‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—OCTOBER 2020
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Petal It Forward with Fresh Flowers
The Spring Bulbs Have Arrived
Our ‘Mad Gardener’ and ‘Houseplant Help‘ Are Ready for Your Questions
It’s Time to Plant Garlic
A Perennial Transition at Rotary Gardens
Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale Returns
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked the Mad Gardener about Geranium Cuttings
Plant of the Month: Garlic from Seed Savers Exchange
Klein’s Favorite Beet Recipes
Product Spotlight: Indoor Gardening LED Lights from Miracle LED®
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From September 2020
—Jack’s Petunia FeED Is a Winner
—The Magical French Word Terroir
—The Reality of “Hardy” Mums
October in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
OUR CURRENT SPECIALS:
—75% Off All Remaining Shrubs While Supplies Last.
Specials may change as the month progresses and/or as supplies run out. Houseplants are not included in our end-of-season sales.
AUTUMN AT KLEIN’S
A single visit to Klein’s in autumn is sure to inspire creativity when decorating your home both inside and out. We have it all and under one roof . . . from our homegrown mums, pansies, kales and pre-planted mixed fall containers to fresh floral arrangements for Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrating, to an amazing assortment of fresh pumpkins, gourds, dried grasses, hay bales, corn shucks and more.
‘PETAL IT FORWARD’ WITH FREE FLOWERS
Stop by Klein’s on Wednesday, October 21 as we celebrate with florists across the nation giving away flowers for “Petal It Forward” Day! Receive two bouquets of flowers – one to keep (because everyone loves to receive flowers!) and one to give away (because it’s also a lot of fun to give someone flowers!). Share your pictures with us on Facebook or at info@kleinsfloral.com as you put a smile on someone’s face.
Studies conducted by Rutgers University and Harvard University found that flowers brighten moods, decrease stress and bring people together. In one study, 80 percent of Americans said that receiving flowers makes them feel happy. Even more people — 88 percent — said that giving flowers gives them a boost, according to the florist association.
THE SPRING BULBS HAVE ARRIVED!
We have all of your favorites–tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums–and a few not-so-well known treasures for your garden. Mid- to late October is the best time to plant your spring bulbs (planting too can early promote premature leaf growth) and nothing could be more uplifting after a long winter than crocus, snowdrops and winter aconite blossoms peeking through the snow come spring. Allow the Klein’s staff to share planting tips and ideas to keep those pesky squirrels from digging up those newly planted bulbs. And for indoor blooms, don’t forget a few hyacinths, paperwhites and amaryllis (arriving mid-month) for indoor forcing. We carry a lovely assortment of forcing glasses, vases and decorative pottery. Forced bulbs make for a n inexpensive and treasured holiday gift. Any bulb questions? Don’t forget our Mad Gardener @ madgardener@
KLEIN’S ‘HOUSEPLANT HELP’
You can contact Klein’s in-house indoor plant experts by emailing to Houseplant Help for sound information and advice regarding indoor tropicals, succulents, blooming plants and so much more.
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.
OCTOBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Throughout October…save 75% on all remaining perennials and shrubs. Check out our selection of spring bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and much more have arrived for fall planting. For Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating we carry pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, branches, grasses, dried flowers, cattails, hay bales, etc. for fall decor. Shop early for best selection.
October 1–Full Moon
October 12—Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Columbus Day)
October 16–National Bosses’ Day
October 17–Sweetest Day
October 21—Petal It Forward Day
October 25–Mother-in-Law’s Day
October 31—Halloween
November 1—Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 2—Día de los Muertos
November 3—Election Day…Please Vote!
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
Petal It Forward 2020 is Wednesday, October 21
“Local Action. Nationwide Impact.”
Since 2015, the Society of American Florists has choreographed one of the most engaging floral promotions in the industry’s history — Petal It Forward. What started as an SAF-led promotional event in New York City has grown into a nationwide initiative that connects the entire industry.
On October 24, 2018, florists nationwide randomly surprised people on the street with flowers in 410 cities in all 50 states, plus D.C. Lucky recipients received two bouquets — one to keep, and one to share with a friend, family member, co-worker, or even a complete stranger. There were a lot of smiles going around as the country experienced flower power.
