‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—MARCH 2020
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ Is Ready for Your Questions
Introducing ‘Houseplant Help’ from Klein’s
Ever Thought about Working at a Garden Center?….
Do Houseplants Really Improve Indoor Air Quality?
‘Lavender’ & ‘Lavatory’ Related?
Tips for Fresh Cut Tulips and Daffodils
Seed Starting Basics for Maximum Success
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked the Mad Gardener about a Jade Plant with Mildew
Plant of the Month: 25% Off Bromeliads!
Klein’s Favorite Cornbread Recipes
Product Spotlight: The Naked Bee®
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From February 2020
—The Importance of Sterilizing Equipment
—Logee’s Plants…My Favorite Mail Order Company
—A Road to A Plant-Based Diet
March in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING AT A GARDEN CENTER?
Now is the time to stop in and ask for an application or fill one out at Employee Application. We’re primarily looking for seasonal, part-time retail help. Responsibilities include customer service, stocking, etc. Retail experience and computer skills are a plus. Benefits include our generous discount and a hands-on opportunity in a horticultural setting. Hours can be flexible. If possible, we’re seeking people with 20 or more hours availability per week. Some weekend and evening shifts are expected. Seasonal positions usually begin during March and/or early April and run into early June.
In addition, we are currently seeking someone to work primarily in our perennial and shrub area. This position will run from about mid-April into the late summer and fall as needed. We’re looking for someone who is available about 24 hours/week; more in the spring and less as the summer progresses. Some weekend and evening shifts are expected. A basic knowledge of our area’s most popular perennials and shrubs is helpful. Please call the store @ 608-244-5661 or stop by and ask for Rick if you are interested in this position.
INTRODUCING ‘HOUSEPLANT HELP’
Now you can contact Klein’s in-house indoor plant experts by emailing to houseplanthelp@kleinsfloral.
For many years, customers’ indoor plant questions have been directed to Klein’s Mad Gardener (see below). Now you have the opportunity to contact our indoor plant experts directly. We’ve posted a link on our home page and in our contacts 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.
We reserve the right to leave correspondence unanswered at our discretion. Please allow 2-3 days for a response.
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 on our home page and in our contacts 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.
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.
MARCH STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
March 8–International Women’s Day
March 8–Daylight Saving Time Begins.
March 9–Full Moon
March 17–St. Patrick’s Day. From shamrocks to green carnations–we have it!
March 19–First Day of Spring!!!! It’s still too early to plant, but you’ll notice spring bulbs peeking through the cold soil, trees buds bulging and maybe even that first robin. Keep in mind that Madison’s average last frost date is May 10 so there’s usually still lots of cold and snow to come.
March 22—Chicago Flower & Garden Show: Focus on Flowers-We will depart Klein’s by bus and first make a stop at the beautiful Garfield Conservatory. We’re then on our way to this premier flower show at Navy Pier. The cost is $55 and includes light snacks, bus ride and ticket to the show. The bus leaves promptly @ 7:00 a.m. and returns about 7:00 p.m.
Sign up today and book your seat for this fabulous trip! 55 seats are available. **Payment is due at time of reservation** @ Register Here.
April 1–April Fool’s Day
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind and curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead”
Daffodowndilly
by A.A.Milne (creator of Winnie the Pooh)
Before you know it, our gardens will be bursting with the heralds of spring–first the snowdrops and early crocus and in short order, the daffodils and tulips. Already at Klein’s, fresh cut tulips and daffodils fill our coolers and mixed bulb gardens are in high demand. Our customers long for spring.
Tulips and daffodils are some of our most desirable cut flowers in the springtime–whether purchased at a flower shop, from the local supermarket or picked from one’s own garden. Here are a few important tips when using both tulips and daffodils in fresh arrangements.
Cut Tulips:
Tulips are best purchased or cut from the garden when the flower bud is showing color but still closed. Harvested earlier, the color won’t fully develop. Purchasing or harvesting later reduces the life in the vase.
Once ready for the vase, line up the tops of the tulips and cut off the stems so all tulips are the same length. Bunch the tulips upright and place in a tall vase or bucket of very cold water for at least 30 minutes to rehydrate. It’s important that the stems are kept straight during this step. Tulip stems will assume whatever shape the stems are in during the rehydration process.
Once placed in a vase on their own or mixed with other cut flowers, tulips will continue to grow and elongate; creating a dramatic and ever changing display. Unlike most cut flowers, tulips should not be placed in a floral preservative. A tulip arrangement will last much longer if placed in a cold (but not freezing) location during the night.
Cut Daffodils:
Fresh cut daffodils exude a sticky sap that is toxic to most other cut flowers. To eliminate this problem, simply place your fresh cut garden daffodils alone in a vase or bucket of cold water in a cool location for at least 24 hours. After this time, the daffodils can be safely arranged with other flowers. Daffodils purchased at flower shops or at the supermarket have already been conditioned so this step can be skipped.
Daffodils will continue to open so long as the flower buds are showing good color and are about to crack open. Harvested too early, they may not open fully. Unlike tulips, daffodils will last longer if a floral preservative is used in the vased arrangement. Placing the arrangement in a very cool (but not freezing) location at night can double the lifespan of your bouquet.
YOU ASKED. . .
My jade plant has a powdery mildew and the leaves are falling off and discolored.
