December 1, 2017 Newsletter

WATCH FOR OUR POPULAR ’12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS’ SPECIALS. Each day from Tuesday, December 12 though Christmas Eve, Klein’s will feature a new item for holiday gift-giving, culminating on Sunday, December 24 with all featured products on sale for last minute shoppers and bargain seekers. Visit our website or watch for emailed updates.

Klein’s famous homegrown poinsettias, holiday cactus and amaryllis, winter greenery, windowsill herbs and garden and home decor are all available for holiday entertaining and gift giving.

In addition…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.

Note: Due to our ongoing construction, our holiday hours will be shortened slightly for this one season. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

Monday thru Friday 8:00-6:00

Saturday: 8:00-5:00

Sunday: 10:00-4:00

Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00

Saturday: 9:00-5:00

Sunday: 10:00-4:00

The new 2018 FTD Calendar is available at our checkout. These beautiful, flower-filled calendars are free. No purchase necessary.

Early December–Order your beautiful poinsettias, blooming plants, designer gift baskets or custom-made centerpieces now for holiday gift-giving and guaranteed delivery. Early ordering ensures you top quality product for your home decorating and holiday party needs.

December 3–Full Moon

December 12 thru December 24–Stop in and check-out our in-store specials for any last minute gift-giving ideas. We still have a fantastic selection of homegrown poinsettias, blooming plants, houseplants, decorations and more. Shop early for the best section and we’ll deliver anywhere in Madison or most of the surrounding communities.

December 12–Hanukkah

December 21–Winter Solstice

December 25–Christmas Day (Closed)

December 26–Kwanzaa Begins (runs through January 1)

December 26—The After Christmas Clearance Sale begins at 8:00! Everything ‘holiday’ must go! This is a great time to plan for this week’s New Years Eve party or to pick up some excellent bargains for next year’s decorating. Poinsettias are perfect for adding instant color to your late season holiday party and are gorgeous in fresh arrangements.

December 26 thru December 31–Order your New Years Eve centerpieces and custom designed arrangements early!

January 1, 2018–New Year’s Day (Closed)

Christmas flowers are such a beautifully poignant way to add magic to the holidays. And one look at the many gorgeous Christmas flower arrangements we offer should assure you that no matter what style or price range you’re looking for…you need look no further.

Invited to an elegant dinner party? Get glowing a few days before the event by sending one of our many striking centerpieces, complete with candles. There’s no better host or hostess gift than a Christmas flower delivery to add grace and beauty, naturally. Another great option for parties is to order up some sparkle. We have several sparkling selections that will add their share of shine to the holidays.

Do you want to send some standout gifts? Browse through our Christmas flower bouquets we create in amazing keepsake containers that will make your gift will last long after the flowers and the holidays are over. Or perhaps you’d rather send a fabulous wreath, miniature Christmas tree or the always appreciated live Poinsettia plant…whatever you settle upon you can be sure your Christmas flower delivery will be super special.

All of our arrangements are hand-arranged by Darcy, Sue or Bonnie, then hand-delivered, as well. And during the holidays it’s especially nice to send a gift with a difference you can rely on. Christmas flowers really make the holiday more beautiful.

Hi Erin,

The tap water could be a problem with the brown spots on the leaves in that city tap water has chlorine in it, which can be harmful to plants long term. If you need to use tap water (unless you live in the country and have your own well), allow it to sit 24 hours in your watering can. The chlorine will dissipate into the air; making it safe for plants. Your water may also contain salt if hooked up to a softener–in itself a potential problem.

From the photo you sent (and it’s hard to tell from photos), it appears to me your plant may have been improperly transplanted into the new pot. If properly planted and firmed in, your plant should not be separating from the pot. Perhaps you used the wrong type of potting soil–a soil based inexpensive mix vs. a soil-less potting mix used specifically for houseplants. Once plants separate from their pot, they become nearly impossible to water properly in that the water simply runs through and around the root ball, never really soaking into it. I’m guessing that your philodendron is underwatered.

If possible, my best suggestion would be to wrap the plant in plastic if cold outside and bring it in to Klein’s and have one of us take a look at it to diagnose the the problem properly and then give you sound advice (or repot it if we feel it needs it).

Thanks for your question,

Klein’s Mad Gardener

1. One of our many windowsill herbs in a beautiful new pot chosen from our large selection of ceramic, glazed or resin pottery. Herb choices include lavender, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage and many, many more.