Stop by Klein’s on Wednesday October 21 as we celebrate with florists across the nation giving away flowers for “Petal It Forward” Day! Receive two bouquets of flowers – one to keep (because everyone loves to receive flowers!) and one to give away (because it’s also a lot of fun to give someone flowers!). Share your pictures with us on Facebook or at info@kleinsfloral.com as you put a smile on someone’s face.
Studies conducted by Rutgers University and Harvard University found that flowers brighten moods, decrease stress and bring people together. In one study, 80 percent of Americans said that receiving flowers makes them feel happy. Even more people — 88 percent — said that giving flowers gives them a boost, according to the florist association.
For more information visit: safnow.org/petalitforward/
YOU ASKED. . .
In last month’s newsletter you mentioned doing geranium cuttings. My house fills up in the winter with pots of geraniums. How does one best overwinter geraniums? Thanks. Pat
Hi Pat,
Either keeping the potted geranium plants or taking cuttings and throwing the parent plants away is fine. However, as you’ve suggested, taking cuttings can save a lot of space in your home. Save a few of your best plants for winter blooms in a sunny south or west window. Geraniums are one of few garden plants (begonias and flowering maples among others) that will set bloom throughout the winter.
For cuttings, take 4″ healthy cuttings from the growing tips, strip the bottom leaves and stick directly into moistened potting soil in small, clean plastic pots or large cell packs (with or without rooting hormone…I don’t use it). Place your freshly stuck cuttings in a warm and bright location and keep moist. Many people place them them under grow lights in their basements with timers set to 13 hours of light (11 hours off). The cuttings should be rooted in about 3 weeks. Take more cuttings than you need as only about 70% usually root and survive through the winter….you can always throw or give the rest away if you have better results. The plants can remain in these small containers until spring, but you will need to pinch them once or twice; the last being about March 1. There’s no need to fertilize during the winter. Begin fertilizing about March 1 also.
Thanks for your question,
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that Rotary Gardens in Janesville is going in a new direction with some of its most visible plantings?
A Perennial Transition at Rotary Gardens
By Michael Jesiolowski, Director of Horticulture
New York, Chicago, and Detroit. What will Janesville soon have in common with all these major metropoles? Rotary Botanical Gardens will soon have gardens that have been inspired by the New Perennialist Movement.
If you have visited RBG lately, you probably have noticed that the garden beds in the Entrance Gardens are transitioning to a new style of planting. We have removed the existing boxwoods from the parking lot island beds and repurposed them as hedges around the Labyrinth and Wellness Garden. We have replanted this area with plant communities’ mixtures featuring plants such as Sesleria autmnalis, Calamintha ‘Montrose White,’ Echinacea ‘Pixie Meadowbrite’ and Stachys ‘Hummelo.’ In addition, the front slope and visitor center beds will also get this same treatment. Why plant the gardens in this manner? These gardens will feature plant communities that provide sustainability, wildlife habitat, year-round interest, and in time, lots of color.
This style of plantings has largely been popularized by Piet Oudolf, and Roy Diblik, whose book, ‘The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden,’ has been an inspiration of mine. The perennials and grasses in these matrix plantings have been selected to perform well with each other, taking in consideration how vigorous of growers they are and how they will work in combination with each other throughout the year. We will see these gardens transition throughout the year, with different plants being showcased at different times. Although we are still in the process of planting, we intend to add another layer of interest with the addition of flowering bulbs this fall. This will provide an early pop of color as the perennials awake from their winter slumber. The perennials and grasses will be left up over the course of the winter, not only to provide winter interest and protect the crowns of the plants from extreme winter conditions, but to provide habitat for insects, animals, and other wildlife. In late winter or early spring, the plants will be cut back or mowed at a high length.
One issue that these gardens have been faced with is a persistent presence of weeds. As these beds mature, plants will cover the ground and prevent the sun from germinating weed seeds that exist in the soil. One annual weed in particular has been a nuisance, that being Galinsoga parviflora or Quickweed; as its name implies it can litter an area with great speed. Many volunteer and staff labor hours have gone into controlling this weed and we look forward to when these areas are covered by ornamental plants and this weed is suppressed.
