September 1, 2017 Newsletter

Our homegrown mums and fall plants are now available, spring bulbs will arrive just after 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.

Our floral cooler is stocked daily with fresh arrangements and cut flowers and designers are available for all of your floral needs. Floral orders and daily deliveries 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.

Follow our progress on Facebook as the work proceeds.

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

September 1–Eid al Adha begins

Week of September 3—The Spring Bulbs Arrive!! Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and much more arrive for fall planting. We suggest that you hold off planting spring bulbs until the weather cools in October. But shop early for best selection!

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

September 6–Full Moon

September 10–Grandparents’ Day

September 20–Rosh Hashanah begins

September 22–Fall Begins

September 30—Yom Kippur

With the currently available bounty of fresh seasonal flowers, here are a few tried and true arranging tips to help make your floral creation look like the pros’:

When you begin working on the arrangement, start with the largest or most prominent variety of flower first.

—Rather than adding one type of flower and then another, it’s better to work with a single flower type at a time. In this way, you can layer the different varieties, shapes and colors of flower evenly and create a more balanced arrangement.

—Work in a circle, placing in flower around the outer edge of the container. If you’re using wet foam, the stems should slide in easily. If they don’t, use a sharp object to poke a hole first, then insert the stem — just be careful not to make the holes any wider than the flower stems or the flowers won’t be secure.

—Turn the arrangement as you work to ensure that it looks even on all sides — a lazy Susan is great for this!

Once you have finished with the first circle of flowers, move on to the second, using a different variety of flower.

—This circle of flowers should be inside the first. Try to create a domed effect by leaving the stems slightly longer on the inner flowers. The finished arrangement should look like a bunch of flowers growing on a hilltop.

—Continue to layer the flowers in this manner, one variety after another, according to the size and number of flowers in your arrangement.

One of the main rules when it comes to flower arranging is to use an odd number of each variety of flower.

—For instance, you might have 7 red roses in the outer circle, 5 white roses in the inner circle and 3 sprigs of baby’s breath interspersed between them.

—This uneven number of flowers helps the arrangement to look less uniform and more organic.

The height and width of your arrangement is another factor to consider when making your arrangement.

—The general rule when it comes to height is that your arrangement should be one and half times the height of the vase or container it’s held in.

—There’s no clear-cut rule when it comes to the width of your arrangement, but it should be wide enough to balance out the height.

—Rotate the arrangement as you work to ensure that the height and width are even on both sides.

Add any leaves, berries or other greenery last. When you have arranged all of the flowers to your liking, you can add the final touches by inserting any greenery, leaves, berries or other decorations.

—This is step is important — not only to add interest and texture to your arrangement — but also because the greenery helps to separate the blooms, giving air room to circulate in between them so the flowers stay fresh.

—Using filler material also helps to give the impression that there are more flowers in the arrangement than there actually are, so you can create an extravagant looking arrangement without the extravagant price!

Source: www.wikihow.com

Hi Martha,

This is far and away one of our most frequently asked questions, but usually after it’s already too late. The phone call for advice comes in March when one of our customer is faced with an aphid and whitefly infested, 10 foot ugly hibiscus that’s now shedding all of its leaves. Yes, there are very simple things you can be doing now to avoid this situation come winter.

My suggestions include:

1. Repot any plants that need it while they’re still outside, the days are still long and the weather is still relatively pleasant. Repotting is less messy outdoors and many houseplants go through a small growth burst in the fall before they want to go somewhat dormant. Repot sooner than later in that it becomes increasingly stressful on plants to be repotted as we move into the short days of winter.

2. Prune your plants (if applicable) to a desirable shape and size for the same reasons. Because your plants have been outdoors loving the sun and rain, they’ve probably outgrown their indoor spot. In addition, they’ve probably got far more foliage than they need for the dark and short days of winter. This is one of the main reasons many plants drop foliage during the winter months (the other being the artificial heat and low humidity in our homes). The plant simply can’t support all the greenery it put on during the summer months.

3. Cut back gradually on fertilizing. Because the days are shortening, your plants are wanting to go into a dormancy of sorts. Fertilizing in order to promote vigorous growth is counter to what the plant is wanting to do at this time of the year. In fact, from November until February, indoor plants in Wisconsin should not be fertilized at all, or with a very dilute solution.