2. A naturally air purifying houseplant. Choose from our large selection of houseplants in all sizes and for any decor.

3. A Dane Buy Local Gift Card available at the Home Savings next to Klein’s at 3762 E. Washington Ave. For more details, check out danebuylocal.com.

4. A gift subscription to one of the many great green gardening magazines on the market today including Wisconsin Gardening (statebystategardening.com/wi) Organic Gardening Magazine (organicgardening.com) or Mother Earth News (motherearthnews.com) or perhaps a book about growing things naturally.

5. An Olbrich Botanical Gardens Gift Membership. Share a full year of beauty and inspiration! Choose from individual memberships (beginning at just $40) or Plus One ($50), Family ($55) or Family and Guest Memberships (just $65/year). Benefits include free entrance to many of Olbrich’s shows and exhibits and the Bolz Conservatory. Enjoy added savings at the gift shop and on most classes and seminars. Visit olbrich.org/membership/gift.cfm for details.

6. Or perhaps a Rotary Botanical Gardens Gift Membership. Choose from Individual Friend memberships (beginning at just $42) or Friend +1 ($62.50), Friend Family ($83), among other membership options. Benefits include general admission to Rotary Botanical Gardens based on membership level (excluding special events), reciprocity admission and/or discounts at over 300 participating American Horticultural Society gardens, 10% discount at Cottage Garden Gallery and Plant Sales, discounts at Janesville area businesses and our e-newsletter. Visit www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/support/membership/join-or-renew-online/ for details.

7. A yearly admission sticker to the Wisconsin’s state parks. Share the beauty of our great state with family and friends. “The Wisconsin State Park System provides places for outdoor recreation and for learning about nature and conservation. The 99 state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas report about 14 million visits a year. Come and join the fun!”

For more information on how to purchase a 2017 state park admission sticker, visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks.

8. Seed starting supplies such as seeds, grow lights, seed starting mixes, cell packs, and trays, peat or coir pots, plant tags and markers or a self-contained a growing kit. Seeds for spring aren’t quite available at Klein’s but are available through many mail order sources. Check out the following: Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogs at gardenlist.com.

9. Or, of course, a Klein’s Gift Card. The gardener in your life will surely find something wonderful in our new facility this upcoming spring!

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.

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

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

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

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

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

“We consistently provide healthy young plants through a network of national brokers as well as hearty and attractive finished plants to regional independent retailers and landscapers.

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

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

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

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

The following question and answer appeared in our newsletter a few years back and now that the weather has cooled and the birds are visiting my feeders enforce, I thought it a good time to share some birdfeeding advice:

Mixed bags of seeds (those containing sunflower, both whole and shelled, millet, corn, safflower, etc.) attract the largest variety of birds. But as you’ve noticed they also attract the widest assortment of undesirables. Squirrels are especially attracted to the sunflower seed, but so are the cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, house finches and many other favorites. Here are a few tips to make your bird feeding dollars stretch a bit further:

—Rather than buying small bags of seed as you need them, buy larger quantities in bulk at the beginning of the season. Mounds Pet Food Warehouse or Wildbirds Unlimited are excellent local sources for seed (and birdfeeding supplies) and carry the full spectrum of choices. Instead of buying prepared mixes, buy the individual seeds and feed them on their own or create your own mixes for the birds you’re wanting to attract. To save a bit more money, don’t buy seed that has already been shelled or seed chips. Birds are fully capable of doing their own shelling. Store your bulk seeds in metal containers or metal garbage cans in a cool and dry location. Rodents (mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels and raccoons) will chew through plastic containers to get to the seed so make sure they are metal.

—Be selective in the type of seed you choose and the birds you want attract. The prepared seed mixes often times contain a lot of filler seed like millet, corn and flax. Safflower, on the other hand, served alone, is a favorite of cardinals, chickadees, house finches and mourning doves. Though they’ll eat safflower if hungry, squirrels and sparrows would rather eat other seeds if made available. Squirrels find safflower seed to be rather bitter. Niger (thistle) seed is expensive. But a little goes a long way and attracts primarily goldfinches, juncoes and mourning doves. Squirrels will usually leave finch feeders alone. Shelled peanuts in squirrel proof feeders are a favorite of nuthatches, chickadees, cardinals, blue jays and all woodpeckers. Protecting a single feeder with more expensive seed, rather than all of them, is a far easier endeavor.

