‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—SEPTEMBER 2018
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Check Out Our Current End-of-Season Specials
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ Is Ready for Your Questions
Arriving Soon . . . The Spring Bulbs!!
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue–About State Flowers
Unique and Fun-To-Watch Moths
Start Your Own Hummingbird Garden
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked the Mad Gardener About Improving on Garden Mistakes
Plant of the Month: Japanese Anemone
Klein’s Favorite Grill Basket Veggie Recipes
Product Spotlight: Spring Bulbs from Van Bloem Gardens®
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From August 2018
—Happy Hour Starts at Four-o’clock
—A New Breakfast Cereal Flavor: Glysophate?
—Gardening Success: Art vs. Science
September in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
Delivery Information
Related Resources and Websites
Plants Harmful to Kids and Pets
THE MAD GARDENER
“Madison’s Firsthand Source for Expert Gardening Advice”
Ask any of your gardening questions by e-mailing them to us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. We’ve also posted a link to this e-mail address on our home page for your convenience. Your question might then appear in the “You Asked” feature of our monthly newsletter. If your question is the one selected for our monthly newsletter, you’ll receive a small gift from us at Klein’s. The Mad Gardener hopes to hear from you soon!
Sorry, we can only answer those questions pertaining to gardening in Southern Wisconsin and we reserve the right to leave correspondence unanswered at our discretion. Please allow 2-3 days for a response.
Please note that our Mad Gardener is not only an expert gardener, but can answer all of your indoor plant questions as well.
ENJOY THESE END OF SEASON SAVINGS:
50% OFF (Beginning Labor Day Weekend) All Remaining Perennials, Shrubs, Hardy Vines, Pond Plants & Potted Fruits.
Buy One, Get One Free on All Remaining Summer Annuals in 5” Pots & Smaller.
(Sales do not apply to fall annuals, vegetables, mums or mixed fall containers)
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS OR GARDEN TOURS that you would like posted on our web site or in our monthly newsletters, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Events must be garden related and must take place in the Madison area.
SEPTEMBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Open Labor Day, Monday, September 3: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Week of September 2—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 3–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00
September 9—Rosh Hashana
September 9–Grandparents’ Day
September 19—Yom Kippur
September 22–Fall Begins
September 24–Full Moon
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
Those pesky violets that invade our yards and gardens. You wonder how you can get rid of them. But did you know that they are Wisconsin’s State Flower and that each of our 50 states has their own state flower? Here’s a bit of information about Wisconsin’s State Flower and then a complete list of all the state flowers.
Wisconsin’s State Flower–Wood Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Adopted on June 4, 1949.
The violet is also the state flower for Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Wisconsin’s school children were asked to vote for an official state flower in 1908, which left four finalists: arbutus, violet, white water lily and wild rose. The following year they voted again using the four finalists and the violet won. However, the violet was only named Wisconsin’s unofficial state flower until 1948. Finally, during the Centennial celebration, a youth committee was set up to officially adopt several state symbols. At this time the official flower, tree and bird were decided. On Arbor Day 1909, the final vote was taken, and the violet won. Chapter 218, Laws of 1949, which created Section 1.10 of the statutes, named the wood violet Wisconsin’s official flower.
Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant. It is variable in flower color and to a lesser extent leaf shape.
Leaves: This plant has basal leaves only. Each heart shaped leaf is bluntly toothed and born on long stem. High in vitamins A and C it used to be a very welcome raw salad or cooked green early in the spring when fresh vegetables were hard to come by. The flowers are more often used nowadays. They can be candied and also used in jellies.
Height: Less than 1′
Frequency: Many plants found in low woods. This is the violet commonly found in yards and along roadsides.
Flowers: April; It is one of the first plants to bloom in the low, wet woods of the preserve in early spring. The flowers are irregular in shape . They are Deep blue or violet sometimes almost white with blue markings. Blooms first appear in early spring and continue into early fall. The side petals have beards or tuffs near the center of the flower. The flower grows on its own stem. There are also special flowers that stay near the ground and do not open…but they still produce bazillions of seeds!
Habitat: Almost anywhere. Prefers damp locations.
Range: Most of eastern US except extreme north and south.
About State Flowers:
Before women were allowed to vote nationally, Washington State let them, and only them, vote on what people would come to associate with the state’s flower for decades to come: the coast rhododendron.
In 1892, the state was one of the last to officially name its state flower. After hundreds of suggestions were put through, more than 15,000 women across the state voted in voting booth. And 53% of those women voted on the beautiful pink and white rhododendron.
That’s just one example of how state flowers have defined a state, represented its history, or even helped push forward a political movement. Because shortly thereafter, women across the country began rallying to get their voices heard about political climates outside of state gardens.
The purple lilac in New Hampshire is a representation of the state’s residents’ hardy character. The Bitterroot became Montana’s state flower only after a member of the Montana Women’s Christian Temperance Union crusaded to convince the legislature to listen up, and allow all people, men and women, to vote for the flower.
California’s golden poppy is rooted in the state’s hillsides from north to south, a beautiful yellow flower that mimic’s the states seemingly everlasting sunshine.
Not exactly a flower, but…
Maine’s white pine cone and tassel is not a flower at all, but it was selected as the state’s flower in 1894, after officials saw the cone in a floral emblem at the World Fair.
The two large divisions in the plant species are flowering plants, angiosperms, or plants with cones, gymnosperms. All other states have flowers for their actual state flower, but Maine decided to be a little different. So technically, Maine has a state gymnosperm!
Oklahoma’s floral emblem, the Mistletoe, is not actually a flower either. But it is a flowering plant, which is close enough. Actually, Oklahoma is one of several states that have a state flower, a state wildflower, and a state emblem. For clarity’s sake, the list is the state’s official floral emblem. But most states don’t differentiate between the two.
