookbook by Suzanne Breckinridge and Marjorie Snyder from Prairie Oak Press (1996). It’s super easy and colorful.

3 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (or frozen, thawed)

1 TBS. butter

1/8 tsp. cayenne

salt & pepper

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped red pepper

1 jalapeño seeded and minced

3/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

5 TBS. veggie oil

2 TBS. white vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/8 tsp. dried thyme

Sauté the corn in the butter until hot. Add the cayenne and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. In a bowl, mix together the corn, sweet peppers, jalapeño, celery, onion and parsley. In another bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, cumin and thyme. Toss together with the salad ingredients. Allow to chill. Serves 6.

SHRIMP, CORN AND POTATO SOUP–This simple recipe appeared in a 2004 issue of Cooking Light magazine. The reviews simply say “WOW”. This makes for one FAST meal!!

1 3/4 cups chopped red onion

1 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 clove minced garlic

2 cups chopped baking potato

2 x 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth

16 oz. corn kernels, fresh or frozen, thawed

1 x 14.75 oz. can cream style corn

1 x 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

1 x 6 oz. can tomato paste

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 1/2 lbs. peeled and deveined shrimp

1/4 cup sliced green onion (optional)

Sauté the onion, green pepper, celery and garlic in a little oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the potato, broth, corn, cream style corn, tomatoes and paste. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper and the shrimp. Bring back to a boil then lower to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the green onions and serve. Serves 8.

CORN ON THE COB WITH A TWIST–The basic recipe appeared in our June ‘08 newsletter. The “twist” appeared years ago in Martha Stewart Living. Keeping the husks on, imparts a delightful smoky flavor and prevents wasting foil. When dining outside, simply keep a pail or waste can handy for the husks and toss them into the compost heap.

Basic version: Snip the silks from the desired number of cobs with a pair of scissors. Break off any really long stems from the base if desired. Keeping the husk on the cobs, soak the ears in a large bow, pail or in the kitchen sink for at least 30 minutes. This soaking slows the husks from scorching too quickly once placed on the grill. The added moisture also adds in steaming the corn for even cooking. Some people add either salt or sugar to the water for added flavor. Bake the soaked cobs , covered, indirectly over hot charcoal or on the upper level of a medium hot gas grill for 25-30 minutes, rotating and flipping twice during cooking for even browning. The husks should become quite scorched. Times may vary based on your grill so experiment.

The Twist: After soaking the ears, pull back the husks, remove the silks entirely. Wrap one slice of bacon around each ear. Pull the husks back over the ears, tying the end with a removed husk leaf or kitchen twine to seal the open end. Cook as above.

While paging through old issues of The American Gardener magazine, a publication put out by the American Horticultural Society (ahsgardening.org), we came across a fascinating article titled ‘Geraniums May be the Key to Controlling Japanese Beetles.’ With Japanese beetle season upon us, we found it timely to share what we found on-line in doing some research on the topic. It’s fascinating stuff and who knows what the future holds for an organic way to ward off or control our rampant Japanese beetle population. Keep in mind that this research is only in its infancy.

The following portion of an article comes from the Agricultural Research Service branch of the United States Department of Agriculture and was published a number of years back in Agricultural Research magazine (www.ars.usda.gov).

Some insect pests are very specialized—usually feasting on one crop. Many are named after that one particular crop that they ingest most—like pickleworms, melonworms, and sweet potato weevils. Unfortunately for growers of ornamentals, soybean, maize, fruit, and vegetables, the Japanese beetle is not a picky eater. It feeds on nearly 300 plant species in almost 80 plant families.

The beetle, Popillia japonica, is by far the most destructive pest of ornamental and turf plants in the eastern United States, with more than $450 million spent each year to control it and replace damaged plants.

But there is hope, since there is one plant that the hungry little critter may want to avoid—the geranium, Pelargonium zonale. Though its lovely, colorful flowers are very attractive for all and profitable for growers, the flowers are deadly to the beetles. Within 30 minutes of consuming the petals, the beetle rolls over on its back, its legs and antennae slowly twitch, and it remains paralyzed for several hours. When paralyzed under laboratory conditions, the beetles typically recover within 24 hours, but they often die under field conditions because predators spot and devour them.