A reduction in the amount of inputs are another benefit we are looking forward to. As the perennials establish over the next year, we will not have to water them with the frequency that we currently water most of our annuals (some three times a week). These perennials will only need water in times of high temperatures or long durations without rain. Additionally, we will not be using fertilizers and since we will not be bringing in plants for these areas annually, we will reduce our carbon footprint in terms of fuel used to get the plants here and the large amounts of plastic that we are left with in terms of pots and cell trays.
The plants have been installed mostly as landscape plugs. These are deeply rooted and smaller than the standard gallon sized containers that plants typically come in, but are easier to dig (a factor to consider when planting thousands of plants) and much more economical (also to a factor to consider when taking on a project of this magnitude). And knowing that perennials have a longer life cycle than annuals and thus develop slower, these gardens will mostly be growing roots this year. Next year we will see an increase in the size and amount of flowers and we will see the plants head into peak in year three. This a large shift in style from what we have displayed in the past and patience will need to be exercised as the plants establish. It is my hope that this patience will give way to something beautiful for years to come.
Visit RBG’s website @ https://www.
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.
Indoor Gardening LED Lights from Miracle LED®
Miracle LED® is a boutique LED lighting brand founded in 2006 and has since been dedicated to delivering high quality and energy efficient lighting solutions to the home and indoor garden. Using groundbreaking LED and NASA Color spectrum technology, Miracle LED is able to achieve any color to reach a specific tone or mood. Miracle LED Light Bulbs are designed to perform to the highest standards and quality while succeeding at being incredibly efficient and environmentally friendly. Shrink your footprint and your energy bills with a light bulb that will never cost more that $1.50 per year and contains absolutely no mercury. Replace any bulb in the house and save hundreds in energy costs. Our groundbreaking LED bulbs can run for hours and only be warm to the touch, reducing virtually all heat emissions. Grow like a professional with Miracle LED Grow Lights taking full advantage of the color spectrum to create high-yield light that your plants crave. Don’t settle for hot, old, high-energy fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, because nothing runs better than Miracle LED!
Klein’s is carrying a wide assortment of Miracle LED bulbs and supplies.
Source: http://www.miracleled.com
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 (Jack’s Petunia FeED Is a Winner)
This morning marked the end to my summer fertilizing regimen of my hundreds of containers. All summer long I juggle a combination of balanced fertilizer, bloom booster and, for the first time this year, a specialized petunia fertilizer at 10 day intervals beginning in early June. Though I’ve had adequate success over the years using just the balanced fertilizer and bloom booster on my petunias, the results of using the petunia feed came as a nice surprise to me. My potted petunias (about 25 assorted pots and hanging baskets) have stayed lush and green all summer; never getting yellow or woody. And after a “haircut” in mid-July, my plants are as beautiful and in full bloom today as they were 2 months ago. In fact, my petunias (and calibrachoa, and vinca, and…) are all blooming more fully than I’ve ever seen in my 30 years of gardening.
About Jack’s Classic 20-6-22 Petunia FeED:
Jack’s Classic® Petunia FeED was originally developed for the professional grower. Designed for plants that are inefficient when taking up iron up from their root zone, this special formulation provides essential amounts of Iron (Fe) needed for consistent plant growth. Jack’s Classic Petunia FeED contains an enhanced micronutrient package that includes 3 forms of iron and extra magnesium that will produce lush green plants in any growing condition. This low phosphorus formulation keeps plants fuller.
Petunia FeED is especially effective in hanging baskets containers that are watered often. Contains the extra iron necessary to prevent yellow tips and extra magnesium to keep lower leaves green.
We recommend an application of Jack’s Petunia FeED at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon every 7-10 days.
Use on ALL iron hungry plants. Iron hungry plants include:
- Petunias
- Calibrachoa
- Bacopa
- Verbena
- Vinca
- Salvia
- Rhododendron
- Gardenia
- Pansy
- Snapdragon
- Scaevola
- Diascia
- Nemesia
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ENTRY: SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 (The Magical French Word Terroir)
I read an article in the Wille St. Co-op Reader by Megan Minnick regarding a local twist on the French terroir and about food rather than wine. The article increased my curiosity of the subject so I thought I’d share a bit of the information I found online.
Terroir, noun: the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate and the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced.
Terroir: a Concept and Practice
Source: https://frenchfoodintheus.org
Terroir, a magical French word! French people talk about it all the time – how much terroir is important for the quality of a wine or a cheese, how a recipe is a recette de terroir … But what exactly do we mean when we use this word?