State Flowers:
Alabama–Camellia
Alaska–Forget-me-not
Arizona–Saguaro Cactus blossom
Arkansas–Apple blossom
California–California Poppy
Colorado–Rocky Mountain Columbine
Connecticut–Mountain laurel
Delaware–Peach blossom
Florida–Orange blossom
Georgia–Cherokee Rose
Hawaii–Hawaiian hibiscus (ma‘o hau hele)
Idaho–Mock Orange
Illinois–Purple Violet
Indiana–Peony
Iowa–Wild Prairie Rose
Kansas–Sunflower
Kentucky–Goldenrod
Louisiana–Magnolia
Maine–White pine cone and tassel
Maryland–Black-eyed susan
Massachusetts–Mayflower
Michigan–Apple blossom
Minnesota–Pink and white lady’s slipper
Mississippi–Magnolia
Missouri–Hawthorn
Montana–Bitterroot
Nebraska–Goldenrod
Nevada–Sagebrush
New Hampshire–Purple lilac
New Jersey–Violet
New Mexico–Yucca flower
New York–Rose
North Carolina–American Dogwood
North Dakota–Wild Prairie Rose
Ohio–Scarlet Carnation
Oklahoma–Mistletoe (Floral Emblem)
Oregon–Oregon grape
Pennsylvania–Mountain Laurel
Rhode Island–Violet
South Carolina–Yellow Jessamine
South Dakota–Pasque flower
Tennessee–Iris
Texas–Bluebonnet
Utah–Sego lily
Vermont–Red Clover
Virginia–American Dogwood
Washington-Coast Rhododendron
West Virginia–Rhododendron
Wisconsin–Wood Violet
Wyoming–Indian Paintbrush
YOU ASKED THE MAD GARDENER . . .
There are so many things I’d like to do better in my garden next year. How can I possibly remember all the things I’d like to change? Heidi
Hi Heidi,
There’s an extremely simple and obvious answer to this question that takes little time, energy or expense and is probably at your fingertips–your cell phone, of course. And with digital photography and storage capabilities, it’s so easy to do.
Simply take pictures of your garden from all angles and during all seasons. Take close-ups of plants or combinations you particularly liked, but also take close-ups of those you do not like and your ‘mistakes’, keeping in mind these photos are not for art’s sake, rather for record keeping (though it’s sometimes hard to separate the two when it comes to taking garden pictures). And with your phone or digital camera there is no expense in keeping both accurate and visual records. Create different files for different purposes. Come winter, planning next year’s garden should be a breeze with little second guessing. If possible, take your photos when cloudy or during the early morning. Colors are more true and plants tend to look fresher than at the end of the day.
Keeping a garden journal is another option. Record daily observations, impressions, tasks, etc. in a simple spiral notebook or one of the many beautiful garden journals available at bookstores. Records can be far more detailed with journaling than with photography. The exact reasons for success or failure can be noted and changes for next year can be made while the current season is still fresh in one’s memory.
Thanks for your question,
Klein’s Mad Gardener
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that, in addition to bees and hummingbirds, there are three interesting and fun-to-watch moths that visit our flower gardens for nectar?
Have you noticed something visiting your flowers, but you aren’t quite sure whether it’s a bee, or a small hummingbird, or a fat butterfly? It’s likely what you saw was a hummingbird clearwing, Hemaris thysbe. It is just one of a number of moths commonly referred to as hummingbird moths. This species in the Family Sphingidae is fairly common throughout the eastern half of the US and Canada. The moths lack scales on the wings except for a dark border around the edge, giving rise to the common name for the group, clearwing moths. The hummingbird clearwing has a “furry” greenish-yellow or tan body with a wide reddish-brown band across the abdomen, and a wingspan of 1½ to 2¼ inches.
Hummingbird moths visit flowers during the day (unlike most moths), hovering over the plants to feed on nectar with a long proboscis. They typically stay at each flower only briefly, before darting off to a new flower. The proboscis coils up like a party noisemaker when not in use.
Hummingbird clearwings will nectar at a variety of flowers, but favorites in southern Wisconsin gardens are petunia and especially Verbena bonariensis. Other reports indicate butterfly bush (Buddleia), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), bee balm (Monarda), Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium) and many others are attractive to these moths.
These moths have one or two generations per year depending on location and temperatures.
Adults are usually seen in mid-summer in Wisconsin. The caterpillars feed on Viburnum and related plants. Pale green eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves in early spring, from which hatch green larvae with a well-developed anal horn. (Another common name for the Family Sphingidae is “hornworms”.) Once they have completed their development, they pupate in dark brown, thin walled cocoons under leaf litter.
Another moth in our area that is frequently seen visiting flowers and hovering like a hummingbird is the white-lined sphinx moth, Hyles lineata. That species is larger than the hummingbird moth, its wings are completely covered with scales, and it tends to be more active at dusk than during the day. There are also many other moths in the Family Sphingidae that are commonly called “hummingbird,” “sphinx,” or “hawk” moths and are occasionally seen feeding at flowers.
One species very similar to Hemaris thysbe (and also commonly called hummingbird moth) is the graceful clearwing, H. gracilis. This moth is very similar in overall appearance, but it is slightly smaller and is not very common, occurring mainly in the Jack pine/oak barrens and open trails through dry forests in the northern counties of the state. The snowberry clearwing or bumblebee moth (H. diffinis) is a closely related species, but it looks more like a bumblebee with its yellow to greenish-yellow and black markings.
Article by Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin. Source: wimastergardener.org
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.