–-Feed the squirrels and sparrows!! This may sound like odd advice, but it can save some money in the long haul. Offer them the “filler seeds” on their own and away from your feeding stations. Whole corn cobs secured on spikes or millet and cracked corn spread on the ground will, to some degree, keep your squirrels and sparrows content and away from your feeders. Both millet and corn are relatively inexpensive, available in bulk and will also attract many of the ground feeders like juncoes and mourning doves. But on the other hand . . .

–Continue battling the squirrels for your birdfeeding dollars. Squirrels can eat a tremendous amount of seed and can cause a ton of damage to feeders and even structures in their attempts to get to feeders. It’s wise to invest in squirrel proof feeders and baffles. Squirrels will chew through both wood and plastic feeders and baffles to reach their goal. The extra money spent up front on squirrel proof feeders will pay off over time. Keep feeders you want protected AT LEAST 20 ft. from any overhanging structures or limbs. Squirrels are unbelievably persistent in their attempts to reach a feeder. Once they’ve reached it once, they’ve already learned they’ll be able to do it again and won’t stop in their attempts until they do so or are ultimately outwitted by you. On the other hand, it can be very entertaining to watch squirrels trying to get to feeders and kind of fun trying to outfox them. There are also plenty of “squirrel feeders” on the market that are specifically designed to entertain us–ones that spin as the squirrel eats or others that require them to do antics before they receive their reward (usually an ear of corn).

Nuthatches are among my favorite year round visitors to my birdfeeders. And today, for the first time in many a season, a red-breasted nuthatch, in addition to the more common white-breasted nuthatch, made an appearance at one of my peanut feeders. Nutchatches are known for their fun-to-watch antics as they scale down trees head first before taking a single seed from the feeders and then flying off to a nearby tree to enjoy.

A common feeder bird with clean black, gray, and white markings, White-breasted Nuthatches are active, agile little birds with an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds. They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. White-breasted Nuthatches may be small but their voices are loud, and often their insistent nasal yammering will lead you right to them.

The largest nuthatch, this is still a small bird with a large head and almost no neck. The tail is very short, and the long, narrow bill is straight or slightly upturned.

White-breasted Nuthatches are agile birds that creep along trunks and large branches, probing into bark furrows with their straight, pointed bills. Like other nuthatches, they often turn sideways and upside down on vertical surfaces as they forage. They don’t lean against their tails the way woodpeckers do.

White-breasted Nuthatches are birds of mature woods and woodland edges. They’re particularly associated with deciduous stands, including maple, hickory, basswood, and oak, though they can be found in some coniferous forests.

White-breasted Nuthatches are common feeder birds. You can attract them by offering large nuts such as sunflower and peanuts, and by putting out suet. In winter you can find them in small flocks of chickadees and titmice; if you see one in a flock keep your eyes out, as there’s a good chance the bird’s mate is in the flock as well.

An intense bundle of energy at your feeder, Red-breasted Nuthatches are tiny, active birds of north woods and western mountains. These long-billed, short-tailed songbirds travel through tree canopies with chickadees, kinglets, and woodpeckers but stick to tree trunks and branches, where they search bark furrows for hidden insects. Their excitable yank-yank calls sound like tiny tin horns being honked in the treetops.

A small, compact bird with a sharp expression accentuated by its long, pointed bill. Red-breasted Nuthatches have very short tails and almost no neck; the body is plump or barrel-chested, and the short wings are very broad.

Red-breasted Nuthatches are blue-gray birds with strongly patterned heads: a black cap and stripe through the eye broken up by a white stripe over the eye. The underparts are rich rusty-cinnamon, paler in females.

Red-breasted Nuthatches move quickly over trunks and branches probing for food in crevices and under flakes of bark. They creep up, down, and sideways without regard for which way is up, and they don’t lean against their tail the way woodpeckers do. Flight is short and bouncy.

Red-breasted Nuthatches are mainly birds of coniferous woods and mountains. Look for them among spruce, fir, pine, hemlock, larch, and western red cedar as well as around aspens and poplars. In northeastern North America you can also find them in forests of oak, hickory, maple, birch, and other deciduous trees.