It has been going on a while. I read to wash the leaves with vinegar and baking soda, but it is not helping. Do you have any suggestions? Barb
Hi Barb,
Powdery mildew is a fungal problem common in jade plants. The vinegar and baking soda (each when properly diluted) changes the pH of the plant’s surface. It not only kills existing mildew, but prevents its spread when used regularly AND preventively. Milk diluted with water has the same effect. We also carry organic copper fungicides that are very effective in killing and preventing mildew.
Even when the mildew has been killed, the residue remains unless carefully wiped away. If the mildew is really bad, it penetrates the leave’s surface causing permanent damage; meaning sometimes the mildew is dead, but the plant still appears to have it. Only the new fresh new growth during the spring and summer would provide the answer if there are no signs of new mildew.
All that said, your jade plant (from photos) appears overly leggy and seems to be in a position where the light is too low for proper growth. Jades grow naturally upright and shrubby when grown directly in a south window in full sun.
Given that fact, this time of the year would be the perfect time to cut back your jade plant, drastically reshaping it. Doing so would also help eliminate your powdery mildew problem, by removing nearly all of the remaining foliage. Your jade plant would rebound quickly now with the lengthening days. Fertilize regularly with a dilute fertilizer and place your jade plant in the brighter spot possible in your home or apartment. By next fall you should have a lush full plant with no signs of mildew if treated preventively.
If you are uncomfortable or unsure about pruning your jade plant, please bring it to Klein’s and we would be happy to do it for you.
Thanks for your question,
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that counter to popular belief, houseplants may not actually improve air quality?
The most recent issue of The American Gardener magazine (ahsgardening.org) contained an article referring to the following study from Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Study: Actually, Potted Plants Don’t Improve Air Quality
Plants can help spruce up a home or office space, but claims about their ability to improve the air quality are vastly overstated, according to research out of Drexel University. A closer look at decades of research suggesting that potted plants can improve the air in homes and offices reveals that natural ventilation far outpaces plants when it comes to cleaning the air.
“This has been a common misconception for some time. Plants are great, but they don’t actually clean indoor air quickly enough to have an effect on the air quality of your home or office environment,” said Michael Waring, PhD, an associate professor of architectural and environmental engineering in Drexel’s College of Engineering.
Waring and one of his doctoral students, Bryan Cummings, reviewed a dozen studies, spanning 30 years of research, to draw their conclusions and recently published findings in Nature’s Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. The central finding is that the natural or ventilation air exchange rates in indoor environments, like homes and offices, dilutes concentrations of volatile organic compounds — the air pollution that plants are allegedly cleaning — much faster than plants can extract them from the air.
The high-profile experiment that seemed to create the myth of houseplants as air purifiers happened in 1989 when NASA, in search of ways to clean the air on space stations, declared that plants could be used to remove cancer-causing chemicals from the air.
But the problem with this experiment, and others like it, is that they were conducted in a sealed chamber in a lab — a contained environment that has little in common with a house or office — and the data from these studies was not interpreted further to reflect what the findings would be if the plant were in a real indoor environment with natural or ventilation air exchange.
“Typical for these studies,” the researchers write, “a potted plant was placed in a sealed chamber (often with a volume of a cubic meter or smaller), into which a single VOC was injected, and its decay was tracked over the course of many hours or days.”
Waring and Cummings’s review takes the data from volumes of potted plant research one step farther, by using it to calculate a measure called the “clean air delivery rate,” or “CADR.” They were able to make this calculation for nearly all of the studies and what they found in every case was that the rate at which plants dissipated VOCs in a chamber was orders of magnitude slower than the standard rate of air exchange in a building — thus proving the plants’ overall effect on indoor air quality to be irrelevant.
“The CADR is the standard metric used for scientific study of the impacts of air purifiers on indoor environments, but many of the researchers conducting these studies were not looking at them from an environmental engineering perspective and did not understand how building air exchange rates interplay with the plants to affect indoor air quality,” Waring said.
Many of these studies did show a reduction in the concentration of volatile organic compounds over time, which is likely why people have seized on them to extol the air purifying virtues of plants. But according to Waring and Cummings’s calculations, it would take between 100 and 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to compete with the air cleaning capacity of a building’s air handling system or even just a couple open windows in a house.
“This is certainly an example of how scientific findings can be misleading or misinterpreted over time,” Waring said. “But it’s also a great example of how scientific research should continually reexamine and question findings to get closer to the ground truth of understanding what’s actually happening around us.”
Source: drexel.edu/now/
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.
Products from The Naked Bee®
“All of the good stuff’ none of the bad stuff”
The Naked Bee was founded on a simple principle – the idea that a business should give more than it takes. We strive to create products that make a positive impact on both people and the planet. We at The Naked Bee are passionate about this philosophy – that’s why we choose to use only the safest and most responsible ingredients. We never use questionable preservatives like parabens, and we make everything in the USA to ensure this quality. All Naked Bee products are cruelty-free.
…none of the bad stuff?
- Paraben-Free
- No propylene glycol or mineral oil
- No dyes or pigment
- No lauryl or laureth sulfate
- Absolutely NO animal testing… ever.
Klein’s a nice selection of products from The Naked Bee® collection, including hand & body lotion, sunscreen, lip balm and moisturizers. To view their full list of products, please visit nakedbee.com.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: FEBRUARY 2, 2020 (The Importance of Sterilizing Equipment)
I spent the entire day today cleaning my seed starting room and sterilizing all seed starting equipment. My seed starting room is the old workshop in my home’s basement. Because it was a workshop, I’m lucky to have a sizable workbench, lots of cabinet and shelf space and a ton of electrical outlets for my heating mats and banks of florescent fixtures. The seed starting room also doubles as my office with a desk, file cabinet, my computer and a stereo. The room acts as a sanctuary on cold winter days. Sometimes I’ll spend the entire day in my private jungle.