Spring Bulbs from Van Bloem Gardens®
It’s almost time to plant your spring bulbs and Van Bloem Gardens® is one of the world’s leading wholesalers of flower bulbs, perennials and horticulture products for the home gardener and the professional grower . They are a marketplace leader with new introductions, outstanding varieties and a comprehensive selection.
After a long association with Langenveld bulbs, Klein’s began offering product from Van Bloem Gardens® in the spring of 2008. Since then our association has expanded from not just their spring and summer bulb collections, but also to their finished tropical (caladiums, bananas, elephant’s ears, etc.) and water plant lines We are not only impressed by Van Bloem’s large selection and excellent quality, but their clear and colorful packaging and and their presentation for the consumer.
The bulk of our spring bulb collection arrives during the week just after Labor Day each season. Though many of our competitors receive their spring bulbs earlier than we do, experience has taught us that most gardeners don’t even think about fall until Labor Day has passed. Though it’s good to shop early for best selection, bulbs should not be planted until mid-October (especially during warm falls like we’ve been experiencing!) Years back, when our bulbs arrived earlier than early September, we found that some simply withered in the summer heat of our greenhouses.
In addition to the bulbs, Klein’s also carries a complete selection of forcing supplies, hyacinth glasses, bulb boosters and fertilizers, tools and holiday gift bulbs including amaryllis (which arrive mid-October) and paperwhites.
For more about Van Bloem Gardens®, check out their website at www.vanbloem.com.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: AUGUST 7, 2018 (Happy Hour Starts at Four-o’clock)
Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) are certainly near the top of my list of favorite garden flowers. I find it sad that so few of today’s gardeners are familiar with or grow this treasured, old-fashioned and easy-to-grow annual. I suspect that part of the problem stems from the fact that four-o’clocks are one of a handful of annuals that are best grown from seed and seldom, if ever, found at garden centers. Or perhaps gardeners aren’t wanting flowers that open only after four-o’clock (or even later when days are still long during August and early September). I find their beauty well worth the wait each day.
Four-o’clock’s are fascinating for so many reasons. Though of tropical origins, four-o’clocks are tough as nails and extremely undemanding. They prefer full sun, but are more shade tolerant than many sun-loving annuals. For me they do just fine in the dappled shade below my lilac bushes and mock orange. In fact, a little shade makes their bright colors pop and keeps the blooms around a little longer in the morning than those grown in full sunshine. Colors range from pure white, pure pink and pure yellow to hot pink, red and the wildest array of multi-colored and patterned blooms. There are varieties that display several colors in the same bloom and interestingly the same plant can have branches with different flower colors!! The bushy plants are each loaded with 1-1 1/2” blooms. I’m growing four different varieties this season: ‘Marrakesh‘ (multi-cored blooms splashed with pink and yellow), ‘Limelight‘ (magenta blooms over chartreuse foliage), ‘Orange Crush‘ (a bright pure orange color) and ‘Salmon Sunset’ (my favorite with two-toned glowing peach and magenta blossoms). ‘Salmon Sunset‘ is also one of the more fragrant varieties I’ve come across.
Four-o’clocks are not fussy about soil type and do extremely well in large containers. In fact, I grow many of my four-o’clocks in containers so I can overwinter them indoors in my cool root cellar. In the fall, I simply let the tops freeze off and move my pots to the basement. I move them back outdoors in May with my cannas, callas and other stored tropicals. If planted in the ground, the roots can be dug up and stored much like cannas or dahlias. In days gone by, the tuberous roots were available most garden centers and sold alongside other summer bulbs in the springtime. In recent years, Klein’s is again carrying the tubers as there is new-found interest in four-o’clocks.
Four-o’clock plants can be allowed to ramble amongst other annuals in the garden, but I prefer to stake them and keep them upright and bushy. Plants can self-sow in the right location. The very hard seeds are about the size of a pea and are very easy to harvest for subsequent seasons. I start mine indoors around April 1. It’s best to use peat pots in that four-o’clock seedlings don’t transplant easily. Some say it’s best to soak the seeds before sowing much like morning glories. But I’ve had great success without the soaking. I usually give my plants one pinch before I move them outdoors in early May to harden off.
Four-o’clocks are native to Peru and are also known as Marvel of Peru.
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ENTRY: AUGUST 16, 2018 (A New Breakfast Cereal Flavor: Glysophate?)
I saw a kind of scary story while watching the news this evening about Roundup turning up in breakfast cereals; and this just after a man in California was awarded millions of dollars in a decision that Roundup is the cause of his cancer. Already knowing that glysophate (Roundup) is partly to blame for the crash in monarch and other pollinator insect populations, it’ll be fascinating to watch the continued debate over Roundup’s safety unfold in the upcoming years.
Weedkiller Found in Wide Range of Breakfast Foods Aimed at Children
Significant levels of the weedkilling chemical glyphosate have been found in an array of popular breakfast cereals, oats and snack bars marketed to US children, a new study has found.
Tests revealed glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular weedkiller brand Roundup, present in all but two of the 45 oat-derived products that were sampled by the Environmental Working Group, a public health organization.
Nearly three in four of the products exceeded what the EWG classes safe for children to consume. Products with some of the highest levels of glyphosate include granola, oats and snack bars made by leading industry names Quaker, Kellogg’s and General Mills, which makes Cheerios.
One sample of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats measured at more than one part per million of glyphosate. This is still within safe levels deemed by the Environmental Protection Agency, although it is currently working on an updated assessment.
The EWG said the federal limits are outdated and that most of the products it tested exceed a more stringent definition of safe glyphosate levels.