Source: www.allaboutbirds.org

We’ve received a lot of calls this past week about plants featured in a Wisconsin State Journal from this past Sunday. Of the four plants mentioned in the article, Klein’s has all of them currently in stock except clivia. And of the four plants mentioned, clivia has received the most interest from our customers—perhaps because it’s the least known of the four. Because of the article, we are currently trying to source out clivia from our wholesalers. But because they are slow growing and usually quite expensive, plants may be hard for us to find for retail. In my 25+ years at Klein’s we’ve carried them perhaps 5 seasons. For more detailed information about clivia culture and for a list of reputable online sources, please see our Plant of the Month section of this newsletter.

Here is the article that appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal @ madisonstatejournal.wi.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=1bc2efd2f

After summer vacation spent soaking up rays on the patio, houseplants have moved back indoors for the winter. For plants, it must feel like moving from a tropical rain forest to the desert. Lack of humidity, the furnace’s parching heat, drafty rooms and uneven lighting can take its toll.

Then there’s the overwatering-underwatering and “should I fertilize?” conundrums.

Many houseplants require less frequent watering in winter. Water when the soil is almost dry to the touch. Succulents need to be bone-dry before watering, and ferns require moist soil. Water to saturate soil and then empty the saucer. Plants should never sit in water.

You can solve some of those problems by growing these four houseplants that will survive winter with few complaints.

JADE (PLANT): These lovely succulents don’t mind a drafty room or variations in temperature from warm to cold as the furnace cycles on and off. It needs watering just once every three weeks. Let soil dry between watering in winter, and water at the base. If brown spots appear on leaves or leaves drop, the plant needs more water.

Fertilize three to four times annually with houseplant fertilizer.

CLIVIA: This durable plant is ideal for a slightly chilly, drafty room that doesn’t get a lot of sunshine in cold, dreary months. Blooms — usually Creamsicle orange and sometimes yellow — are encouraged by the cooler temperatures. They also prefer being a little dry. Repot every three to five years in spring.

SNAKE PLANT: The snake plant, also known as motherin- law’s tongue, is one of the easiest houseplants for growing indoors. It can handle low-light situations and doesn’t seem to mind a little neglect. In fact, overwatering can kill snake plants. Wait until the pot is dry before watering, or if leaves are drooping. Fertilize in spring with balanced houseplant fertilizer.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS: Who doesn’t love this cheerful pop of color — red or pink — in the dead of a cold, snowy winter? This houseplant is low-maintenance and thrives in indirect sunlight. However, it is not a desert plant. It requires regular watering — always at the base of the plant. It doesn’t do well if allowed to dry out; but too much water will cause leaves to drop.

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

Wisconsin is the nation’s leading producer of cranberries, harvesting more than 60 percent of the country’s crop. The little red berry, Wisconsin’s official state fruit, is the state’s number one fruit crop, both in size and economic value.

The cranberry, once called “crane berry” by settlers because of its blossom’s resemblance to the sandhill crane, was first harvested in Wisconsin around 1860 by Edward Sacket in Berlin, Wisconsin. Today, more than 250 growers produce cranberries throughout central and northern Wisconsin. The average age of cranberry beds in Wisconsin is 40 years, with the oldest bed reported to be planted 139 years ago, which shows the long-term commitment many growers have to the land, their local communities and economies.

The cranberry is one of only a handful of cultivated fruits native to North America – the Concord grape and blueberry being the others. Cranberries were widely found in Massachusetts, as documented by the Pilgrims who settled there. Rumor has it that cranberries may have been served at the first Thanksgiving dinner in Plymouth. Recipes using cranberries date back to the 1700s.

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. A perennial plant, cranberries grow on low running vines in sandy bogs and marshes. In Wisconsin, cranberry marshes are flooded with water to aid in harvesting. Because the tart, tiny berries contain a pocket of air, when the marsh is flooded, the berries float to the surface to be picked up by harvesting equipment. Cranberries are harvested each year from late September through October.

Cranberries score among the highest of all fruits in antioxidants. Diets including fruits and vegetables with high antioxidant values, like cranberries, may help support memory function and coordination.

Source: www.wiscran.org/cranberries/

APPLE CRANBERRY SAUCE–This has become our favorite cranberry sauce for serving at the holidays. The combination with apples sweetens the sauce for those who aren’t huge cranberry fans. Kids love it!! This recipe is a great way to introduce them to cranberries. This dish came to us in the mid-90’s from the WISC-TV website.