Before I start this year’s batch of seeds I first ready the room by thoroughly sweeping and washing everything down with warm soapy water. Next, I wipe down my seed starting racks and and work surfaces with a 1:16 solution of bleach and water, allowing the surfaces to remain wet for some minutes. This allows the bleach to do its job in killing all pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.) from the previous season. I also soak all trays, inserts, humidity domes and tools in the same bleach mixture in the laundry sink.
I’ve learned from past experience that skipping the sterilizing step can mean trouble. A few years back I was short on time and decided to go ahead and plant my pepper seeds without sterilizing the trays first. I usually plant about a dozen varieties of both edible and ornamental peppers. The seeds germinated as usual and for the first few days everything seemed fine. Then suddenly, after about a week, my seemingly healthy seedlings toppled over. It started in one area of the tray and spread through the seedlings like wildfire and within 2 days my entire flat of seedlings was no more. My seedlings experienced ‘damping off’–a fungal disease usually found in contaminated soil and spread in unfavorable growing conditions. I started over after first sterilizing the trays and seed racks.
My next batch of pepper seedlings turned out perfectly, proving to me the problem was not the seed, the soil or the growing conditions (I’ve always started my seeds in that room). The fact is that I had skipped that one vital step with disastrous results. Now I set aside enough time to go through my preparation checklist thoroughly and I haven’t had a problem since!
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ENTRY: FEBRUARY 9, 2020 (Logee’s Plants…My Favorite Mail Order Company)
Today I received the spring edition catalog from my very favorite plant mail order company, Logee’s Plants of Danielson, CT. In my 30+ years of gardening I’ve ordered far more plants from them (certainly dozens) than any other mail order company. Their specialties are “Fruiting, Rare & Tropical Plants” for both indoor and the patio. Plants suitable for container growing is a priority. Categories to choose from on their website include; Rare, Fragrant and Indestructible, along with an amazing selection of fruiting tropical plants (there are dozens of citrus choices alone), orchids and begonias. Other specialties include; desert rose (adenium), angel’s trumpets, hibiscus, orchid cactus, succulents and so much more. Selection changes seasonally and from year to year. Plants arrive perfectly packed and in almost always perfect condition. A few years back I had a few plants that never really perked up after shipping and they replaced them immediately free of charge. Logee’s is also a great resource for hard-to-answer questions. Prices are very reasonable and plants are shipped primarily in 2.5”-6” pots and only when the weather is suitable. At Klein’s, I recommend Logee’s to customers at least a couple of times per week when they are looking for something unique and oftentimes hard to find at retail. Logee’s website is comprehensive and easy to navigate with oodles of plant care information.
For a real treat on a cold winter day, visit Logee’s website @ www.logees.com.
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ENTRY: FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (A Road to A Plant-Based Diet)
For well over two years now my diet has become primarily plant-based. My primary reasons for going toward a plant-based diet are, above all, my health, followed by environmental and political reasons. I’ve cut red meat completely from my diet entirely and lean toward the Mediterranean approach and include seafood, eggs and a small amount of dairy in my diet. I felt noticeably different within weeks of cutting red meat from my diet. The fact that I’m a gardener who loves to grow, cook and eat vegetables has made the switch to a plant-based diet very easy.
What was my primary catalyst toward a plant-based diet? The answer is simple: becoming better informed via a number of documentaries; all of which are included in the following list of top ten ‘vegan’ movies from Go London @ www.standard.co.uk/go/london
The 10 Films Sure To Turn Meat-eaters Vegan
by Harry Fletcher (January 8, 2020)
We’ve all seen films that scare us, make us laugh and bring us to tears, but how often do you see a film that totally changes your life?
Plant-based eating is on the rise all over the world and, for many people, the decision to go meat and dairy-free has been in some way influenced by the world of film.
Whether it’s seeing footage of animals suffering in films like Earthlings or discovering farming’s damaging environment effects in Cowspiracy, a single film can change the way people choose to live their lives.
So if you’re looking for powerful movies to recommend friends and family, or if you’re thinking of giving up meat yourself, these are the 10 films sure to make meat-eaters turn vegan.
Cowspiracy
Thought-provoking documentary Cowspiracy explores the negative impact agricultural farming has on the environment. The film was crowdfunded in 2014 and a version exec-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio was eventually released on Netflix in 2015.
The authority of the film has been questioned by some and it’s certainly true that facts around global warming are at times squeezed to fit narrative. However, the impact of the film is undeniable.
Okja
Netflix original Okja came out in 2017 and immediately won over a cult audience. The film is focused around the great friendship between a young girl and an adorable ‘super pig’ by the name of Okja. One day their lives are torn apart when the animal is chosen to be the face of a new mass-farming initiative by the sinister Miranda corporation.
Tilda Swinton is incredibly watchable as eccentric CEO Miranda and Jake Gyllenhaal seems to have heaps of fun playing a disturbed celebrity zoologist. However, for all the quirky and funny aspects of the film, the powerful message at its heart is what really shines through.
Supersize Me
Morgan Spurlock’s 2004 documentary might not be specifically about the meat industry but it’s still pretty likely to put people off eating burgers for life. Spurlock ate nothing but McDonald’s for a month as part of the film, putting on 24lb and experiencing bouts of depression and sexual dysfunction.