“I grew up eating Cheerios and Quaker Oats long before they were tainted with glyphosate,” said EWG’s president, Ken Cook. “No one wants to eat a weedkiller for breakfast, and no one should have to do so.” Cook said the EWG will urge the EPA to limit the use of glyphosate on food crops but said companies should “step up” because of the “lawless” nature of the regulator under the Trump administration.
“It is very troubling that cereals children like to eat contain glyphosate,” said Alexis Temkin, an EWG toxicologist and author of the report. “Parents shouldn’t worry about whether feeding their children heathy oat foods will also expose them to a chemical linked to cancer. The government must take steps to protect our most vulnerable populations.”
The findings follow a landmark decision in a San Francisco court last week to order that Monsanto pay $289m in damages to Dewayne Johnson, a 46-year-old former groundskeeper. A jury deemed that Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller caused Johnson’s cancer and that it had failed to warn him about the health risks of exposure.
Monsanto, which said it will appeal against the verdict, has said glyphosate has been used safely for decades. In 2015, the EPA said that glyphosate has a low toxicity for people but could cause problems for some pets if they consume the chemical.
However, the World Health Organization has called glyphosate a “probable carcinogen” and authorities in California list it as a chemical “known to the state to cause cancer”.
In April, internal emails obtained from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that scientists have found glyphosate on a wide range of commonly consumed food, to the point that they were finding it difficult to identify a food without the chemical on it. The FDA has yet to release any official results from this process.
There was no indication that the claims related to products sold outside the US.
US farmers spray about 200m pounds of Roundup each year on their crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat and oats. It can also be used on produce such as spinach and almonds.
A General Mills spokeswoman said: “Our products are safe and without question they meet regulatory safety levels. The EPA has researched this issue and has set rules that we follow, as do farmers who grow crops including wheat and oats.”
A Kellogg’s spokesman said: “Our food is safe. Providing safe, high-quality foods is one of the ways we earn the trust of millions of people around the world. The EPA sets strict standards for safe levels of these agricultural residues and the ingredients we purchase from suppliers for our foods fall under these limits.”
Quaker Oats continues to “proudly stand by the safety and quality of our Quaker products”, a spokesman said.
But Cook said that General Mills and Quaker Oats are “relying on outdated safety standards”.
“Our view is that the government standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency pose real health risks to Americans – particularly children, who are more sensitive to the effects of toxic chemicals than adults,” he said.
Source: www.theguardian.com
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ENTRY: AUGUST 28, 2018 (Gardening Success: Art vs. Science)
This has been a phenomenal summer in the garden. The heat and sunshine have allowed the plants to grow large and healthy. The lack of storms, wind and hail in my Madison east side garden has left the foliage beautiful and and unblemished. Rainfall has been plentiful and well-spaced. Thankfully I’ve been spared the excessive flooding occurring in other parts of the county.
Friends and coworkers often debate about what makes a garden beautiful. Ultimately it all comes down to one’s own personal taste and an atmosphere that makes one happiest. For some, design is more important than anything else. For others it’s all about the accessories–the art, the structures, the knick-knacks, the containers, the water features. And for others (like me) it’s simply about the plants. For most people, it’s a mix of all of the above that makes up the perfect garden.
A while back, one of my friends commented on how talented I am artistically with my arrangement of plants in the yard and in containers and the stunning color combinations. I found her comments fascinating. From my perspective, the beauty of my garden comes down to simply knowing about the plants I grow and their very particular needs. That same friend might have a very different opinion of my ‘artistic talent’ were she to visit my garden in late May. She’d see my now-hidden-by-foliage, hodgepodge collection of old, stained plastic and chipped clay pots. She’d wonder what on earth was he thinking with his odd and haphazard plant placement. Why did he put taller plants in front of shorter ones? Why are there ugly containers scattered throughout his perennial beds? Who in the world plants parsley, impatiens and butterfly bushes in the same container? What’s up with that? Talent?
For me, it’s the science of the plants that makes my garden a success (and beautiful). I’m diligent about watering and feeding. I place plants in my garden not by design, but by knowing their light requirements, watering needs and most importantly; what the plants will look like four months after I planted them in May. Because I do my homework and know the plants I grow so well, I no longer make the mistakes I made when I began gardening over 30 years ago. The color combinations are more coincidence than planning. I place plants where I know the’ll grow best, rather than purchasing plants to fit a plan, design or color scheme. I purchase and grow the plants that I enjoy growing, knowing that I’ll find some place in the yard that will accommodate them.
So it’s August now, and as always, with good weather, some TLC and time to grow, the garden has come together beautifully–little artistic talent involved.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Ah, the wonders of outdoor grilling! The sun, the fresh air, the smell of meat working up a nice char, friends and family relaxing around the grill. Who wants to be stuck inside cooking the rest of the meal? You can round out your grilled steaks, burgers or chicken with a healthy dose of veggies cooked in a grilling basket (or grill wok). The grill basket will cook your vegetables quickly and evenly with just an occasional tossing. In about 10 minutes, your vegetables will be ready to enjoy.
It’s not hard to use a grill basket for vegetables. You just need to know a few simple tricks to ensure your veggies cook evenly and don’t dry out. A vegetable grill basket lets you cook your entire meal on the grill, allowing you more time and opportunity to enjoy your friends, family and the great outdoors.
TIPS FOR GRILLING VEGGIES
1-Cut up vegetables with similar density and moisture content into same-sized chunks for even cooking. Onions and peppers take just a few minutes to cook, while potatoes can take longer. If you want all of the vegetables to be done at the same time, everything in the basket should be similar density.
2-Marinate your vegetables just a little bit of oil to keep the vegetables from drying out. You can season the oil with a bit of salt and/or garlic powder or your favorite herbs for additional flavor.