4 cups apples, peeled and sliced

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 TBS. lemon juice

1/2 lb. fresh cranberries

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer about 30 minutes until the apples are tender and the berries have popped. Serves 8.

CRUSTLESS CRANBERRY PIE—Reviews say “a WOW recipe”, “PERFECT and delicious”— from the Channel 3000 website from October 2011.

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1x 12 oz. bag fresh cranberries, chopped (food processor works well)

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup melted butter

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. almond extract

Grease a 9” pie plate. Preheat the oven to 350º. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the cranberries and the nuts and stir to mix. In a small bowl, combine the butter, eggs and extract. Add to the flour/cranberry mix and stir well to combine. Spread into the prepared pie pan.. Bake 40-45 minutes until it begins to brown and is set. Serve with ice cream if desired.

KALE, CRANBERRY & ROOT VEGETABLE SALAD—A delicious winter salad from Midwest Living magazine, November 2016

3 medium beets, peeled, quartered and sliced 1/4” thick

5 medium carrots sliced 1/4” thick

3 TBS. olive oil, divided

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cracked pepper

4 shallots, quartered lengthwise

3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

6 cups kale leaves sliced into 1/2” strips

1/3 cups golden raisins

2 TBS. lemon juice

1 TBS. honey mustard

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tsp. fresh minced ginger

1/4 cup roasted, salted pumpkin seeds

Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 425º. In a bowl, combine the beets, carrots, 2 TBS. olive oil and the pepper. Once heated, place the veggies on the sheet in a single layer. Roast 10 minutes and then stir in the shallots and the cranberries. Roast 20-25 minutes until all is tender, stirring once while baking.

Meanwhile, place the kale in the bowl. Add the remaining 1 TBS. oil and massage the kale until it is bright green and tender, 2-5 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together the raisins, lemon juice, mustard, garlic and ginger. When the veggies are cooked, remove the pan from the oven, add the raisin mix and stir together right in the hot pan. Allow to cool 5 minutes. Add the veggies to the kale in the bowl and toss together. Allow to rest at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve at room temperature or chill, but bring back to room temp before serving. Serve from a platter topped with the pumpkin seeds. Serves 10.

APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP—An easy dessert from the pages of Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food from October 2009.

2 1/2-3 lbs. apples diced

1x 12 oz. bag cranberries

1/2 cup sugar

3 TBS. flour

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. fresh orange zest

1 TBS. fresh orange juice

Topping:

6 TBS. cold butter

2/3 cup flour

2/3 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

For the topping, combine the butter, flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375º. Grease a 9 x 13” pan with butter. In a bowl, combine the apples, cranberries, sugar, flour, vanilla, zest and juice. Transfer the mixture to the prepped baking dish and sprinkle evenly with the topping. Bake until browned and the juices are thick and bubbling at the edges for about 55-60 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes and serve.

By Linda B. White, M.D.

Source: www.motherearthnews.com

Infections are as inevitable as death and taxes. You spend your first years catching (or being caught by) colds, influenza and strep throat. You sniffle, scratch, cough, vomit, ache, sweat and shiver. Your immune system remembers the microbes it has encountered and protects you the next go around. At the other end of life, your immune system wearies from years of fighting. In that great expanse of active, productive life in between, you still get colds and flus and “stomach bugs.” You may wonder why you are sick more or less often than your partner, co-workers and neighbors. You may wonder why one person hacking on the airplane successfully sickens the passenger to his right but not the one to his left. The answer is that not all immune systems function alike. A number of factors affect immune system health. Some you can’t control: The very young and the very old are vulnerable. Surgery and wounds give microbes a chance to sneak into the inner sanctum. Other risks include chronic disease, poverty, stress, living with lots of other people (dormitories, low-income housing), and drinking tap water (with its local microbes) in many foreign countries. Fortunately, there are ways you can strengthen your immune system.

1: Eat Like Peter Rabbit. Malnutrition impairs immune function. French fries, soft drinks and bourbon don’t build strong white blood cells either. No, it’s those virtuous, self-righteous diets high in fruits, vegetables and nuts that promote immune health, presumably because they’re rich in nutrients the immune system requires. Adequate protein intake is also important; the source can be plant or animal.