While other films tend to highlight the moral objections vegans have to the meat industry, Supersize Me underlines the health risks of excessive fast food consumption and might just make people think the next time they’re tucking into a Big Mac.
Food Inc.
This powerful documentary made a huge impact on a global scale when it was released back in 2008 and it remains one of the most influential films of its kind. Filmmaker Robert Kenner takes an intimate look at how our food consumption has changed over the past 50 years and how the meat industry is adopting more and more questionable methods to supply demand.
The Game Changers
There are plenty of films highlighting the horrors of the meat industry out there, but fewer actually extol the virtues of of the vegan diet itself. The Game Changers is a documentary that sets out its stall as a celebration of switching to plant-based foods, with contributions from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and strongman Patrik Baboumian.
The documentary focuses on former MMA fighter and army trainer James Wilks, who spent months researching vegan diets after suffering a career-threatening injury. The film, produced by James Cameron, follows Wilks on his journey, speaking to elite athletes who claim they feel stronger and faster after cutting out meat along the way. The science has been challenged by some, and dismissed as vegan propaganda by others, but if you’re after motivation to start a plant-based diet – this one’s for you.
Raw
Horror film Raw went down a storm with critics in 2017 and proved to be one of the most visceral and challenging films of the year.
It centers around a young veterinary student who slowly abandons her vegetarianism and discovers a taste for flesh. It’s a twisted but brilliantly made film and if you can sit through to the end, it’s an excellent watch.
Carnage
When he’s not antagonising Preston from the Ordinary Boys on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, comedian Simon Amstell is making films about veganism. His sci-fi movie Carnage is set years in the future, and is preoccupied with a totally vegan generation, who look back at previous years with shame and bewilderment. It’s a funny piece of filmmaking and manages to avoid the earnest quality that turns so many people off the subject matter.
Earthlings
Some of the most harrowing scenes in vegan filmmaking can be found in Earthlings, which is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. The 2005 documentary focuses on the way animals are manipulated by humans for use as food, clothing, entertainment, scientific research and as pets. It’s one of the most distressing depictions of animal suffering you’re likely to see and a film that stays with the viewer.
Forks Over Knives
2013 documentary Forks Over Knives takes a look at the obesity epidemic link with the meat industry and how the unhealthy lifestyles of Americans, which cost the country $120 billion a year, can be affected by a change in diet. The film, directed by filmmaker Lee Fulkerson, takes a closer look at the health benefits of cutting meat and dairy for our diets, and focusing on plant-based foods.
What the Health
The makers of Cowspiracy – Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn – returned in 2017 with a second Leonardo DiCaprio-endorsed film: What the Health. While Cowspiracy focused on the environmental impact of agricultural farming, investigative documentary What the Health follows Kip Anderson as he attempts to uncover the hidden dangers in the average American meat-eater’s diet and shines a light on the shadowy operations in the food industry.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
For a quick and satisfying side with soups, stews and especially chili, nothing beats cornbread. Few breads can be put together so quickly and baked in so short a time–almost always under 30 minutes. And most ingredients are usually on hand in any well-stocked pantry. Many cornbread recipes call for buttermilk. None on hand? For a reasonable substitute, combine 2 TBS. vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup milk and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Cornbread is a treat for young and old alike.
DAIRY-FREE CORNBREAD—An amazing and moist family favorite from Whole Foods.
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 cups flour
6 TBS. sugar
1 TBS. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. fine salt
1 1/2 cups plain, unsweetened soy or rice milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
Preheat the oven to 400º. Prepare a 9” glass square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a second bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and oil. Add the milk mixture to the cornmeal mixture and stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool a bit and cut into squares. Serve warm.
CHEDDAR BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD–An old favorite with perfect texture and flavor from Bon Apetit magazine from December, 2002
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup, packed, extra sharp shredded cheddar (4 oz.)
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup melted butter, cooled slightly
Preheat the oven to 400º. Butter an 8” x 8” pan. Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and the salt to blend. Mix in the cheese. Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and the melted butter in another bowl. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir just until all is incorporated. Don’t overmix. Transfer the batter to the prepped pan. Bake until golden brown and a knife comes out clean in the center–about 22 minutes. Serve warm or cooled.
PERFECT CORNBREAD–A classic from the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook.
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3 TBS. sugar
1 TBS. baking powder
1/2 tsp. sa;t
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 can kernel corn, drained
1 TBS. butter
Preheat the oven to 400º. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and the salt. In another bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and oil. Add the liquid mix to the flour mix and stir until just smooth. Stir the corn into the batter. Put 1 TBS. butter in a 10” cast iron skillet. Place in the oven 3 minutes until the butter is melted. Swirl to coat the bottom and the sides of the pan. Pour the batter into the hot skillet. Bake 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.
MEXICAN CORNBREAD–A very moist and flavorful cornbread that can either be mild or spicy to taste. A family favorite from the Good Food Book by Jane Brody.
1 cup yellow (preferably stone ground) cornmeal
3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg white
2 eggs
1 x can cream style corn
1 cup buttermilk
2 TBS. butter, melted, but not hot
1 cup finely shredded cheddar
1 x 4 oz. can chopped green chilies, either mild or hot, drained
Preheat the oven to 400º. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda and the salt. In another bowl, lightly beat the egg white and the whole eggs and combine with the corn, buttermilk, butter, cheese and chilies. Stir the moist ingredient into the dry ingredients until just combined. Grease a 9” square or round pan or a 9” cast iron skillet. Heat several minutes in the oven. Pour the batter into the hot pan. Return to the oven and bake 25 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
SANTA FE CHILI CORNBREAD–Super easy and super tasty.