3-Preheat your grill and the grill basket with the cover closed for about 10 minutes. This will help to keep the vegetables from sticking to the basket.
4-Grill the vegetables in the basket over the heat. Toss the vegetables every three or four minutes or turn them over after five minutes. You can add more seasoned oil with a brush.
If you do not have a grill wok or basket, use a disposable foil pan. Poke holes in the bottom of the pan with a meat fork to allow liquid to drain.
Source: www.charbroil.com
PERFECT GRILLED VEGGIES–Bright asparagus, yellow summer squash and other vegetables get flame-broiled treatment in this must-try side dish. The grilled specialty gets a flavor boost from red wine vinegar, basil and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Source: Taste of Home
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium sweet onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup quartered fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, salt and pepper. Add the asparagus, squash, red pepper, onion and mushrooms; seal bag and turn to coat.Transfer the vegetables to a grill wok or basket. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 8-12 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently.Place vegetables in a serving bowl. Add vinegar and basil; toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve warm. Serves 6.
BBQ VEGETABLE MEDLEY—An easy go-to recipe from the Food Network.
1/4 cup olive oil
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
10 small tomatoes, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 crookneck squash, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Salt
Black pepper
Pour the oil in a large bowl and add the peppers, tomatoes, onion, squash, zucchini, and basil in a bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let vegetables stand for 10 minutes before placing them into a BBQ wok basket.
Heat the grill to medium. Place vegetables (in the wok basket) on the grill and cook, stirring occasionally. Remove the vegetables from the grill and serve immediately. Serves 4-6.
EASY GRILLED VEGETABLES—A 5 ingredient recipe from the Pillsbury website!
12 pattypan squash, about 1 inch in diameter
2 medium red or green bell peppers, each cut into 6 pieces
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/3 cup reduced-fat Italian dressing
Freshly ground pepper, if desired
Place squash, bell peppers and onion in rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Pour dressing over vegetables. Cover and let stand 1 hour to blend flavors. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Remove vegetables from marinade; reserve marinade. Place vegetables in grill basket (grill “wok”) or directly on grill rack. Cover and grill vegetables over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, shaking basket or turning vegetables and brushing with marinade 2 or 3 times, until crisp-tender. Sprinkle with pepper. Serves 6.
MIXED VEGETABLE GRILL–Enhance the grilled flavor of vegetables with this lightly sweet and spicy blend of seasonings. If using, precook the sweet potato in the microwave in that it needs just a few minutes of grilling to brown. From the McCormick spices website.
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 asparagus, spears, ends trimmed
1 medium red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 6 strips
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium yellow squash, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 small sweet potato
Mix brown sugar, basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper in small bowl. Drizzle oil over vegetables in large bowl; toss to coat well. Add seasoning mixture; toss to coat well.
Place vegetables in a hot grill basket, grill rack or thread onto skewers. Grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning occasionally. Serves 6.
Place vegetables in a hot grill basket, grill rack or thread onto skewers. Grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning occasionally. Serves 6.
NATURAL NEWS–
Start a Hummingbird Garden
Learn how to draw the world’s tiniest birds to your garden with these colorful flowers.
Written by Amy McDowell for Midwest Living @ www.midwestliving.com/garden/
Tiny Joys
Gardeners Kathi and Michael Rock of Madison, are enchanted with hummingbirds. “Hummingbirds truly embody the magic, joy and freedom that we as humans would love to have,” Kathi says.
Kathi knows hummingbirds’ amazing statistics: They can fly faster than any other birds and have the largest proportionate brain size. And, of course, they can hover and snatch insects in midair.
Kathi and Michael first fell in love with hummingbirds a decade ago after adding a hummingbird feeder to their backyard. Now they have two dozen feeders and more than a hundred kinds of annuals and perennials to cater to the tastes and habits of their flying friends.
“We try to have plants that bloom at every point during the season,” Kathi says. The feeders fill in when flowers aren’t growing in early spring and after fall frosts.
The Rocks pass along their 10 years of expertise by hosting a hummingbird gardening website (sites.google.com/view/
Although there are 300 kinds of hummingbirds, the ruby-throated (left) is the only one common throughout the Midwest. The tiny birds arrive here in May and June, then leave gardens to build nests in isolated forest areas. As soon as mating is over, in early July, the males begin to migrate because they play no role in raising the young. Females head south after their offspring learn to fly.
“We see an increase in the number of hummingbirds beginning in early August,” Kathi says. “Our peak time in Madison is traditionally mid-September. By then, most of the adult males are gone, and we’re seeing female and immature birds almost exclusively.”
Hummingbirds will dine from flowers of any color, but red attracts them best. “They can see red up to a mile away,” Kathi says.
Flowers with tubular blossoms evolved with hummingbirds, so the Rocks keep a good supply. Hummingbirds also eat spiders and insects, including mosquitoes and gnats.
Kathi recommends six plants to get your hummingbird garden started: perennials honeysuckle, bee balm and cardinal flower, as well as annuals Mexican cigar plant, blue anise sage and Texas sage.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma) has blooms that look like starbursts and fragrant foliage. It reaches 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Grow in full sun or light shade. Zone 4.
The red or red-orange variety of Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) blooms with trumpet-shape flowers on a vine that reaches 10-15 feet long. Grow in full sun. Zone 4.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) attracts hummers with fire truck red blossoms on 2- to 3-foot-tall stalks from late summer through fall. Grow in full sun or part shade. Zone 2.
Mexican cigar plant (Cuphea ‘David Verity’) grows 2 feet tall with orange tubular flowers and tips that resemble lit cigars. It flowers from early summer until frost, grows well in containers and thrives in full sun. Annual.
Blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica ‘Black ’n Blue”, i.e.) blooms with purple flowers from summer through fall. It reaches 2-4 feet tall. Grow in full sun to part shade. Annual.
Texas sage (Salvia coccinea) flowers prolifically with red flowers summer through fall. It reaches 2 feet tall and grows easily from seed. Grow in full sun.
Make Your Own Nectar
When your flowers aren’t blooming, feeders will help attract hummingbirds. Mix one part sugar with four parts tap water. Sugar dissolves quickly in warm water, so there’s no need to boil it. When nectar looks cloudy or moldy, wash the feeder and refill with a fresh batch.
While a traditional feeder is hung off a house or on a stand near your home, many different varieties are available, including ones that you can place in the ground (left) at any attractive spot in your garden.
In addition to the above, other annuals that attract hummingbirds include; fuchsias (especially ‘Gartenmeister’), lantana, nicotiana, pentas and hyssop.
The Rocks are hosting a Community Hummingbird Tour at their home (5118 Buffalo Tr., Madison 53705) on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 3-7:00 and on Sunday, Sept. 16, 1-5:30. There will be a program about hummingbirds and you can witness hummingbird banding.
All suggested plants are available at Klein’s in the springtime.
SEPTEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
JAPANESE ANEMONE
Japanese anemones (Anemone japonica, A. x hybrida, A. hupehensis and A. vitifolia) are among the loveliest of our late season bloomers, sometimes blooming into October. All thrive in rich soil and in full sun (with some afternoon shade) and all resent soil that stays too moist during the winter months. Most are quite shade tolerant. In fact, Anemone vitifolia ‘Robustissima’ is an amazing perennial choice for dry shade–a location very difficult to find a perennial that does exceptionally well. ‘Robustissima’ also does well in heat, cold, full sun and drought.
Japanese anemones are a member of the buttercup family of plants (Ranunculaceae) and are native to China, Japan and Nepal. The foliage is very attractive, reminiscent of maple leaves, and has few pests. The plants are shallow rooted and spread vigorously to the point of being invasive if grown in ideal conditions. Flowers are borne in clusters on wiry stalks and are only in shades of pink and white. There are both single and double flowered varieties. Flowers range from 1-3” across and have a daisy-like appearance. Blooming usually begins at the very end of summer, though ‘Robustissima’ starts a month earlier than the rest. The flower stalks range from 2-5’ tall depending on variety. Plants are very long lived and quite durable. Plants need to be kept well watered during dry spells in order to keep the foliage looking good. The most common varieties include:
Honorine Jobert with large white single blooms at 30-48”.
Pamina has double rose-red blooms and grows to 30”.
Queen Charlotte is a beautiful pink variety and tops out at 30”.
September Charm has deep rose flowers and is 24-36” tall.
Whirlwind is one of the more common white anemones with semi-double blooms.
Klein’s carries a nice selection of both Japanese and spring-blooming anemones (including natives) in the springtime.
AROUND TOWN:
For neighborhood events or garden tours that you would like posted in our monthly newsletter, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com or Sue at sue@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Events must be garden related and must take place in the Madison vicinity and we must receive your information by the first of the month in which the event takes place for it to appear in that month’s newsletter.
Guided Garden Strolls
Sundays, May 6 thru October 14, 1:30-3:00
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.
GLEAM, Art in a New Light
August 25 thru October 27, 2018
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, is an annual exhibit featuring local, national and international artists creating light-based installations throughout Olbrich’s 16-acre outdoor gardens. Visitors wind their way through dimly lit pathways, encountering strange and surprising forms that pulse and shimmer in the night around every corner.
Experience the gardens after dark in a whole new light!
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.
“GLEAM 2018 features artists and designers from right here in the Midwest, Pittsburg, PA, Brooklyn, NY, down south in Tulsa, OK, and all the way across the Atlantic from the Netherlands! These provocateurs design original light installations using everything from video projection and lasers to simple paracord string to create awe inspiring visuals. The Thai Pavilion will be highlighted for the first time, broadening the range of the nighttime garden experiences.”
Admission for the general public is $15 for adults 13 & up ($11 for members) and $7 for children ages 3-12 ($6 for members).
Tickets available at the door starting at 7:30 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.
2018 Summer Sundays: Concerts in the Garden at Allen Centennial Garden
Add a little bit of musical enjoyment to your Sunday afternoons this summer with Summer Sundays: Concerts in the Garden. This 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 24 and ending September 16, from 5-6:15 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public. Brought to you by the Friends of Allen Centennial Garden.
September 2
Performance by The Stellanovas
“Cafe jazz” by the Stellanovas-intimate, swinging, original, dynamic music accompanied by unique instrumentation: violin, accordion, cello, ukulele, Hawaiian guitar, drums, electric guitar, and vocals. Expect a straight-ahead set of swinging vintage and original jazz, offering sweet melodies and swing rhythms. Chris Wagoner, Mary Gaines, Doug Brown, and Erik Radloff.
September 16
Performance by J Clocks in Motion
Hailed as “nothing short of remarkable” and “the most exciting addition to Madison’s classical music scene,” this percussion quartet performs new music, builds many of its own instruments, and breaks down the boundaries of the traditional concert program, serving up virtuosic performances that include theater and art, consistently offering a joyous entertainment experience.
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison
608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.
Rotary Gardens 2018 Fall Plant Sale
Friday, September 7, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 8, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 9, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 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.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.