Terroir is a mix between a geographical definition and a cultural one. It is a geographical area with specific geological, hydrological, soil and climate characteristics. But it is more than that. The terroir has a strong cultural side. It is the reflection of the human societies that work its land. Different societies produce different terroir with the same territory. The notion of terroir is strongly linked with agricultural production. Indeed, agriculture is also the reflection of the natural conditions and the ways human societies work with them. Making the most of one’s land is the common goal of farmers and the heart of the notion of terroir.
To give a more practical example, let’s focus on a French cheese like Roquefort. It can only be produced in a small area, because the natural conditions influence the grass and flora that the sheep eat and therefore the milk they produce. But it is also the “savoir faire” of the people from the area of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and the way that they make the cheese that is inimitable. The combination of those two factors, geophysical and human, make that Roquefort can only be produced in this specific “terroir.”
The most striking example remains wines terroir. In France, people don’t only refer to wines according to the type of grape they were made of but principally according to the terroir. Indeed, some natural conditions like the type of soil or the exposition to the sun or what is called microclimate have a great influence on the quality of the wine. The area where the grape grew and the methods of its production (put in barrels or not, how long …), the art of making wine – “l’art d’élaborer le vin”– are essential factors. This is the reason why there are so many names for our French wines. Every area is unique and therefore deserves to be recognized for its own value.
Terroir is also an important tradition to pass on. The skills require making a special product, a recipe using ingredients from a special area like cassoulet (southwest of France) or choucroute (East of France). Therefore, French people as well as policy makers want to preserve this amazing heritage. The creation of denomination of origin, or the compilation of terroir recipes through the National Program for Food are examples of the actions keeping this tradition and notion alive!
Read Megan Minnick’s Terroir: The Cultural, Social, and Economic Factors that Shape Our Food from the Willie St. Co-op Reader @ https://www.willystreet.coop/
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ENTRY: SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 (The Reality of “Hardy” Mums)
At this time of the year, we at Klein’s are asked almost on a daily basis where we have our “hardy” mums (versus the ones that invariably die in gardens) or how does one ensure that mums purchased now in the fall will survive the winter. Both questions make the assumption that mums are truly hardy perennials here in Wisconsin. The following concise article appeared courtesy of our friend, Lisa Johnson, a few years back in The Wisconsin State Journal explaining the truth about mum hardiness.
“This time of year, beautiful, blooming chrysanthemums appear in garden centers. They are a favorite of mine, but they don’t always overwinter well in our area and often struggle in our heavy clay soils. Chrysanthemums don’t tolerate ice and poor drainage well, especially not over winter. So, years when we receive rain on top of snow, or heavy snows that melt and re-freeze on top of plants, we often lose chrysanthemums.
One tip is that the earlier you can get them into the ground, the more likely they are to get established before frost and survive the winter. I often buy some in spring (yes, they are available in the springtime in Klein’s perennial area), but then you don’t get to see the color before you buy! Also, looking for plants that are less root-bound and smaller may be helpful. If the plants are very root-bound, be sure to loosen the roots before planting. Less root-bound plants generally establish better than those in highly root-bound specimens in larger pots. Don’t cut your chrysanthemums to the ground after the first hard freeze like we do with many other perennials. Research has shown that keeping about 12 inches of stems in place protects the crown. It also provides a little protection in spring from late frosts. I leave the old stems in place until the new growth is a little over an inch tall and then cut it back just above the new growth. Make sure your chrysanthemums are planted where they get good sun exposure (at least 6 hours, with preferably some afternoon sun) and have good air circulation. Avoid low spots and areas with really heavy clay soil as planting sites.
If you don’t use a mulch usually in your garden do apply a “winter mulch” (I recommend double-shredded hardwood bark) about two inches deep around the root zone to protect the plant from freeze-thaw cycles in fall and winter. Put down the mulch AFTER the ground freezes unless you already have mulch in the garden. The point of it is to keep the ground frozen. Don’t “bury” the plant, leave about an inch of space between the edge of the clump and the beginning of your mulched area. Chrysanthemums take a little work to get sturdy, dense plants with lots of side branches that bear flowers.