2: Stress Less. When you’re stressed, your adrenal glands churn out epinephrine (aka, adrenaline) and cortisol. While acute stress pumps up the immune system, grinding long-term duress taxes it. For instance, psychological stress raises the risk for the common cold and other viruses. Less often, chronic stress can promote a hyper-reactive immune system and aggravate conditions such as allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease. While most of us can’t move into a spa, we can learn to save our stress responses for true emergencies and not fire them up over stalled traffic, bad hair days and aphids on the begonias. Stress-reducing activities such as meditation produce positive changes in the immune system. Massage has shown to improve immune function in studies of Dominican children with HIV. Quiet music can aid recovery from everyday hassles and may therefore buttress immune function.

3: Move Your Body. Moderate exercise discharges tension and stress and enhances immune function. In a 2006 study, researchers took 115 obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women and assigned half of them to stretching exercises once a week and the other half to at least 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week. At the end of the year-long study, the stretchers had three times the rate of colds as the moderate-exercise group.

4: Sleep Soundly. Sleep is a time when growth-promoting and reparative hormones knit up the raveled sleeve of daily life. Sleep deprivation activates the stress response, depresses immune function and elevates inflammatory chemicals (which cause you to feel ill). Chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of the common cold. Mothers whose small children interrupt their sleep have more respiratory infections, particularly if those wee ones go to day care.

5: Socialize More. People with richer social lives enjoy better health and longevity than loners do. You may think that the more people you interact with, the more chances you have for picking something up. Not so. Again, researchers blew cold viruses up people’s noses and sent them into the world. Compared with the lone wolves, the social butterflies were less susceptible to developing common colds, and, if they did get sick, they had fewer symptoms for a shorter period of time.

6: Make More Love. While having lots of friends is healthy, science also shows that intimate, sexual relationships have immune system perks. Michael Castleman, renowned health writer and publisher of Great Sex After 40, writes, “A 2004 study shows that the close contact of lovemaking reduces the risk of colds.” Specifically, this study found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had 30 percent more salivary IgA antibody than those who had sex infrequently.

7: Shun Tobacco Smoke. Tobacco smoke triggers inflammation, increases respiratory mucus, and inhibits the hairlike projections inside your nose (cilia) from clearing that mucus. Children and adults exposed to tobacco smoke are more at risk for respiratory infections, including colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and middle ear infections.

8: Consume Friendly Bacteria. Beneficial microorganisms colonize our intestinal, lower urinary and upper respiratory tracts. They outcompete bad “bugs” and enhance immune function. You can consume such bacteria in the form of live-cultured products such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi. Probiotic supplements, available at natural food stores, may reduce the risk of antibiotic-induced diarrhea, viral diarrhea, vaginitis and respiratory infections.

9: Expose Yourself. Vitamin D plays a number of roles in promoting normal immune function. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with asthma, cancer, several autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), and susceptibility to infection (including viral respiratory infections). One study linked deficiency to a greater likelihood of carrying MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in the nose. Unfortunately, nearly one-third of the U.S. population is vitamin D deficient. Because few foods contain much vitamin D, your best bet is to regularly spend short periods of time in the sun (without sunscreen), and to take supplements in northern climes during the colder months.

10: Choose Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Wisely. Studies link deficiencies of zinc, selenium, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, D and E to reduced immune function. But scientists have yet to pinpoint exact levels of these nutrients for optimal immune function, much less whether dietary supplementation really helps the average, well-fed American. For instance, research on vitamin C for prevention and treatment of the common cold has been inconclusive. Some micronutrients, notably vitamin A, can be toxic in overdose. Excessive levels of zinc paradoxically suppress immune function. A varied, plant-based diet and a good multivitamin supplement should meet your needs.

11: Immunize Yourself. Routine vaccinations have had a huge impact on reducing, and in many cases nearly eradicating, a number of infectious diseases. Most immunizations occur during childhood. Vaccinations for adults to consider include yearly influenza vaccines, tetanus boosters, the shingles vaccine for people 60 and up, and the pneumococcus vaccine for people over the age of 65.

12: Familiarize Yourself With Immune-Enhancing Herbs. A long list of medicinal plants contain chemicals that enhance immune system activity, including echinacea, eleuthero (also called Siberian ginseng), ginseng (Asian and American), astragalus, garlic, and shiitake, reishi and maitake mushrooms. Garlic is the favorite choice of many. In addition to boosting the immune system, it’s anticancer and antimicrobial against a variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Key ingredients don’t survive cooking, so add a clove or two of raw, minced garlic to meals just before serving.