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 TBS. baking powder
2 TBS. sugar
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup canned chopped green chilies
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
additional chili powder
Preheat the oven to 425º. Spray an 8” x 8” pan with cooking spray. Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and the salt. Add the chilies. Stir in the milk, butter and the egg. Pour into the pan and sprinkle with chili powder. Bake 20 minutes. PERFECTION!
NATURAL NEWS–
Did you know that most of the names of our most familiar flowers come from three main sources?
The first source is the English language itself. The names either describe the flower in some way (sunflower, snapdragon, goatsbeard, twinspur, bleeding heart, daylily, morning glory, strawflower) or refer to some historical reference, a belief or use for the plant (marigold, forget-me-not, foxglove, hollyhock, lungwort, honeysuckle, bee balm). Many times these original meanings have been lost to time.
A second source of plant names (and closely related to the first) comes directly from their Latin or Greek roots or the language from the country of origin. Using Latin and Greek made it easier for botanists to assign concise and descriptive names that would be universally used and understood. Many have been anglicized over time.
It’s fascinating to look at the relationship of the plant name, the classical language origin and then related modern English words: lavender, lavare (to wash) and lavatory or salvia, salvus (saved) and salve or salvation.
Other language sources include:
Aster–from Latin, “aster” (star)
Azalea–from Greek, “azaleos” (dry)
Calendula–from Latin, “calendae” (the first day of the month)
Chrysanthemum–from Greek, “chrysos” (gold) & “anthos” (flower)
Clematis–from Greek, “klema” (twig)
Columbine–from Latin, “columba” (dove)
Cosmos–from Greek, “cosmos” (beautiful)
Cyclamen–from Greek, “kyklo” (circle)
Daisy–from Old English, “daeges-eaye” (day’s eye)
Delphinium–from Greek, “delphis” (dolphin)
Dianthus–from Greek, “dios” (divine) and “anthos” (flower)
Geranium–from Greek, “geranos” (crane)
Gladiolas–from Latin, “gladius” (sword)
Hyacinth–character in Greek mythology and friend of Apollo
Hydrangea–from Greek, “hydro” (water) and “aggeion” (vessel)
Impatiens–from Latin meaning “impatient”
Iris–the Greek messenger of the gods
Jasmine–from the Persian name for the plant “yasmin”
Lavender–from Latin, “lavare” (to wash)
Lilac–from Arabic, “laylak” (blue)
Lupine–from Latin, “lupinus” (wolf)
Nasturtium–from Latin, “nasus” (nose) and “tortus’ (twisted)
Orchid–from Greek, “orchis” (testicle)
Pansy–from French, “pensee” (to think)
Peony–from Greek, Paeon, the physician of the gods.
Petunia–from Brazilian, “petun” (tobacco)
Phlox–from Greek, “phlox” (flame)
Poppy–from Latin, “pap’ (a type of milky food)
Primrose–from Latin, “prima rosa” (“first rose of the year”)
Rhododendron–from Greek, “rhodon” (rose) and “dendron” (tree)
Rose–from Latin, “rosa” (red)
Salvia, from Latin, “salvus” (healed or saved)
Stock–from the English word “stalk”
Tulip–from Arabic, “dulband” (turban)
Viola–from character in Greek mythology, Io
Yarrow–from Anglo-Saxon, “gearwe” (to prepare)
And the third origin is often directly from a person’s name (or place); usually a botanist, scientist, explorer, politician or sometimes just a friend or associate of the botanist who discovered or worked with the plant.
Flowers named after people include:
Begonia–French official, Michel Begon
Bougainvillea–French explorer, Louis Antoine de Bougainville
Buddleia–English rector, Adam Buddle
Dahlia–Swedish botanist, Anders Dahl
Fuchsia–German doctor, Leonhard Fuchs
Gardenia–English doctor, Alexander Garden
Gloxinia–French physician, Benjamin Peter Gloxin
Hosta–English physician, Nicolaus Thomas Host
Lobelia–Frenchman, Matthias de l’Obel
Monarda–Spanish physician, Nicolas Monardes
Nicotiana–French consul to Portugal, Jean Nicot
Poinsettia–American ambassador, Joel Roberts Poinsett
Rudbeckia–Swedish scientist and botanist, Olof Rudbeck
Thunbergia–Swedish botanist, Carl Peter Thunberg
Tradescantia–English botanists, John & the Younger Tradescant
Weigela–German professor, Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel
Wisteria–American professor, Caspar Wistar
Zinnia–German medical professor, Johann Gottfried Zinn
Source Material: 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names by Diana Wells (1997). Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill and illustrated by Ippy Patterson.
MARCH’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
25% Off Bromeliads from Bullis Bromeliads of Princeton Florida
After seeing them at a trade show last summer, Klein’s is offering an extensive collection of eye-catching and super-colorful large bromeliads shipped directly from Bullis Bromeliads of Princeton, Florida; perhaps America’s premier grower of bromeliads and related plants. Easier to grow than people think, this humungous family of plants not on includes the more typical floral-type bromeliads, but also air plants (tillandsias), pineapples (ananas), earth stars (cryptanthus) and many more others from all over the world. And Klein’s currently has many of them in stock AND NOW 25% OFF while supplies last! For months of color and years of enjoyment, stop by and check out Klein’s world of bromeliads!