“Pinching” is a process that enables you to control the branching and height of the plant. It’s easy to do, just remove of about an inch of the tip of each branch or shoot by literally pinching it off with your thumb and forefinger. Mums are best pinched two or three times during the growing season. The first pinch should be done when the plant is about six to eight inches tall. Pinching will stimulate the plant to produce side branches and become bushier. After the new growth following the first pinch gets four to six inches tall, pinch out the tips again. With shorter plants, two pinchings are plenty, but for taller more vigorous varieties, you can do a third pinch through about July 4th. Beyond this date, the plants may not have time to form flower buds before fall.
Your mums will flower without pinching (and may flower in late spring but not in fall), but they will look much better and produce more flowers with pinching.
Finally, a few words about fertilizer. Mums are heavy feeders and really benefit from some extra fertility in spring and summer. An all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer with an analysis such as 15-15-15 should be fine and can be applied once in early June and once in early August.”
— Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension horticulture educator
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Beets are among the easiest vegetables for long term storage. They, along with carrots, potatoes and many root vegetables, can be stored for many, many months as long as they’re kept cool and dark.
Beets are oftentimes the last vegetable in the refrigerator bin from last season’s garden. In the garden, beets are sown directly and on the early side, usually sometime in mid to late April. Plants need to be adequately thinned for greatest success. Each knobby seed capsule actually holds a few seeds. This means that plants usually come up a little more densely than you had intended. Harvest occurs anytime from late spring through fall depending on the size desired. Golf ball sized, early summer harvests yield the sweetest beets for fresh summer salads. Look for white or pink varieties to avoid “bleeding”. Raw beets can be grated or shredded into fresh green salads. To cook beets, do not peel. Simply remove the tops and boil or roast in foil. The tops are delicious raw in mixed salads or cooked in sautés or wilts like spinach or chard (a close relative).
SPINACH & BEET SALAD–Rave reviews on this recipe even from people who say they don’t like beets. Originally appeared in the Cap Times.
3 large beets, trimmed
salt & pepper to taste
2 TBS. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 TBS. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
4 cups spinach
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine beets, salt and pepper in a roasting pan. Cover with foil and bake 1 hour or more till tender. Let cool, peel off skins and cut into 1/4” wide strips. In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil. In a large bowl combine the beets, half of the vinaigrette, some salt, pepper, the onions and half of the mint. Toss to coat and let stand 30 minutes. Add the spinach and the rest of the vinaigrette and mint. Toss and serve.
SAVORY BEET SOUP–This hot beet soup appeared in Cooking Light magazine in October of 2004. Cold beet soup, borscht, is also a very popular way to use up beets and makes for a cool summer side dish.
1 tsp. olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 medium beets, peeled and halved
1 medium potato, peeled and halved crosswise
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. lemon juice
sour cream
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add the broth, water, salt, pepper, beets, potato and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until the beets and potato are tender. Remove the bay leaf. Puree the soup in food processor, blender or with a hand held blender until smooth. Rewarm if necessary until heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Combine 1/2 cup of the soup with 2 1/2 TBS. sour cream with a whisk. Serve the soup and swirl in the sour cream mix with the tip of a knife. Makes 8 servings.
GERMAN BEET SALAD–This is a family favorite from the “old country”. Enjoy!
1 lb. beets, peeling on and greens removed
1 TBS. prepared horseradish
1 medium onion
5 TBS. vegetable oil
3-5 TBS. vinegar
1/2 tsp. caraway seed, lightly crushed
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of sugar or to taste
1/2 tsp. mustard seed, lightly crushed
chopped parsley
Boil the beets in plenty of water for 40-60 minutes, depending on the size of the beets, until tender. Once tender, plunge into cold water and let cool. Trim the roots and tops and slip the beets from their skins. Dice or slice the beets as desired. Chop or slice the onion. In a bowl, combine the beets, onion and horseradish. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar (to taste), caraway, salt, pepper, sugar and mustard seed. Pour over the beet mixture, toss lightly and allow to stand at least 1 hour before serving, or overnight. Garnish with parsley. Keeps at least a week in the refrigerator and freezes well. Serves 4.
BEET SALAD WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE–Yet another beet recipe from Cooking Light magazine issue.