The poisoning effect of geranium flowers on beetles is not a new discovery; it has been reported in scientific papers dating back to the 1920s. But the phenomenon has not been studied in depth—how or why it happens—until recently, when Agricultural Research Service scientists in Ohio picked up where scientists left off more than half a century ago.

Currently, Chris Ranger, an entomologist in the ARS Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, is working on a natural, botanical formulation for controlling the beetles based on paralytic compounds isolated from geraniums. Patent rights are being pursued. Ranger is collaborating with Ajay Singh, a natural products chemist from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

And more from the University of Kentucky at www.research.uky.edu:

Binged-Out Beetles by Jonathan Riggs

Another round of geranium petals seems to be the order of the day for thrill-seeking Japanese beetles. It seems that after feeding on these petals, Japanese beetles get so intoxicated that they pass out for 12 to 18 hours. In the wild, this can be a lethal binge.

Drawing on research done in the 1920s, UK entomologists Daniel Potter and David Held have been studying this phenomenon, trying to figure out what exactly in the geranium causes such a powerful reaction.

Since the Japanese beetle feeds on 300 plants and 79 plant families, including many plants grown for profit or pleasure, researchers are always looking for new, earth-friendly methods of controlling them. The geranium’s knockout punch offers an intriguing possibility.

“We found that when Japanese beetles fed upon the petals of geranium, generally in less than an hour the bugs enter a kind of narcotic state,” says Potter. “They curl up on their back and pull their legs close to their underside.

They’ll twitch if you disturb them, but they’re clearly in dreamland.”

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Potter and Held have found that plants grown in full sunlight pack more of a culinary wallop for Japanese beetles.

And the bugs seem unable to resist temptation. When researchers gave beetles who had never encountered a geranium a choice between the nutritious linden plant and the mind-blowing geranium, the beetles overwhelmingly chose geranium and ended up staring up at the sky. Each time the beetles recovered, they chomped down another helping of petals and all but ignored the healthy choice.

Potter’s team reared pairs of beetles in boxes with soil so that they could lay their eggs. One group received the healthy linden leaves, one group received the geranium petals, and one group received an equal amount of both.

“As one would expect, the group that got the linden leaves lived long and happy lives and laid a large number of eggs,” says Potter. “Both groups with access to geranium spent the better part of this two-week experiment on their backs in a narcotic state, had a much higher mortality rate, and laid very few eggs.”

Unlike certain caterpillars, Japanese beetles seemed unable to learn. In fact, each time they recovered from a geranium-trip, they would consume almost 10 times the previous amount before becoming intoxicated.

In theory, an insect that views nature as its personal buffet, like the Japanese beetle, should be able to learn from this type of bad experience.

“Of course, we’re presuming this is an unpleasant experience for the Japanese beetle,” says Potter. “Clearly their nervous system is being affected and perhaps that’s compromising their ability to learn. It certainly has some parallels to human addiction, although I don’t think it’s quite the same phenomenon.”

With the help of plant chemists at Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University, UK researchers are testing various geranium chemicals on the beetle-favorite Virginia creeper, and they’ve been able to duplicate the geranium’s narcotic effects. Potter says that by this coming summer they’ll have identified the exact extract.

This knowledge should prove useful in further Japanese beetle control research.

“One of my goals is to understand the insect better,” says Potter. “I think if you understand the biology of a pest insect, it opens up new avenues for management that are environmentally more responsible.”

Japanese beetle management is serious stuff—almost all of the states east of the Mississippi River except Florida suffer tremendous financial damage from the ravenous insects. This research is part of the USDA’s effort to prevent the Japanese beetle from spreading to the western United States, where it could devastate such economic mainstays as the California vineyards.

The Japanese beetle’s behavior makes it an interesting insect to study, Potter says.

“I really like the Japanese beetle. It’s my bread and butter insect. It’s a great bug, sort of The Terminator of the insect world.”

What is a weed? To some, it’s a plant out of place. To others, it’s an unwanted plant. Still, others seem to think a weed is simply a plant that overtakes a lawn by crowding out grass. One familiar plant that seems to fall in each of these categories is white clover. But white clover didn’t always hold such dubious distinctions.

Clover was once highly prized in lawns because of its soft texture and its contribution of nitrogen to the soil. Then in the 1950s, a lawn-seed company campaigned to convince the public that clover was noxious. A lot of lawn lovers were converted into clover clippers – a lucky occurrence indeed for the company, which had recently introduced a chemical to kill clover.