Fall Flowers in Grady Oak Savanna and Greene Prairie
Sunday, September 9, 1:00-2:30 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
Family Walk: Fun with Fungi
Sunday, September 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
The season is right to observe a variety of species from the kingdom Fungi. Learn about these important decomposers on a naturalist-led walk. 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
Troy Community Gardens Fall Festival
Sunday, September 9, 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 ice cream, food from Pickle Jar and Taqueria Sabor Queretano food carts, 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/
Community Hummingbird Garden Tours
Wednesday, September 12, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 16, 1:00-5:30 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 on 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.
Visit sites.google.com/view/
Edible Landscaping
Saturday, September 15, 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
Native By Design:
Gardening for a Sustainable Future
Sunday, September 16, 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. Keynote: “Native Plants in Urban Settings,” Lynn Steiner, garden writer. Fee: $65. Register by September 6.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Native Garden Tour:
Fall in the Native Plant Garden
Saturday, September 22, 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
Botanic Talk: The Basics of Canning
Thursday, September 27, from 6:30-8:00 p.m
The Basics of Canning, with Joey & Holly Baird. Holly Baird is an award winning state fair canner. She will teach you how to can safely, how to get started in canning, and canning methods and techniques.
Joey and Holly enjoy making presentations at garden Expos throughout the Midwest. They make videos on YouTube about how to grow your own food organically, reusing found items (or items you may just throw away), what to do with the food you grow, home canning and simple home living. Joey and Holly host the only gardening radio show in SE Wisconsin on Saturday mornings from March through October.
$7 general admission, $5 RBG Members; this event includes printed and note taking materials (where applicable), you will have access to Rotary Botanical Gardens’ grounds, and light refreshments. You may purchase tickets to this event at the door, or online, in advance. If you are interested in Membership perks, such as discounted rates,
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI,
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.
Crackle–Fire & Froth in the Gardens
Fridays, September 28 & October 5, 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 4. 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.
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 14 thru November 10, 6:15-1:45
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 18 thru November 7, 8:30-1:45
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
Northside Farmers Market
Sundays, May 6 through October 21, 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:
For seeds:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds @ www.rareseeds.com or 417/924-8887
Burpee @ www.burpee.com or 800/888-1447
Harris Seeds @ www.harrisseeds.com or 800/514-4441
Johnny’s Select Seeds @ www.johnnyseeds.com or 207/861-3901
Jung’s Seeds @ www.jungseed.com or 800/247-5864
Park’s Seeds @ www.parkseed.com or 800/845-3369
Pinetree @ www.superseeds.com or 207/926-3400
Seeds of Change @ www.seedsofchange.com or 888/762-7333
Seed Savers @ www.seedsavers.org or 563/382-5990
Select Seeds @ www.selectseeds.com or 800/684-0395
Territorial Seeds @ www.territorialseed.com or 888/657-3131
Thompson & Morgan @ www.thompson-morgan.com or 800/274-7333
For bulbs:
Brent & Becky’s Bulbs @ www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com or 877/661-2852
Colorblends @ www.colorblends.com or 888/847-8637
John Scheeper’s @ www.johnscheepers.com or 860/567-0838
McClure & Zimmerman @ www.mzbulb.com or 800/883-6998
For plants:
High Country Gardens @ www.highcountrygardens.com or 800/925-9387
Logee’s Greenhouses @ www.logees.com or 888/330-8038
Plant Delights Nursery @ www.plantdelights.com or 912/772-4794
Roots and Rhizomes @ www.rootsrhizomes.com or 800/374-5035
Wayside Gardens @ www.waysidegardens.com or 800/213-0379
White Flower Farm @ www.whiteflowerfarm.com or 800/503-9624
Note: To receive every possible seed, plant or garden supply catalog imaginable, check out Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogs @ www.gardenlist.com. Most catalogs are free and make for great winter reading!
BEHIND THE SCENES AT KLEIN’S—This is a sneak peek of what is going on each month behind the scenes in our greenhouses. Many people are unaware that our facility operates year round or that we have 10 more greenhouses on the property in addition to the 6 open for retail. At any given moment we already have a jump on the upcoming season–be it poinsettias in July, geraniums in December or fall mums in May.
IN SEPTEMBER:
—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 2019 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 2019.
PERMANENT FEATURES–
KLEIN’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Have our monthly newsletter e-mailed to you automatically by signing up on the right side of our home page. We’ll offer monthly tips, greenhouse news and tidbits, specials and recipes. . .everything you need to know from your favorite Madison greenhouse. And tell your friends. It’s easy to do.
THE MAD GARDENER–“Madison’s Firsthand Source for Expert Gardening Advice”
Ask us your gardening questions by e-mailing us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. The link is posted on our home page and in all newsletters.
We can only answer those questions pertaining to gardening in Southern Wisconsin and we reserve the right to leave correspondence unanswered at our discretion. Please allow 2-3 days for a response.
TO WRITE A REVIEW OF KLEIN’S, PLEASE LINK TO
FACEBOOK
Follow Klein’s on Facebook where we post updates and photos on a regular basis.
TWITTER
Join Klein’s on Twitter where we post company updates and photos on a regular basis.
SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
We offer a 10% Off Senior Citizen Discount every Tuesday to those 62 and above. This discount is not in addition to other discounts or sales. Please mention that you are a senior before we ring up your purchases. Does not apply to wire out orders or services, i.e. delivery, potting, etc.
RECYCLING POTS & TRAYS
Plastic flower pots and garden edging can now be recycled as part of the City of Madison’s rigid plastic program. Flowerpots and edging must be free of dirt and can be placed in your green recycling bin. For more information call 267-2626 or visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets/
DELIVERY INFO
Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses delivers daily, except Sundays, throughout all of Madison and much of Dane County including: Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and Windsor. We do not deliver to Cambridge, Columbus, Deerfield or Stoughton.