4. Eliminate insect pests BEFORE you bring the pests into your home.

We recommend applying a systemic insecticide about 6 weeks before you plan on bringing plants indoors. A systemic is drawn up into the plant via the root system and makes the plant essentially undesirable to eat. By applying the systemic while the plant is still outdoors, you also eliminate the mess and the smell with that first application. It’s very important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The amount mixed into the soil is based on pot size rather than plant size. We recommend Labor Day weekend as the perfect time to apply your first round of systemic and then every 6 weeks throughout the winter. In doing so, your plants should remain insect free until they go outside again next spring. As with all pesticides, keep your treated plants away from children and pets.

Thanks for your question,

Klein’s Mad Gardener

Most tulips are at their best the first spring after planting. In subsequent springs, although the foliage may return, flowering is often sporadic.

To ensure a lavish display every year, many gardeners treat tulips as annuals: They dig up and discard the bulbs after the tulips bloom and then replant fresh bulbs in the fall. The effort and expense is repaid many times over by a spring show that no other plant can match.

Source: Colorblends @ www.colorblends.com

You buy tulip bulbs, plant them in the fall and enjoy a great display in the spring. But the following spring, all you get is a smattering of flowers and maybe a bunch of leaves. “What happened?” you ask yourself. “Aren’t tulips supposed to come back? My grandmother has tulips that have bloomed every spring for as long as she can remember. Did I do something wrong?”

More than likely, you are not to blame. It’s in the nature of tulips. Most are not strong perennializers in the landscape. They don’t flower well the second year after planting.

Why don’t tulips come back? The tulip bulbs you buy and plant in the fall have been groomed to bloom. They were raised in sandy Dutch soil and fertilized in just the right measure. When they bloomed in the spring, the flowers were cut off soon after they opened to keep them from drawing too much energy from the bulbs. The leaves were allowed to continue to grow for another six weeks in the famously cool Dutch weather. After going dormant in early summer, the bulbs were dug and stored in a climate-controlled warehouse to mimic a long, hot, bone-dry summer in the mountains of Central Asia, which is where most tulips are native.

All of this TLC yields a high percentage of flowering-size bulbs, including many topsize bulbs, which measure 12 centimeters in circumference or larger. A topsize bulb can’t get bigger, but it will get smaller, typically by splitting into two or more smaller bulbs. Under less-than-perfect garden conditions, when the bulbs split into smaller bulbs, those smaller bulbs may take years to grow to flowering size. Some may also rot due to heavy soil or excess moisture. And so your breathtaking tulip display dwindles to little or nothing.

Despite the obstacles, there are some tulips that are willing (but not guaranteed) to bloom well for more than one year. The best known are the Darwin Hybrids, but other types, such as the Fosterianas, and many of the wild, or species, tulips also have perennial tendencies. They won’t keep going indefinitely, but it’s possible to get two or three reasonably good displays from them before you feel the need to replant.

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.

You may already know that Klein’s is your one-stop, full service florist for any occasion and serving most of Dane County. But being a greenhouse, we also offer an amazing year round selection of blooming plants and houseplants. Whether a housewarming gift, a “thank-you” blooming plant, a condolence peace lily or a potted plant for dorm, home or office, we can fill your needs.

Each August we receive a semi-load of plants in all shapes and sizes fresh from Florida growers. Selection ranges from the smallest plants for terrariums and dishgardens, to tropical trees, to succulents and cactus. Overnight, our greenhouses become a lush, tropical jungle.

Our knowledgeable staff will help select the perfect plant for any location and occasion, offering care tips and sound advice. We also have an excellent selection of pottery and baskets to complement any decor.

While watering the mums at work today, I noticed that our grower, Jamie, had chosen a series of mums different from those we’ve carried in the past. When I asked him about this new series, he told me he was looking for a choice with increased hardiness over the varieties we’ve offered in the past. Mum hardiness is notoriously problematic here in Wisconsin; especially during winters like last winter when we had a January thaw, then rain, followed by a freezing cold spell. From what we’ve heard all season, mum loss was extremely high in the Madison area last winter. Introducing Garden Igloo Mums!

By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Every once in a while, a very good plant shows up in my trial garden and this time, it’s a mum.

The Igloo series of mums from Blooms of Bressingham comes in a handful of colors, but unlike its fall blooming cousins, this blooms from August into October or November. Igloo is in the Dendranthema plant group, which looks a lot like members of the Chrysanthemum family.

Chrysanthemum may or may not be a reliably hardy garden mum. Gardeners usually plant them in fall for seasonal color and hope for the best. However, Dendranthema is truly hardy and makes it through winter as smoothly as other perennials in the garden.

“Dendranthema is a separate genus and does not have the same habit as mums, but looks very similar,” said Christine Kelleher, head of marketing for Blooms of Bressingham North America. “Dendranthema is very promising from the hardiness aspect.”