Nevertheless, white clover can be particularly frustrating for those trying to eradicate it from their lawn because it’s difficult to kill. Clover leaves can literally shed weed and feed products – causing the leaves to turn brown at the margins. When this happens we reach for more potent chemicals. This whole sequence is ironic, since the valuable nitrogen in weed and feed products could have been supplied, at least in part, by the clover.

For those not fond of white clover, it is generally a greater problem (more aggressive) on wet soils, in years of excessive rainfall, and under high potassium fertilization. Under these conditions, cutbacks on supplemental watering and testing the soil before using potassium fertilizers should be the first steps in controlling this “weed.”

On the other hand, since clover provides benefits to the lawn, perhaps it would be a good subject around which to start rethinking lawn weed control.

(The previous article comes to you from the UW Extension website and was first posted in our August 2011 newsletter. We could no longer find a link to the page)

Sundays thru September 24, 1:30-3:00

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Get an insider’s view of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens during a free guided garden stroll. All ages are welcome for this casual overview of the Gardens. Guided garden strolls will vary somewhat according to the season to reflect the garden areas that are at peak interest.

Strolls start and end in the lobby near the Garden entrance and are about 45 to 60 minutes in length. No registration is required; strolls are drop-in only. Strolls are held rain or shine and will be cancelled only in the event of dangerous lightning.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Thru August 13

Daily from 10:00-4:00

In the Bolz Conservatory

Experience the wonder of strolling through a tropical forest on a search for fleeting butterflies. Live butterflies emerge from chrysalises daily in the Bolz Conservatory. Olbrich’s Blooming Butterflies is a great adventure for people of all ages. Children can visit stamping stations in the outdoor gardens with their Butterfly Passport while learning fun facts. Tour the outdoor gardens and visit the Growing Gifts shop. The cost is $7 for adults, $3 for children ages 12 and under, and free for children under 2. Olbrich Botanical Society members are admitted free. Parking is free. Bus tours are welcome; groups of 10 or more must register by calling 608/246-4550. The Bolz Conservatory will be closed Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18 in preparation for Olbrich’s Blooming Butterflies.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Enjoy the summer evening with a concert on the Great Lawn of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens. A wide variety of music is highlighted, including jazz, folk, honky-tonk, and much more. Olbrich’s Summer concerts are Tuesdays, June 20 – July 25 at 7 p.m. with special performances August 1 and August 8. A $2 admission donation is suggested.

Olbrich Concerts in the Gardens 2017 Schedule:

(All concerts are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.)

Ken Lonnquist featured performer for the Madison Public Library’s

Summer Reading Club Concert

Fresco Opera-Opera Made Fresh. Live opera performances in different locations throughout the Gardens. Stand and stroll concert viewing; no seating provided.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Saturday, August 5, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Lake View Hill Park, 1202 Northport Dr, Madison, WI 53704

Instructor: Linda Conroy

Fee: $20 for Owners; $30 for non-owners

Join herbalist and forager Linda Conroy to explore the wild plants that grow around us. We will learn about common and uncommon wild plants that can be used for food and medicine. Identification techniques, as well as ways to prepare plants for optimal nutrition and healing, will be discussed. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. This class will take place at Lake View Hill Park, 1202 Northport Drive, Madison. Meet in the parking lot; the tour leaves promptly at 10:00am.

Payment is required at registration; please register by stopping at the Willy North Customer Service desk or by calling 608-709-5445.

Willy Street Co-op North

2817 N. Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704

(608) 709-5445 or www.willystreet.coop

Sunday, August 6, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

4864 Pheasant Branch Conservancy Springs, Middleton

Instructor: Linda Conroy

Fee: $20 for Owners; $30 for non-owners

Join herbalist and forager Linda Conroy to explore the wild plants that grow around us. We will learn about common and uncommon wild plants that can be used for food and medicine. Identification techniques, as well as ways to prepare plants for optimal nutrition and healing, will be discussed. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. This class will take place at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, 4864 Pheasant Branch Road, Middleton. Meet in the Conservancy parking lot; the tour leaves promptly at 10:00am.

Payment is required at registration; please register by stopping at the Willy West Customer Service desk or by calling 608-284-7800.