****Please note that due to slow growth and cost, clivias can be difficult to find at local garden centers and appear only seasonally at best. Below is a detailed article about clivia culture from one of Klein’s staff members that appeared in our March 2012 newsletter****

“My two large and very old clivias are now in full bloom at the greenhouse and have been drawing a lot of attention from customers and coworkers alike. The huge orange blooms and large, strap-like leaves are very eye-catching. These very durable plants are extremely long lived and easy to care for. Most times they will outlive their owner.

I purchased my two clivias back in the early 1990’s. Back then, they were even harder to find than today. Only a handful of catalogs made clivias available and then at a very steep price. I purchased mine for about $70 a piece in a 6” pot. Though they are still seldom found at garden centers, internet access has made them more readily available and at a more reasonable price. Plants (though usually small) are often found in the $25-$40 range. The flowers on this amaryllis relative are usually orange, but are available in yellow, peach and a few related shades. Varieties with variegated foliage are also becoming available. Plants are very slow-growing and it can take years for plants to flower for the first time. Once the do, they’ll flower annually (usually during the winter) from that point forward. Flower heads can be up to an impressive 6” across and are held on sturdy stalks. Plants flower best once the plants are completely root bound. Cool temperatures and dry conditions stimulate blooming.

I’m lucky to be able to force my clivias to bloom twice a year. I keep them outside in the garden as late as possible in the fall–once nighttime temps fall consistently into the 30’s but above freezing. Then in mid-October I bring my plants to Klein’s for overwintering. The plants are way too big for my house. At the greenhouse, I keep them in the coolest location possible. Just after the holidays the first flowers appear and they’ll continue flowering into mid-March. It’s during this time that my clivias get all the oohs and aahs from visiting customers. The display can be spectacular.

In late April I take my plants back home and put them outside so long as the nighttime temps stay above freezing. On cold nights I’ll move them into the garage. The cool springtime temperatures stimulate another round of blooming in mid-June. The plants spend the summer in my shaded north side woodland garden nestled amongst the hostas. In their native South Africa clivias are forest undergrowth plants and are, therefore, most happy in dense shade. Direct sunshine burns their wide leaves.

Clivias like to be kept very dry during the winter months for best blooming. Once plants become extremely root bound (after a decade or so) they can be easily divided, but they may not bloom again for a few years while rooting out into their new pots. Plants like to be fertilized regularly during the summer.

Klein’s sometimes has clivias available during the late winter. More reliable sources are found online at www.logees.com, www.whiteflowerfarm.com, and www.amazon.com.”

December 2 thru December 31

All aboard for Olbrich’s Holiday Express!

Large-scale model trains wind through a holiday scene overflowing with hundreds of poinsettias and fresh evergreens.

During the show, members of the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society come from all over the state to show off their large-scale model trains. You may see a bullet train, steam train, Santa train, circus train, or freight train, depending on the day.

This year, make sure to don your best cowboy hat when you visit!! Just like in the days of the Wild West, our model trains will cruise through a miner’s gold camp and stop off at the Yellow Rose of Texas Saloon.

Pull up a straw bale around the campfire and enjoy the blooming desert, bright with arid flowers, cacti, agave, and aloe. Mark your calendars and hitch up the wagons – we’re headed West!

Admission for Olbrich Botanical Society members is free. Admission to Olbrich’s Holiday Express for the general public is $5 for adults, and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and under are free. Admission to the tropical Bolz Conservatory is included.

Olbrich’s Holiday Express is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Olbrich will close at 2 p.m. on December 24, and will be closed all day on December 25 and January 1.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

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

Warm up the winter day with festive holiday music during Olbrich’s Holiday Concert Series.

Enjoy festive holiday music with a concert in the Evjue Commons. Concerts are at 2 p.m. each Sunday in December. Suggested donation is $2.

Madison Red & The Band That Time Forgot—Vintage Jazz, Blues, & Swing

John C. Van Orman—Traditional Folk

Suzuki Strings—Youth Violins

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

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

Thursday, December 7, 10:00-4:30

Mendota Mental Health Institute Greenhouse

301 Troy Dr., Madison, 53704

This is an annual plant and craft sale featuring items made or grown by our patients.