It also is a plant that does not have to be cut back early in the season like other mums to control its shape and to keep it from splaying. As do many perennials, this one benefits from an occasional deadheading, more to keep the plant looking tidy than to keep it flowering.

Fall planted mums need a little attention to help them make it in the landscape through the winter. Here are some tips:

—Get these fall-blooming perennials in the ground as soon as possible. If using mums as container plants, it’s unlikely they will make it through winter, so enjoy their seasonal color as you would annuals.

—Plant mums in full sun, in well-drained soil that is moderately moist. If the soil is too wet or too dry, the mums will suffer. They tolerate part shade, but if it is too shady, the mums will get leggy and have smaller flowers.

—Deadhead, or remove spent flowers, to keep plants looking tidy and to promote more blooms.

—No need to fertilize the plants until you see new growth next spring.

—Do not cut the plant back this fall. The dried flowers and stems serve as a buffer or insulation to protect the plant during winter. When you see new growth in spring, cut the dead stems as close to the ground as possible.

Source: http://hoosiergardener.com

As usual this time of the summer, the orb weaver spiders are everywhere. It’s hard not to walk into the garden each morning and not run into their large, sturdy webs. I usually enter the garden nowadays waving my watering wand in front of me to clear the paths of webs.

There’s no easier or better way to control garden insect pests than to let nature do the job for us. It’s during the months of August and September that the familiar orb weaver spiders are at their peak in Madison area gardens.

Many of us were introduced to orb weaver spiders as children in the classic story Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. Though scary looking to some, it was through Charlotte that many of us learned to appreciate a spider’s beauty and understand it’s place in our surroundings.

It’s the orb weaver spiders that build the stereotypical spiral webs in gardens and around structures. Orb weavers typically have a large bulbous abdomen. The spiders can become relatively large by late summer. Orb weavers are often times rather hairy, though the hairless black and yellow common garden spider also belongs in this large family of spiders. The spider’s intricate webs are made of a strong and sticky silk that entraps unsuspecting prey. The future meal is rendered helpless with a quick and venomous bite and then wrapped into a silken package for consumption. Damaged or torn webs are repaired to perfection on a daily basis. Any gardener who has unknowingly walked into one of their webs can attest to the strength of the orb weaver’s masterpiece. Orb weavers are generally harmless to humans.

Orb weavers are not selective about their prey and will consume nearly all kinds of insects, including butterflies and even other spiders. The spiders generally build their webs where there is an abundance of insect prey and placed to maximize the chances of entrapment. They are able to feast on dozens of bugs in a single day.

—A fear of spiders is called Arachnophobia.

—Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey… Miss Muffet was a real person! Her father, Dr. Mouffet believed that spiders could heal when eaten. Eek!

—The largest spider in the world is the Giant Bird-eating spider. One that was found had a leg span of 11 inches!

—The smallest spider is the Patu digua. You could fit 10 of them on the end of a pencil.
—The kindest and most intelligent spider, of course, would have to be Charlotte, from the book Charlotte’s Web, since she could not only spell but saves the pig’s life!

—Spider silk is possibly the strongest material in the world! Scientists believe that if they gathered the same weight of spider web as a piece of steel, the web would be much stronger than the steel!

—As hard as scientists try, they cannot match or copy the silk.

Source: www.kidzone.ws

With limited garden space in my yard (all of it devoted to flowers and ornamentals), I’m having to grow my vegetables in containers wonderfully sunny spot lining my luckily very wide, cemented driveway. I grow a broad selection of tomatoes, peppers, kales, squash and herbs; all varieties which have been bred for container culture. My harvests are more than enough to supply me with fresh veggies now and frozen veggies, sauces and stews for months to come.

Not mentioned above, perhaps my favorite vegetable to grow in containers is eggplant. Not only are the plants extremely beautiful, but they usually produce better than plants grown in the ground here in the north where summers are short. Fortunately both my spouse and I love stews, sauces, salads and side dishes where eggplants are incorporated. And nothing is simpler than thick-sliced eggplant on the grill brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Though all types of eggplant can be grown in containers, I prefer the large fruited Italian types over the Asian and small fruited types. Favorite varieties include:

‘Florida High Bush’—This is my very favorite eggplant with very large fruits on very sturdy plants. I’ve found them unbeatable. Fruits are always nearly perfect with unblemished skin.

Florida High Bush is a standard market variety bred in Florida in the early 1900s for the commercial trade. Vigorous, upright, well-branched plants bear continuously throughout the season. Large purple-black pear-shaped fruits with white flesh are held high off the ground. Disease and drought resistant. 75-85 days from transplant. From Seed Savers Exchange.