Willy Street Co-op West

6825 University Ave.
Middleton, WI 53562

(608) 284-7800 or www.willystreet.coop

Add a little bit of musical enjoyment to your Sunday afternoons this summer with Summer Sundays: Concerts in the Garden. This new concert series will feature some of the best musical groups in Madison ranging from classical to jazz chamber music. The concerts will be held alternating Sunday afternoons starting June 25 and ending September 17, from 5-6:00 p.m. in our English Garden.

This event is free and open to the public. Brought to you by the Friends of Allen Centennial Garden.

Performance by Will Street Chamber Players

Fun and sassy chamber music by one of Madison’s newest groups, bringing a fresh, imaginative take to classical music that appeals equally to classical music fans & newcomers. Expect some serious fun!

Performance by Quartessence

Suave string stylings from one of Madison’s favorite society quartets. Jazz standard in music of Ellington, Gershwin, Cole Porter, Dave Bruebeck—classical meets cool in sophisticated string quartet jazz!

Performance by Full Count Jazz

Full Count Jazz, a new collaboration of old friends, takes an improvisational swing at songs from Ellington to Django, the Beatles to Broadway, Stephen Foster to Taylor Swift. Fun and of-the cut jazz!

Performance by Jan Wheaton Quartet*

Madison jazz icon Jan Wheaton personalizes every song—jazz, swing, boogie-woogie, lounge-country—with her marvelous low register in unforgettable renditions by her swingin’ combo.

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison

608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.

Tuesday, August 8, 5:30-7:30

Join Garden Executive Director, Ben Futa, and Apiary Student Director, Will Olson, on a guided walk to discover how Allen Centennial Garden is supporting local pollinators. After the walk, create a pollinator home to take home and bee-utify your garden.

Register here: https://pollinatorsatacg.eventbrite.com

$15 for non-members | $12 for members

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison

608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.

Wednesday, August 9, 7:00-dusk

Susan Carpenter, native plant gardener, will focus on color, size, and features of native grasses, from tiny mustache grass to big bluestem. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

August 14 thru October 29, 2017

Daily from 10:00-4:00

In the Bolz Conservatory

Beneficial insects have been used in the Conservatory since it opened in 1991. These bugs provide control of plant-damaging insects, minimizing the need of more dangerous traditional insecticides. These controls, along with several others, are part of the Conservatory’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This widely accepted program strives to use the least toxic method of insect and disease control to be more environmentally sensitive. Learn about Olbrich’s environmentally friendly pest control methods and get ideas you can use to reduce or eliminate pesticide use at home.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Saturday, August 19, 10:00-4:00

Sunday, August 20, 11:00-3:00

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Daylily Society

For info call 608/221-1933 or visit www.wisdaylilysoc.org

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Tuesday, August 22, 5:30-7:30

You’ve heard of Slow Food, but have you heard of Slow Flowers? Walk the Garden with Executive Director, Ben Futa, to discover the best cut flowers of the season while learning the best techniques for harvesting cut flowers. The evening will conclude with a flower arranging demonstration and arrangement to take home.

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison

608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.

Sunday, August 27, 1:30-3:30

Family Nature Program

Join us to listen to the late summer sounds of the prairie and discover birds, grasshoppers, crickets, bumblebees, and maybe even the sound of a snake slithering through the grass. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Tuesday, August 29, 6:30-8:00 p.m

Emily and Larry Scheunemann, retired Janesville educators, will present the program “All About Monarchs – Their Life and Their Migration.” Emily and Larry have created a Monarch Way station on their property in Wisconsin and have been tagging Monarchs in September for Monarch Watch for seven years. Learn about plants that can make a difference for the Monarch.

$5 for non-members, $3 for RBG Friends members, no registration required.

Rotary Botanical Gardens

1455 Palmer Drive

Janesville, WI

608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/

August 31 thru October 28, 2017

Thursdays thru Saturdays in September from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in October, rain or shine

In the gardens @ Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Definition: Gleam n. a flash of light; n. an appearance of reflected light; v. shine brightly like a star or light; v. appear briefly

GLEAM, Art in a New Light, returns to Olbrich with an exciting new series of illuminated art installations bringing mystery and delight to the outdoor gardens in the evening. Collaborations between artists and lighting designers create objects and effects that feature light as a dynamic physical presence. An evening wander is sure to inspire all ages as each installation engages the senses and sparks wonder!