Aechmea
Aechmea is the most diversified genus in regards to growth, appearance, and inflorescence.
Alcantarea
Alcantareas are one of the largest genus’ in the bromeliad family. They are used as a focal point in many designs and can reach as much as six feet in diameter.
Ananas
Ananas: The edible pineapple (Ananas comosus) was first introduced by Columbus to Europe in 1493. All others are ornamentals and used in many applications.
Androlepis
Androlepis have very stiff leaves and are popular for full sun applications.
Billbergia
Billbergias are bromeliads that usually have tubular shaped foliage with stunning, beautiful blossoms.
Cryptanthus
Cryptanthus are well known for their star-like shaped forms and bright colors. They are popular as ground covers in landscape and desktop decorations.
Guzmania
Guzmanias are well known for their spineless foliage and variability of inflorescences. They play more of a role in commercial nurseries for interiorscaping. The varieties we offer are not typically found everywhere.
Hohenbergia
Hohenbergia species in many ways resemble the Aechmea genera. They are most desired for their expansive rosettes and shapes as well as their tolerance for full sun.
Neoregelia
As one of the most diverse genus’, Neoregelia’s have a wide selection of foliage colors, shapes, and confirmation of the leaves.
Orthophytum
A terrestrial family, Orthophytum is diverse in form, shape and interesting blooms.
Portea
Portea are excellent for landscape and interior applications with long lasting blooms and stages.
Tillandsia
Tillandsia is the most diverse group of the bromeliad family. They favor to live as epiphytes or in terrestrial environments.
About Bullis Bromeliads
Family owned and operated since 1977, Bullis Bromeliads resides and continues to grow on over 25 acres of land with over 18 acres of shade houses and 2.5 acres of greenhouses. Founded by the late Harvey R. Bullis II, Harvey III and Patricia Bullis now run this wholesale company with their two sons, nephews Rick and Thomas G., and brother Eugenio. We are proud the 4th generation, Harvey IV and Thomas Bullis, have joined the company for growing and hybridization. Family traditions are being passed on once again and we are grateful to keep Bullis Bromeliads family owned.
Traditionally known for producing large Aechmea and Alcantarea bromeliads, Bullis has the largest selection of small and large Neoregelia’s in the market. This encompasses species and hybrids produced and grown in house. Dozens of species from South America have been introduced to the market by us. At any one time, we have at least 400 varieties available with an incredible total of 20 Genus’. We are reputed for our quality, vast variety, and friendly customer service. Our bromeliads are used extensively in landscapes, interior applications, and retail garden centers all over, including Canada and the Caribbean. You will find the hybrids and species we grow are displayed in botanical gardens and conservatories around the country.
Check out their website @ bullisbrom.com
AROUND TOWN:
For neighborhood events or garden tours that you would like posted in our monthly newsletter, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com. 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.
Managing Invasive Plant Species and Jumping Worms
Wednesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.
Common Ground, Middleton 2644 Branch Street, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
Join Ecologist Frank Hassler, CEO of Good Oak Ecological Services, for a fascinating talk about ways to restore ecological health to our landscapes by eradicating invasive species and reestablishing native plants. Early spring is the best time to start removing invasive species such as buckthorn. In addition, Frank will share his experience working with the UW Arboretum on new products and techniques to use to reduce the invasion of jumping worms from our landscapes.
This presentation is free and open to the public – no registration is necessary. HOST: Friends of Pope Farm Conservancy
Friends of Pope Farm Conservancy
10333 Blackhawk Road
Middleton, WI 53562
info@popefarmconservancy.org
info@popefarmconservancy.org
Winter Enrichment Lecture: Invasive Jumping Worms: The Impact of a New Soil Invader
Thursday, March 5, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Conducted by Brad Herrick, ecologist, UW–Madison Arboretum. Fee: $10. Register by March 2 @ 608-263-7888 or @ info@arboretum.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu/ for details.
The Canopy Sessions at Olbrich Gardens
Held on the first Fridays of March, and April, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
In the Bolz Conservatory
Brand New at the Gardens!
Enjoy LIVE music performed from the tropical canopy of the Bolz Conservatory! All proceeds benefit the Gardens.
Tickets available at the door starting starting @ 4:30. Tickets are just $5 and cash only.
- Plan to enjoy the live music while strolling the tropical Conservatory. There is limited bench seating available. No carry-in chairs allowed.
- A bar station will be available inside the Conservatory. The bar accepts cash and cards.
- Front doors open at 4:30 p.m. – Conservatory doors open at 5 p.m.
- First-come, first served – the maximum number of visitors allowed in the Conservatory will be continuously admitted as visitors cycle out.
- Arrive with your whole party – line jumping is not permitted.
- When entering the building you’ll be notified if you will be immediately admitted into the Conservatory or directed into the waiting line.
The Canopy Sessions 2020 Schedule:
March 6:
B~Free & Quinten Farr—Jazz/Soul Fusion
April 3:
Panchromatic Steel—Island Music, Jazz, & Hits, played on steeldrums
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Olbrich Garden’s Spring Flower Show
March 7 thru March 22
Daily from 10:00-4:00
In the Olbrich Atrium
Explore a stunning scene of hand-crafted displays bursting with colorful tulips, radiant daffodils, fragrant hyacinths and other blooming spring flowers at Olbrich’s Spring Flower Show. Adults and children alike will delight in the imagination and creativity used to create this first glimpse of spring!