Mendota Mental Health Institute

Greenhouse Office

301 Troy Drive

Madison, Wisconsin 53704

December 8-10, December 14-23 and December 26-31

For 2017, the show will be bigger, better and more beautiful than ever, as the wintery garden paths are brought to life with just under a half million lights. This year’s Holiday Light Show includes 100 individual displays, 100 lit archways, 75 beautifully decorated Evergreen trees, and 60 decorated garden obelisks. You’ll also find 600 dangling icicle lights hung from the tallest trees in the Garden, over 2,000 luminaries, and more! In addition to being a beloved community and regional event, the Holiday Light Show serves as a major fundraiser for Rotary Botanical Gardens and creates significant economic impact to the Janesville area.

FREE shuttle service to make getting to and from the show easier. Visitors can park at Dawson Field beginning at 4:15, catch the shuttle and be delivered right to the front door of the Gardens. After you’ve enjoyed the show the shuttle will return you to Dawson Field.

Kids of all ages will enjoy peeking in the windows of the all-new child-size Elf Workshop and Santa House located in the gardens amid the light show.

Santa will visit December 14-17 and December 21 & 23.

Doors open 4:30 pm. Last ticket sold 8:30 pm.

Admission is $5 for those aged 2 & up.

Tickets available at the door or online at Holiday Light Show Tickets

Rotary Botanical Gardens

1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI

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

Sunday, December 9, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Learn about Wisconsin’s twelve owl species, focusing on the three in the Madison area, their habitat, range, and habits, and how to identify these elusive birds of prey. Indoor class. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by December 5.

Register @: arboretum.wisc.edu/classes/owls-dec-17/

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Sunday, December 10, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and other birds spend the entire year here. Some species consider our area “south for the winter.” Prepare for the Christmas bird counts on this informative walk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

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

Because birds are easier to spot when leaves are off trees and shrubs, this is a good time for youngsters to learn about them. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Sunday, December 17, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Learn about some of the Arboretum’s cone-bearing trees—including pines, spruces, and firs—how to distinguish them from one another, and their ecological importance. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Saturdays, November 18 thru December 16, 7:30-noon

Monona Terrace

For details visit www.dcfm.org

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

___Mulch perennials to protect from the cold and prevent heaving.

___Purchase marsh hay and rose protection. Wait till the ground freezes.

___Mulch roses by mounding soil and wrapping, rather than using rose cones.

___Keep birdfeeders full. Clean periodically with soap and water.

___Make water available to the birds. Begin using a deicer as needed.

___Plant bulbs for forcing and put in a cool location for 10-12 weeks.

___Plant bulbs until the ground freezes.

___Prep lawnmower for winter storage and snowblower for weather to come.

___Mark driveways and sidewalks with stakes.

___Finish garden cleanup to make spring easier and prevent pests.

___Do any last minute raking to prevent smothering delicate plants or beds.

___Spread fireplace ashes over beds to amend the soil.

___Make sure clay pots are stored inside and dry to prevent cracking.

___Place your used Christmas tree in the garden for added wildlife protection.

___Have trees trimmed–it’s often times cheaper and easier to schedule.

___Inspect stored summer bulbs like dahlias, cannas and glads for rotting.

___Stop feeding houseplants and cut back on watering.

___Inventory last year’s leftover seeds before ordering new ones.

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

___Wrap trunks of susceptible trees to protect from rodents.

___Visit Klein’s—it’s green, it’s warm, it’s colorful—it’s always spring!

Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:

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.

—We’re prepping the hundreds of poinsettias and holiday plants that go out for orders each day. After choosing the most gorgeous plants, we need to foil, bow and sleeve each order before loading into our vans for delivery to Madison’s homes, businesses and churches.

—Tropicals for next summer sale continue to arrive. Our tropicals (such as bougainvilleas, bananas, colocasias, alocasias, etc.) arrive now so we are able to get the best selection and are able to offer you substantial sized plants next summer.

—Hundreds of herbs for windowsill culture are thriving in the sunny, warm greenhouses . We have chosen only the best assortment for indoor growing and winter harvest. Choose from rosemary, lavender, parsley, thyme and more.

—We continue to plan and prepare for Wisconsin Public Television’s Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February by sprucing up display pieces and potting up thousands of violas, primrose, cineraria, etc. for sale at the show. This is Klein’s biggest annual event and our most important advertising.

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