GLEAM will be viewable daily, during regular public daytime hours in September and October. When the sun sets, the Gardens will open for extended viewing hours and art installations will be illuminated, inviting visitors to see the Gardens in a whole new light.

Admission for the general public is $13 for adults 13 & up ($11 for members) and $7 for children ages 3-12 ($6 for members).

Tickets available at the door starting at 7 p.m. pending online ticket sales. Gardens will close to the public at 6 p.m. on evening viewing dates. Last ticket sold at 10 p.m. (9:00 in October).

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 6:00-1:45

On the Capitol Square

Wednesdays, April 19 thru November 8, 8:30-1:45

In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

For details visit www.dcfm.org

Sundays, May 7 through October 22, 8:30-12:30

In the Northside TownCenter at the intersection of N. Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr. across from Warner Park.

The Northside Farmers Market is a nonprofit community enterprise. It is one of the newest and fastest growing farmers’ markets in Dane County. In keeping with the innovative spirit of Madison’s Northside, we are surpassing what defines the traditional farmers’ market. Our fundamental principles include:

–Providing an abundant selection of high quality, locally grown foods.

The market accepts Quest, WIC and Senior FMNP vouchers.

–Supporting our local agricultural entrepreneurs who are increasingly important today in ensuring that we have the best and safest food possible.

–Educating the community about traditional foods and the history of local agriculture in an attempt to preserve (and expand upon) our rich heritage.

–Promoting nutrition and the market by hosting dinners for neighborhood groups and seniors.

Parking is always FREE!

For details visit www.northsidefarmersmarket.org

AUGUST IN THE GARDEN—A checklist of things to do this month.

___Give the garden at least 1” of moisture per week.

___Mow as little as possible and with mower raised to at least 2”.

___Mulch beds to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.

___Deadheading spent blooms as needed.

___Collect seeds for next year’s garden.

___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.

___Take pictures of your garden for record keeping.

___Stake and support tall plants as needed.

___Divide daylilies as they finish blooming.

___Transplant and divide iris and peonies.

___Plant late crops of lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc.

___Order spring bulbs for fall planting: daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, etc.

___Plant fall blooming crocus bulbs.

___Fertilize potted plants at least every 2 weeks. Follow directions.

___Stop fertilizing all trees and shrubs.

___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.

___Watch for pests and control as needed or desired.

___Shop for early mum selection and fall pansies.

___Begin checking out the garden centers for spring bulb selection.

___Stop watering held over amaryllis for 8 weeks for holiday blooms.

___Begin taking cuttings of geraniums, coleus and other plants to winter over.

___Visit Klein’s—Watch for end of season savings on perennials, shrubs and select annuals.

Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:

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

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

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.

—The poinsettias continue grow and thrive in our back greenhouses. They’re so big already, we’ve had to give them adequate spacing.

–The first of the mums, pansies and fall cole crops go out onto the sales floor.

—Summer maintenance projects are under way. This year’s plans include replacing old benches, replacing and repairing some roofs and some general touchups.

—We continue to space and pamper the fall mums that are now just beginning to bloom.

—We’re prepping our main showrooms for the semi-load of houseplants arriving from Florida about mid-month. We time this shipment with the arrival of the college students. Select from all shapes and sizes; from tropicals to succulents. The showrooms become a veritable jungle.

—We begin ordering plants for the 2018 season.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

University of Wisconsin Extension

1 Fen Oak Ct. #138

Madison, WI 53718

Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic

Dept. of Plant Pathology

1630 Linden Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

Insect Diagnostic Lab

240 Russell Labs

1630 Linden Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

U.W. Soil and Plant Analysis Lab

8452 Mineral Point Rd.

Verona, WI 53593

American Horticultural Society

Garden Catalogs (an extensive list with links)

also http://www.mailordergardening.com/

Invasive Species

Community Groundworks

3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4

Madison, WI 53704

Madison Area Master Gardeners (MAMGA)

Wisconsin Master Gardeners Program

Department of Horticulture

1575 Linden Drive

University of Wisconsin – Madison

Madison, WI 53706

The Wisconsin Gardener

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave.

Madison, WI 53704

Rotary Gardens

1455 Palmer Dr.

Janesville, WI 53545

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

University of Wisconsin-West Madison

Agricultural Research Center

8502 Mineral Point Rd.

Verona, WI 53593

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

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