Admission: $5 for adults 13 & up, $3 for children 3-12, children 2 and under Olbrich Botanical Society members are free. Proceeds benefit Olbrich Gardens.
Olbrich Botanical Society members are the first to glimpse the beauty of spring in this indoor exhibit of spring blooms from 8-10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 7. Commons! Olbrich’s Bolz Conservatory will open at 9 a.m. for an exclusive early viewing. Members receive 20% in Olbrich’s Growing Gifts Shop all day from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Phenology-Keeping Track of Nature
Saturday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Class
March is the perfect time to tune into spring unfolding. Phenology—the study of periodic occurrences in nature—is both art and science, practiced for millennia across cultures and regions. Learn about different approaches, and even invent your own. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by March 17. Meet at the Visitor Center.
The cost is $20. Registration is required for this event. Register @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
1207 Seminole Highway
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu/ for details.
Annual Spring Symposium
Saturday, March 21, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
at Rotary Botanical Gardens
Registration deadline: March 16 or until sold out. Limited to 120 people.
Price:
$69 for RBG Friends
$79 General Public
*Note – fee includes lunch *
to register.
Speakers & topics include:
-Michael Jesiolowski, Director of Horticulture, Rotary Botanical Gardens
“Have Plants, Will Travel”
“Have Plants, Will Travel”
-Bobbie Schwartz, Bobbie’s Green Thumb
“Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams”
-Mark Dwyer, Landscape Prescriptions by MD
“Cool Plants to Know and Grow”
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.
Find Your Farm (Formerly CSA Open House)
Sunday, March 22, 11:00 – 1:00 pm
Monona Terrace
1 John Nolen Dr., Madison, Wisconsin
More than 15 farms will be on hand to meet you, answer questions, talk about their operations, help you find CSA pick-up locations, discuss on-farm events, and help you choose your share. Explore sustainable, local and healthy food through CSA. Veggies, eggs, meat and more!
This event will include individualized support in finding a farm. Work with us one-on-one to choose and sign up for a farm that is a great fit for your household and needs!
The Find Your Farm event is the same day as the Madison Family Fest, also at Monona Terrace.
THIS YEAR:
- Check out our Farm Search for detailed farm information including share types, pick-up location areas, special features, and more. The search will help you prepare your questions for the farmers at the Find Your Farm event.
- Learn about new CSA offerings, including customizable shares, home delivery and more.
- Sample products.
- Have one-on-one consultations with experts to find which farm is right for you.
For more event and CSA information visit www.csacoalition.org
Resilient Landscapes Symposium
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28
Union South, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53715
The Resilient Landscapes Symposium is an unmissable event for anyone passionate about plants, the people who grow them, and their potential to change the world.
The future of horticulture will be defined by our capacity to embrace the science and art of planting in a way that honors the culture in horticulture.
Plantings can become more than simply a sum of plants: they can embrace their potential to cultivate, sustain, and foster diverse elements of healthy and resilient communities.
This is a conversation defined by and rather than or. Speakers and attendees represent a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, from professional horticulturists and gardeners to landscape architects, designers, artists, and cultural leaders.
All are welcome and invited into this conversation. Diversity is a source of strength. Our humanity unites us in the pursuit beauty as we cultivate a better world.
The friendly, fast-paced, easy-going atmosphere of the Symposium is perfect for finding fresh inspiration, exploring actionable ideas, and building friendships.
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison
608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.
Let’s Get Green and Growing
Saturday, March 28, 8:45-2:45
Rio High School, 211 Church St., Rio, WI 53960
Columbia County Master Gardner Volunteers sponsors an annual event to inspire gardeners waiting for the growing season. Hear the keynote, enjoy browsing the vendor market, and attend 3 from among 30 breakout sessions. These are interesting factual informational and DIY “make and take” sessions chosen to appeal to gardeners at many levels.
Registration closes March 13th. Register early for the best selection of sessions.
Price: Pre-Registration, $10. Day of Event Registration, $20. Registration form: columbia.extension.wisc.edu/
for more details.
UW Extension Columbia County
112 E. Edgewater Street, Room 212
Portage, WI 53901
Phone: 608-742-9680
Dane County Late Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, January 4 thru April 4, 8:00-noon
Now at the newly renovated Garver Feed Mill behind Olbrich Botanical Gardens!
3241 Garver Green (access off Fair Oaks Ave.)
The Late Winter Market runs each Saturday from the new year until the beginning of the outdoor season. Get your market fix all year long. You will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, cheeses, hyper-local meats, honey, bakery items, and many specialty items…and now in a BEAUTIFUL new location!!
For details visit www.dcfm.org
MARCH IN THE GARDEN-–A checklist of things to do this month.