‘Beatrice’—High yields of round, bright violet, Italian-type fruits. Similar in shape, flavor, and texture to Rosa Bianca. Earlier maturity (at just 62 days), darker fruit color, and just slightly smaller (4-6″ long by 4-5″ diameter). From Johnny’s Selected Seeds

‘Prosperosa’—75 days. A knock-out of an eggplant! This Italian heirloom forms a gorgeous, deep purple fruit with a pleated top that shows just a touch of cream color peeking out from the stem end. The 4-5 inch fruit are meaty and mild flavored with a texture that lends itself to all your gourmet eggplant dishes. Eclipsing most other varieties in our eggplant trials, the tall, vigorous plants are outstanding adorned with these shapely, eye-catching fruit. From Territorial Seeds.

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

Okra shines in the garden. A member of the hibiscus family, okra definitely has one of the most beautiful blooms in the vegetable garden. The blossoms are ivory to creamy yellow or red in color with a deep reddish purple throat. They bloom for only one day. By sundown, the okra flower is wilted, whether or not it’s been pollinated. If it’s sunny and the bees are out, you’ll see miniature okra pods underneath the wilted flowers. Not all the blooms on the okra plant will be pollinated, but because the plants blossom for a long time, you should get a sizable harvest. This past spring season, Klein’s offered both ‘Baby Bubba’ and ‘Green Fingers’ as starter plants.

Asia and Africa gave us okra. It grows wild in the upper Nile region and was used in northern Africa for centuries. In fact, okra is an African word. Trading ships brought the vegetable to this country, and it quickly found favor as a crop and as an ingredient in French and Creole cooking in Louisiana. Many of us have enjoyed a gumbo soup. Gumbo, from the French word gombo, means okra, which is used as a natural thickener for soups and stews. Okra is often stewed with tomatoes, deep fried, pickled, boiled or steamed and served with butter, as well as eaten raw, fresh from the garden. Some folks don’t like okra’s gummy quality when it’s boiled or steamed, and it seems to be more popular when combined with other vegetables, fried or pickled.

It’s easy to grow in hot climates, so okra is one of those vegetables that’s considered a “southern” crop. It’s true that the southern parts of our country have the long, hot growing seasons that okra needs to bear really well, but okra can be grown anywhere.

From seeds or house-started transplants, you can grow okra in northern gardens where you can count on only three to four frost-free months a year. Because okra can’t tolerate frost, however, yields in the North may not be as high as from plants grown farther south. Northern growers who really like okra can make up for that by simply growing a few extra plants. By the way, okra makes for a lovely container plant and yields more fruit than when grown in the ground.

—The first pods will be ready in 50 to 60 days. Harvest the pods when still immature (2 to 3 inches long).

—Pick at least every other day to encourage production.

—Wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid coming in contact with the irritating spines on the leaves and pods. Use a knife to cut the stem just above the cap.

Source: garden.org

VEGETARIAN JAMBALAYA—Easy and delicious. A Southern staple…minus the meat!

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 stalks celery, cut into chunks, plus 2 tablespoons chopped celery leaves

3 carrots, cut into chunks

1 red onion, halved and cut into wedges

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 1/4 cups converted white rice

1 15-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

1 1/2 cups frozen black-eyed peas

8 ounces okra, trimmed and thinly sliced

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery chunks, carrots and red onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper, thyme, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the paprika is toasted, about 1 minute.

Add the rice to the skillet and stir to coat. Add the tomatoes, black-eyed peas and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.

Scatter the okra over the rice. Continue to cook, covered, until the okra is tender and the rice is cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, 3 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and sprinkle with the celery leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4.

FRIED OKRA—Even here in the North, deep fried okra has become common bar fare.

1 1/2 pounds small-medium okra pods

1 to 2 cups plain white cornmeal

1/3 to 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening

Salt, to taste

Place un-cut okra pods in a bowl of cold water. Place 1 to 2 cups plain white cornmeal (not self-rising) in a plastic bag. Drain and discard tip and stem end of okra pod. Slice into 1/4-inch slices directly into the cornmeal. Shake bag often to coat each piece well. Depending on the amount of okra you are preparing, start 1/3 to 1/2 cup shortening to melt in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. When all the okra is well coated with cornmeal, place in a sieve and shake gently to remove excess cornmeal.

Test the pan for correct heat by placing 1 slice of okra in the hot shortening. If it sizzles, the pan is hot enough. Place the remaining okra into the skillet. Cover the skillet. Allow the okra to fry 3 to 5 minutes. Uncover and turn gently. Cover and continue to fry, checking and turning as needed until okra is quite brown and very crisp. Salt to taste. Place 2 or 3 crumpled paper towels in a serving bowl. Remove okra to towels and allow to drain well. Serves 4-6.