Current delivery rate on 1-4 items is $7.95 for Madison, Maple Bluff, Monona and Shorewood Hills; $8.95 for Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor; and $9.95 for Marshall, Middleton, Oregon and Verona. An additional $3.00 will be added for deliveries of 4-10 items and $5.00 added for deliveries of more than 10 items. For deliveries requiring more than one trip, a separate delivery charge will be added for each trip.
A minimum order of $25.00 is required for delivery.
We not only deliver our fabulous fresh flowers, but also houseplants, bedding plants and hardgoods. There may be an extra charge for very large or bulky items.
Delivery to the Madison hospitals is $5.95. Deliveries to the four Madison hospitals are made during the early afternoon. Items are delivered to the hospital’s volunteer rooms and not directly to the patients’ rooms per hospital rules.
There is no delivery charge for funerals in the city of Madison or Monona, although normal rates apply for morning funeral deliveries to Madison’s west side (west of Park St.). Our normal rates also apply for funeral deliveries in the surrounding communities at all times. Although we don’t deliver on Sundays, we will deliver funeral items on Sundays at the regular delivery rate.
Morning delivery is guaranteed to the following Madison zip codes, but only if requested: 53703, 53704, 53714, 53716, 53718 and Cottage Grove, DeForest, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Monona, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor.
We begin our delivery day at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 3:00 p.m. We do not usually deliver after 4:00 unless specific exceptions are made with our drivers.
Except for holidays, the following west-side zip codes and communities are delivered only during the afternoon: 53705, 53706, 53711, 53713, 53717, 53719, 53726, Fitchburg, Middleton, Oregon, Shorewood Hills and Verona.
During holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.) we are able to make morning deliveries to all of the above areas. We are not able to take closely timed deliveries on any holiday due to the sheer volume of such requests.
It’s best to give us a range of time and we’ll try our absolute hardest. Orders for same day delivery must be placed by 12:30 p.m. or by 2:30 p.m. for Madison zip codes 53704 and 53714.
DEPARTMENT HEADS: Please refer all questions, concerns or feedback in the following departments to their appropriate supervisor.
Phone: 608/244-5661 or 888/244-5661
Horticulturalist & General Manager–Jamie VandenWymelenberg jamie@kleinsfloral.com
Accounts, Billing and Purchasing—Kathryn Derauf kathryn@kleinsfloral.com
Delivery Supervisor & Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach rick@kleinsfloral.com
Owner, Floral Designer & Purchasing—Sue Klein sue@kleinsfloral.com
RELATED RESOURCES AND WEB SITES
University of Wisconsin Extension
1 Fen Oak Ct. #138
Madison, WI 53718
608/224-3700
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
608/262-4364
American Horticultural Society
Garden Catalogs (an extensive list with links)
Invasive Species
Community Groundworks
3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4
Madison, WI 53704
608/240-0409
Madison Area Master Gardeners (MAMGA)
Wisconsin Master Gardeners Program
Department of Horticulture
1575 Linden Drive
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Madison, WI 53706
608/265-4504
The Wisconsin Gardener
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
608/262-8406
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/246-4550
Rotary Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr.
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888
University of Wisconsin-West Madison
Agricultural Research Center
8502 Mineral Point Rd.
Verona, WI 53593
608/262-2257
PLANTS POISONOUS TO CHILDREN:
Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you’re in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don’t keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it. The following list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.
•Bird of paradise
•Bull nettle
•Castor bean
•Chinaberry tree
•Crocus
•Daffodil
•Deadly nightshade
•Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
•Foxglove
•Glory lily
•Hemlock
•Holly berry
•Indian tobacco
•Iris
•Jimsonweed
•Lantana
•Larkspur
•Lily of the valley
•Marijuana
•Mescal bean
•Mexicantes
•Mistletoe
•Morning glory
•Mountain laurel
•Night-blooming jasmine
•Nutmeg
•Oleander
•Philodendron
•Poison ivy
•Poison sumac
•Pokeweed
•Poppy
•Potato
•Privet
•Rhododendron
•Rhubarb
•Water hemlock
•Wisteria
PLANTS POISONOUS TO PETS:
Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction. Source: The National Humane Society website @ http://www.humanesociety.org/
•Aconite
•Apple
•Arrowgrasses
•Autumn Crocus
•Azaleas
•Baneberry
•Bird-of-Paradise
•Black locust
•Bloodroot
•Box
•Buckeye
•Buttercup
•Caladium
•Carolina jessamine
•Castor bean
•Chinaberry tree
•Chockcherries
•Christmas berry
•Christmas Rose
•Common privet
•Corn cockle
•Cowbane
•Cow cockle
•Cowsliprb
•Daffodil
•Daphne
•Day lily
•Delphinium (Larkspur)
•Dumbcane
•Dutchman’s breeches
•Easter lily
•Elderberry
•Elephant’s ear
•English Ivy
•European Bittersweet
•Field peppergrass
•Foxglove
•Holly
•Horsechestnut
•Horse nettle
•Hyacinth
•Iris
•Jack-in-the-pulpit
•Jerusalem Cherry
•Jimsonweed
•Lantana
•Larkspur
•Laurels
•Lily of the valley
•Lupines
•Mayapple
•Milk vetch
•Mistletoe
•Monkshood
•Morning glory
•Mustards
•Narcissus
•Nicotiana
•Nightshade
•Oaks
•Oleander
•Philodendrons
•Pokeweed
•Poinsettia
•Poison hemlock
•Potato
•Rhododendron
•Rhubarb
•Rosary pea
•Sago palm
•Skunk cabbage
•Smartweeds
•Snow-on-the-mountain
•Sorghum
•Star of Bethlehem
•Wild black cherry
•Wild radish
•Wisteria
•Yellow jessamine
•Yew