___Pinch back over wintered geraniums one last time. Root cuttings if needed.
___Check perennials for heaving during warm spells. Remulch as needed.
___Check for early spring bloomers like crocus, winter aconite & hellebores.
___Begin uncovering roses by month’s end.
___Continue bringing out your cooled forced bulbs for indoor enjoyment.
___Inspect stored summer bulbs like dahlias, cannas and glads for rotting.
___Check for and treat for pests on plants brought in from the garden.
___Keep birdfeeders full. Clean periodically with soap and water.
___Keep birdbaths full and clean for the return of the first robins & other arrivals.
___Repair and clean out birdhouses. Early arrivals will be here soon!
___Inventory last year’s leftover seeds before ordering or buying new ones.
___Seed starting is in full swing: petunias, tomatoes, peppers and cole crops.
___Sterilize seed starting equipment and pots with a 1:16 bleach solution.
___Shop for summer bulbs like gladiolas, lilies and dahlias.
___Remove mulch & rodent protection (chicken wire) from tulip and crocus beds
___Use the winter days to plan next summer’s garden.
___March is the month to prune most fruit trees and apply dormant oil.
___Prune late summer and fall blooming shrubs.
___Do not prune spring blooming shrubs like lilacs, forsythia or viburnum.
___Begin bringing in branches for forcing: pussy willow, forsythia, quince, etc.
___As the days lengthen and new growth occurs, increase fertilizing houseplants
___Check your garden for any plant damage from weather or rodents.
___Ready the lawn mower—just a few weeks to go.
___Visit Klein’s—the showrooms are filling up with spring annuals. Pansies, violas, calendula, cole crops & onion sets become available by month’s end.
Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:
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
A SEED STARTING PRIMER–
Starting your own plants from seed can be both rewarding and frustrating for the beginning gardener. From experience, it’s best to start out slow. This eliminates some of the frustration. Experience will gain you knowledge and confidence. Before starting your seeds, read the packet and get a little basic information. Some seeds are best sown directly in the garden come spring and not started indoors. It’s best to do a little research by going on-line or purchasing a good gardening book. The packets themselves will usually tell you whether to direct sow in the garden or how many weeks before our last frost date to sow indoors. Our last frost date is about May 10. Using a calendar, count back from May 10 and this will be your sow date.
One can start seeds on any sunny windowsill and in almost any container. Warmth and moisture are critical in getting most seeds to germinate. But a few pieces of basic and inexpensive equipment purchased at your garden center and/or hardware store will help you get started and make your seed starting experience a great success. Here is a shopping list:
*A heating mat–makes seeds germinate quickly and uniformly
*A few 10×20” trays without holes
*A few clear humidity domes
*A sterile seed starting mix
*A 4’ shop lamp w/ 2 fluorescent bulbs (you don’t need “gro-lights”)
or a seed growing rack if you’d like to make an investment
*A few 10×20” trays with holes
*A few sheets of empty cell packs, e.g. 4-packs or 6-packs
*A water mister
*A timer
*A soilless potting mix
All of the above items, except the timer, are available at Klein’s.
Again, following package instructions, sow the seeds, as many as you want, in a very shallow, open container, filled with moistened seed starting mix. This container can be anything from very low or cut off dairy containers to disposable food storage containers. Per package instructions, cover or don’t cover the seed. Some seeds require light for germination. Next place your seeded containers in a tray without holes, mist them till well watered and cover with a humidity dome. Place your covered tray on the plugged in heating mat under the shop light. Set your timer so the shop light is on for 13 hours (off for 11 hours).
In a few days, as your seeds begin to sprout, remove them from under the humidity dome and place in a well-lit, warm location. Keep your seeds and seedlings moist. Different seeds sprout at different rates so this can take from a few days to a few weeks. Once all your seeds have germinated, unplug your heating mat. You can now move all of your seedlings to under the shop light still set at 13 hours.
Once your seedlings have 2 sets of “real” leaves it’s time to “prick them out” (transplant them). Do this by placing a sheet of empty cell packs in a tray with holes. The holes now become necessary for proper drainage. Fill the cells with soilless potting mix and moisten well with the mister. Using a pen or pencil “dibble” a hole into each of the cells. This is where you’ll now place your seedling. Remove the seed starting mix and seedlings as a clump from their starting containers. Gently break apart this root ball, separating your seedlings. The pen or pencil will come in handy as an added tool to help separate the seedlings. Carefully place one seedling in each of the holes you put in the prepped cells. Gently firm in with your finger tips. Mist well to water thoroughly and place in a warm, well lit area. Using your shop light again makes this easy. The seedlings may seem weak and somewhat abused, but they’re very resilient and will pop back quickly. When watering, fertilize your new plants with a very dilute solution, rather than at full rate. By May 10 your flowers and vegetables should be ready to put in your garden and you can say that you did it yourself–beginning to end.
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 MARCH:
—Transplanting is in full swing on the transplanting line in our back greenhouses.
Employees work 8-10 hour shifts planting thousands of plugs and tiny seedlings into the cell packs you purchase in the spring. Once planted, the flats move by conveyor and then monorail into the various greenhouses, all kept at different temperatures depending on the plant.
—The greenhouses and showrooms are filling fast with thousands of hanging
and potted plants. We’re constantly moving product around, trying to make the best use of space.
—By the end of the month we’re moving product outside into hoop houses. We move product that is very cold tolerant, such as pansies, dianthus, dusty miller, alyssum and even petunias. The cold keeps them compact and pest free and hardens them off for the transition outside. We also need the room in our ever-filling greenhouses.
—Perennial plugs and bare roots arrive and are stepped up into 3 1/2”, quart and gallon sizes. Our perennials are grown quite cold so they invest their energy into rooting out, rather than growing. Plants remain compact. Any remaining perennials from last season are moved outdoors from an unheated greenhouse.
—Geraniums are pinched and shaped for the last time by the first week of the
month. Any later pinching will delay blooming too much for spring sales.
—Retail items are arriving nonstop for unpacking and pricing, everything from
garden ornaments and pottery to pesticides and fertilizers.
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