ONE GREAT GUMBO WITH CHICKEN & ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE—A wonderfully easy version of the classic okra stew.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan

1 pound chicken breast tenders, diced

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, diced or, double amount of white meat

Salt and pepper

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1 1/2 pounds andouille sausage, casings removed and diced

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 ribs celery from the heart of the stalk, chopped

2 green bell peppers, seeded and diced

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

2 bay leaves, fresh or dried

2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup hot cayenne pepper sauce (for mild to moderate heat)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 quart chicken stock or broth

3 cups chopped okra, fresh or defrosted frozen

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

One 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, in puree

3 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme leaves, several sprigs

8 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle

2 1/2 cups white enriched rice prepared to package directions

Preheat a large heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil, 1 turn of the pan, and 1 pound of the diced chicken. Season with salt and pepper and a sprinkle of poultry seasoning. Brown on all sides, about 2 or 3 minutes. Chop your veggies while it’s working. Add half the andouille to the pan and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer chicken and sausage to a dish and repeat with remaining chicken and sausage, remembering to season the diced chicken as you go. Return pan to heat and add butter. When the butter melts, add chopped celery, peppers, onion and bay. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Cook 3 to 5 minutes to begin to soften veggies. Add flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the broth and bring liquid up to a boil. Add okra, chicken and sausage to the boiling broth, then stir in your tomatoes and half of your fresh thyme. Bring back up to a bubble, reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors and adjust your seasonings. Serve gumbo with chopped thyme and scallions to garnish. Scoop cooked white rice into the center of bowlfuls of gumbo using an ice cream scoop. Enjoy! Serves 8-10.

STEWED OKRA & TOMATOES —Yet another southern classic and oh-so-easy!

2 cups okra, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 large tomatoes, peeled and diced

1 medium onion, diced

4 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons sugar

Place all ingredients in a medium pot, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Serves 4-6.

Recipe source: www.foodnetwork.com

Introducing children to plants and gardening can never start too early. How many of us gardeners began our own gardening experiences hand in hand with our own parents and grandparents and at a very early age. Stories from Klein’s own staff members demonstrates this quite clearly. Nearly all of us who work at Klein’s got the gardening bug very early in life; whether planting, weeding, harvesting or working on our family farms or simply enjoying nature. We all have fond memories (or selective memories) of how much fun it was to be in the garden as children and it’s very important to each of us to pass our love of nature on to our own children. We as parents and teachers are instrumental in shaping our world’s future. The following questions and answers come to us from the wonderful website at www.kidsgardening.org. Though specifically aimed at teachers, the answers are poignant to any adult who wants the children in their lives to become involved in gardening.

Answer: There are many ways to interest children in the garden. A successful children’s garden allows whimsy and welcomes the discovery of a variety of “treasures.” The quickest way to engage children in the garden is to give them a part in its design. You can design a garden around a literature theme such a “Peter Rabbit” or “Planting a Rainbow” garden. Or you can design a garden to be a particular type of habitat, such as a butterfly garden or a bird garden. Another concept for the garden is to focus on a food product, as in a Pizza Garden, a Stone Soup Garden, or a Stir-Fry Garden. The design of the garden involves: deciding on a design concept, deciding on what you will plant and how the plantings will be arranged, and then planting the garden. You can also decorate the garden with child-made objects and signs. Another way to sustain interest in the garden is to plan for your school’s harvest and feast days, and to have daily garden “reporters” who investigate the plants’ progress and then report to the class. You can also include garden reports in the school newsletter.

Answer: With young children, the daily structure of observation will keep their interest, provided you have planted some seeds that sprout very quickly. Others can sprout slower, and this becomes an opportunity for discussion about how different plants, just like people, grow at different rates (math concept) and look different as they sprout (diversity is a good thing). Once the seedlings are growing, focus your efforts on plotting their growth once a week and keeping a chart. You could make a wall height chart that shows the mature height of what you are growing and measure the kids against the plants. Then you could measure the baby plants against the mature plant pictures. Promises of good things to eat and pretty flowers are very inspirational to children of this age. Once the seedlings are planted out, use the garden as a reason to go outside for learning activities. Encourage each child to feel ownership of his or her plant(s). This allows each one to take on a nurturing role with the plants. It is best if each has more than one plant so that if a plant is killed with devotion, there are backups.

Answer: This is an age of some independence. It is helpful if the garden is close to the classroom so that the more motivated students can easily check on the garden. Understanding what motivates the kids to work in the garden is very important at this age. For some, it is a way to “avoid schoolwork”; for others, it is a way to be outside more than they would otherwise be allowed. For others, it is an opportunity to explore, observe, and learn to ask interesting questions. Children of this age are very capable of planting but need to have clear visual clues as to where to stand and where the plants are. Having the children make labels for plants allows children to personalize the garden and “mark their territory.” The more the students believe that their involvement makes a difference, the greater the likelihood of their sustained interest. Subdividing the garden into team areas or even personal “square feet” is one way to give individuals feelings of being needed. They develop a personal nurturing relationship with the plants and take pride in their growth. It is best if each has more than one plant so that if a plant is killed with devotion, there are backups.

Answer: At this age it is even more important than at the younger ages that the kids feel ownership of the garden. If the garden becomes “cool,” it will be easier to get kids to stay with the project. A good sense of humor will help the squeamish “you don’t want me to touch that dirt” child get into the mode of gardening. The quickest route to that ownership is in daily involvement in the design, installation, maintenance, and harvest of the garden. The garden should be configured in such a way that it appears understandable to the students. Raised beds minimize trampling and opportunities for children to feel clumsy or embarrassed. If it is a habitat, then the primary qualities of that habitat should be incorporated into classroom lesson plans. If it is a vegetable garden, you should be growing crops that interest the kids. Add flowers if that is what is necessary to hold the interest of the non-vegetable eaters. If the garden is close to the classroom and can be easily accessed, it will be used more. If the garden reflects the personality of the gardeners, it is bound to hold their interest longer. This may mean allowing “funky” kid objects to personalize the space, appointing various “crew chiefs” for garden time, and giving extra recognition for good work in the garden.

Answer: If planting a garden seems too daunting, adopt an existing spot. Instead of a new plot, stake a claim in an existing planting or wild space in your yard. It can be as small or big as your son wants. Mark it off with stakes and twine, tell him it is his garden, and start spending time there together. Pay utmost attention. You could add a plant or two, or not. Set out some seeds or nuts to see if any creatures pay a call. Take photos. Draw pictures. Write poems. Collect and press a few leaves, flowers, or other finds. Keep a scrapbook throughout the season. Kids who try this usually grow very attached to their places.

by Cheryl Dorschner

Most adults who garden began this hobby as children. And more than one old-timer has sworn off gardening because he hated it as a kid. Here’s the secret to the difference.

If you want your child to love gardening, the best things you can do, in order of importance, are the following.

1. Show them how much you love gardening just by reveling in your own garden every day.

2. Surround them with great gardens. That doesn’t mean a show place. It may mean a messy, riotously colored cottage garden; decorative little getaway; or profuse potsful. (Remember that everything is bigger through kids’ eyes.)

3. Give them good gardening experiences. These will be great memories in years to come.

Kids have so much competing for their attention: television, computers, sports, and a bazillion “planned” activities from library hours to birthday parties, from sleepovers to dances — at as young an age as the fifth grade. So gardening has to stand on its own. Rooting cuttings in water doesn’t cut it. But what does?

Experts disagree on whether to include gardening among children’s required chores or to take advantage of their interest on planting and harvest days and do the work yourself the other 120 days.

I’m somewhere in the middle. I’d never say, “an hour of weeding and you can go swimming.” But I’d enlist kids of all ages to weed as much as their capabilities and attention span will allow. Then I’d finish the job alone. Some kids love being the super hero who wrestles burdock’s three-foot taproot out of the ground and onto the heap.

The balance is to teach respect and enjoyment of the family gardens and make sure there’s a garden a kid can call his or her own. Here dirt and water are the stuff of magic, and surprises lurk between rows. Anyone can succeed under the sun. “I did it myself” is a powerful thing.

•Recognize that kids’ gardening priorities are different, well, practically opposite of adults’.

•Let kids choose what to plant. Offer guidance and make sure there are some sure-success plants among their picks. But if they want beets, roses, and petunias, why not?

•Relax your standards. Crooked rows or weeds as pets are fine.

•Transplanting is fun, even if your child plays with plants the way they move action figures or Barbies about. But remind them that plants’ roots need some time to grow in one place.

•Leave room for good old-fashioned digging. Holes are a highly popular landscape feature. Look for worms. Add water, and frogs appear.

•Model the message that some insects are beneficial, and even destructive bugs are highly interesting.

•Do behind-the-scenes maintenance of kids’ gardens, keeping them edged and weeded. Don’t expect kids to do all the watering and pest patrol.

•You decide: when it comes to impending doom (no pumpkins appeared on vines; the daisy is uprooted and sunning on the deck) do you add a pumpkin from the farm stand? Replace the daisy? Some parents use loss as a lesson; others smooth things over for success.

•Remember: One of the best things you ever grow may be a gardener!

By Bonnie L. Grant

Carnivorous plants are fun to grow and fascinating to watch and learn about. The Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) is a moisture loving plant that grows near marshes and bogs. The plants have been overharvested in their native habitat and are becoming rare. Native to only a few areas in North and South Carolina, Venus fly traps grow in nitrogen depleted soils. This is why they trap insects, which provide them with the necessary nitrogen. Venus fly trap care is relatively easy and makes a great family project.

The Venus fly trap needs slightly acidic moist soils. Grow a Venus fly trap in a peat moss and sand mixture, which will provide mild acidity and help hold water without keeping soils too soggy. The plant needs at least 60 percent humidity and day time temperatures of 70 to 75 F. (22-24 C.). Nighttime temperatures should not go below 55 F. (13 C.). The Venus fly trap is sensitive to chemicals and heavy mineral contents, so a distilled or bottled water is best. Keep water off the foliage by soaking the plant for an hour in a dish of water to moisten the soil.

In order to make Venus fly trap care easier, make it a terrarium. An old aquarium makes a good housing for the plant if you cover it. This encourages humidity and moisture retention and you can allow insects to fly around inside for the plant to catch. Line the inside with TWO parts sphagnum moss and one part sand. The Venus fly trap can then be placed in an east- or west-facing window with high indirect lighting.

Venus fly trap is a rosette form with four to six leaves that are hinged and able to close. They are tinged a rosy pink on the edges and secrete an attractive nectar. The edges of the leaves have numerous fine sensitive cilia. When an insect touches the cilia the leaf closes and traps the insect. Special digestive juices disintegrate the insect and the plant feeds on the insects bodily fluid. Caring for a Venus fly trap must ensure that it is exposed to areas where it can capture insects.

The fly trap lives up to its name by using its clasping leaves to trap insects. Its diet is not only confined to flies and it will eat creeping insects such as ants, too. When you are caring for a Venus fly trap indoors, you need to assist them by capturing insects. Use tweezers and place the insect on an open leaf pad and tickle the little hairs on the edge until it closes. Some people try to water with beef bouillon or another protein but this can cause mold to form and is not recommended.

Source: www.gardeningknowhow.com

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Sunday, September 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Enjoy goldenrods, asters, sunflowers, gentians, and the many insects living among them. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. No facilities on site; some sloping terrain.

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Friday, September 8, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 10, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 11, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

At the Horticulture Center, 825 Sharon Rd., Janesville

Shoppers will be able to find an assortment of mums, kale, perennials, shrubs and compost during the sale. RBG volunteers will be available to assist shoppers with questions and purchases.

Those with a valid Rotary Botanical Gardens membership card will receive 10% off their total purchase. Memberships will be available for purchase at the plant sale and prior to the sale at the Cottage Garden Gallery, on-site at RBG.

Rotary Botanical Gardens encourages Plant Sale shoppers to tour the Gardens after purchasing their plants. Each receipt from the sale is good for one complimentary admission to RBG on the day of the purchase.

Plant Sales are major fundraisers for Rotary Botanical Gardens and made possible by the dedicated volunteers of Rotary Botanical Gardens. All purchases made during the three-day fall sale will help to sustain the Gardens for the upcoming year. If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please email volunteer@rotarygardens.org

Rotary Botanical Gardens

1455 Palmer Drive

Janesville, WI 53545

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

Saturday, September 9, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

Join Judy Kingsbury and Marian Farrior, permaculture designers and Arboretum outreach specialists, as they explore the collection’s edible plants and highlight some of their favorite trees and shrubs. 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

Sunday, September 10, 1:00-5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 13, 3:00-7:00 p.m.

5118 Buffalo Trail, Madison, 53705 (near Hilldale & Oscar Rennebohm Park)

One of Wisconsin’s Hummingbird Banders, Mickey O’Connor, will be banding hummingbirds on both tour dates. Additionally, Larry and Emily Scheunemann will present a program about hummingbirds at 4:00 both tour dates. We have 100+ plants and shrubs on display (including some rare salvias from South America), 20 hummingbird feeders, a garden pond and a door prize drawing on each day with birding related items donated by Wildbirds Unlimited in Middleton. We will also provide printed information about hummingbird gardening.

For more info please contact Kathi or Michael Rock at kathijr@yahoo.com.

Also visit the Hummingbird Gardening in the Upper Midwest website @ www.hummingbirdgardening.net

Sunday, September 10, 2:00-6:00

Troy Community Gardens

500 Troy Drive, Madison, WI 53704

Bring your family and friends to the Troy Gardens Fall Festival! Three local food carts will be selling yummy food on the big lawn, with plenty of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Treat yourself to an ice cream or non-dairy cone, refreshing Great Dane beer and wine from Tornado Steakhouse, or purchase hand-made pottery to benefit Community GroundWorks. Free face painting and our annual apple cider pressing activities. Free entertainment all afternoon, featuring the great juggler Truly Remarkable Loon, Kettle Moraine Blues Band, and Mami Wata African Drums to entertain kids and adults alike. Everyone is invited, so spread the word!

Community Groundworks

‘Growing food. Growing minds. Together.’

3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4

Madison, WI 53704

608/240-0409 or www.communitygroundworks.org/

Sunday, September 10, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Investigate mushrooms growing in the natural areas and the gardens. 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

Sunday, September 17, 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The annual Native Gardening Conference teaches and promotes the use of native plants in home landscapes for biodiversity, habitat, beauty, and sustainability. Expert-led workshops inspire and inform gardeners and landowners to create and maintain native gardens or small-scale restorations on their own property. Keynote: “A New Garden Ethic,” Benjamin Vogt, landscape designer and author. Fee: $65 ($59 FOA). Preregister by Sept. 7.

Register @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/visit/events/native-gardening-conference/ngc-registration/

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Saturday, September 23, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Color, fruits, seeds, late-blooming plants, late-season insects—we will find these and more in the diverse native plant gardens around the Visitor Center. Susan Carpenter, Arboretum Native Plant Gardener, will lead this tour. 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

Wednesday, September 27, 6:30-8:00 p.m

Patty Bailey, retail manager of Oak Village Garden Center will talk about “Over-Wintering Tropical Plants and Favorite Houseplants.” Be successful with the plants you bring into your home by learning proper watering techniques, knowing how to transplant container plants, and offering them appropriate levels of light. Patty will share photos of her most prized tropical plants (plants that love our sunny, hot summers but require protection from our northern winters).

$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/

Friday, September 29, 7:00-10:00 p.m.

Be inspired by the beauty of a crisp fall evening in Olbrich’s outdoor gardens. Watch the flames from bonfires dance on the Great Lawn, groove to live music, savor a variety of tasty foods from Food Fight restaurants, and sip frothy Wisconsin brews. Food and beverage offered at an additional cost.

Must be 21 years old to attend. In the case of inclement weather the event will be relocated indoors. A limited number of advance tickets are available. Additional tickets may be available the day of the event, weather permitting. Tickets are available both at Olbrich’s Growing Gifts shop or on-line beginning September 6. Ticket proceeds benefit the Gardens. Tickets are $25 ($20 for members).

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

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

Sunday, October 1, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

The naturalist will talk about Wisconsin birds as well as those passing through en route to wintering grounds. Bring binoculars or scope if you have them; we have some to share. 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

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

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

___Continue sowing lettuce, endive, escarole and spinach.

___Plant garlic now! This is the best time in Wisconsin.

___Plant bearded iris rhizomes and transplant peonies.

___Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.

___Apply a systemic pesticide to plants to be wintered over indoors.

___Continue planting shrubs and trees.

___Plant grass seed. September is one of the best times as nights cool.

___Aerate your lawn.

___Divide and plant perennials as desired.

___Stop deadheading perennials for winter interest, i.e. sedums, grasses, etc.

___Dig tender bulbs as the foliage yellows.

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

___Collect seeds for next year’s garden.

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

___Take pictures of your garden for record keeping.

___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.

___Shop for spring bulbs, mums and pansies.

___Bring dormant amaryllis bulb indoors for 3 mo. of rest.

___Begin checking out the garden centers for spring bulb selection.

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

___Late in the month, begin planting spring bulbs, but wait as long as possible.

___Begin moving houseplants back indoors.

___Visit Klein’s—Great selection of mums, kales, cabbages, pansies & more!

Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:

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 almost ready to bring into our retail greenhouses before the weather gets too cold.

—Crops arrive for winter sales: cyclamen, azaleas.

—We begin weatherizing the greenhouses for winter.

—All remaining perennials are cut back, cleaned up and put into winter storage.

—We continue stocking fall mums as they go into bloom. We’ll continue to have a good selection into November.

—Ordering plants for spring 2018 is going on fast and furious. Our growers order early to ensure best selection. They pore over stacks of catalogs containing the newest plant material for 2018.

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