2 1/2 lbs. beets
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 TBS. raspberry vinegar
1 TBS. honey
2 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Preheat the oven to 425º. Place the whole beets on a foil lined baking sheet and bake 45 minutes or until tender. Allow to cool. Trim off the roots and the tops and slip from their skins. Chop the beets coarsely. Combine the beets, onion and celery in a large bowl. Combine the vinegar and the rest of the ingredients and pour over the beets. Toss to coat. Serve either chilled or at room temperature. Serves 6.
NATURAL NEWS–
Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale Returns to Garver Feed Mill
By Chris Hubbuch, Wisconsin State Journal, Sept. 25, 2020
Madison’s annual compost bin and rain barrel sale will return after a one-year hiatus.
Tens of thousands of local households have participated in the program over the past 27 years, saving water, fuel and other resources and reducing stormwater runoff that contributes to water quality issues for Madison’s lakes.
Stacie Reece, Madison’s sustainability coordinator, said composting food scraps and yard clippings reduces waste and controls the release of methane, a powerful heat-trapping gas, while creating a nutrient-rich soil additive.
Reece said rain barrels, which catch stormwater from gutters that can be used to water gardens and lawns, will be an increasingly important adaptation strategy as extreme rainfalls become more common as a result of a warming climate.
This year’s sale, open to all, will take place Oct. 10 at the Garver Feed Mill with no-contact pickup options for pre-orders and experts on hand to answer questions.
Compost bins are available for $69.99, and 50- and 100-gallon rain barrel kits for $119.99 and $214.99, respectively, and can be pre-ordered by Oct. 2 from rainreserve.com/madison.
For more info go to https://www.cityofmadison.com/
OCTOBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Bulk Garlic from Seed Savers Exchange of Decorah, IA
Klein’s is happy and excited to be offering a large selection bulk garlic from Seed Savers Exchange of nearby Decorah, IA.
If you’ve never been to Seed Savers, it makes for a great day trip at just three hours away. Set just a few miles north of beautiful and historic Decorah in the Driftless Area of northeastern Iowa, the visitor center, farm and facilities are nestled in a lovely side stream valley of the Upper Iowa River and on top of the surrounding ridges. The property is riddled with lovely hiking trails rivaling any in the state parks of southwestern Wisconsin.
Each bulb of garlic that we’re carrying from Seed Savers contains about 10 to 16 individual cloves based on variety. Seed Savers’ heirloom garlic is also organic. Bulbs are large and firm for guaranteed success.
October is the best month to plant garlic for next summer’s harvest, so shop early for best selection.
Klein’s is carrying the following bulk garlic varieties:
Chesnok Red–(aka Shvelisi) Originates from the village of Shvelisi, Republic of Georgia. Beautiful purple striped paper with red cloves, easy to peel. Good lingering taste, retains flavor well when cooked. Rated as one of the very best for baking or roasting. Hardneck, 8-10 cloves per bulb.
Elephant–Not a true garlic but actually a type of leek. Huge cloves and much milder flavor than regular garlic. Bulbs can grow 3-5″ in diameter and up to one pound dry weight under ideal conditions. Bulbs average 4-6 cloves.
German Extra Hardy–Vigorous grower with long roots that enable it to overwinter without heaving out of the ground. Outside skin is ivory-white, but the clove skin is dark red. Strong raw flavor, high sugar content, one of the very best for roasting. Hardneck, 4-7 cloves per bulb.
Inchelium Red–Found growing on the Colville Indian Reservation in Inchelium, Washington. Light purple blotching on very large bulbs. Compound bulbs have large outer cloves as well as medium cloves in the center of the bulb. Rated the best tasting garlic by the Rodale Institute in 1990. Softneck, 12-16 cloves per bulb.
Music–Italian variety brought to Canada by Al Music in the 1980s from his homeland. Bright white bulbs with a hint of pink and brown on clove skins. Large cloves are easy to peel. Rich, sweet, and caramelly when roasted. Delicious and spicy raw flavor. Hardneck, 4-10 cloves per bulb.
Samarkand–Also known as ‘Persian Star,’ this variety was collected in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, by longtime Seed Savers Exchange member John Swenson. Boasting a pleasant flavor with a mild, spicy “zing,” this all-purpose variety produces reliable yields year after year and is best grown in regions with an extended cold-winter season. Hardneck, 8-12 cloves per bulb.
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.
***Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, nearly all garden tours and garden/plant related events in the Madison area have been cancelled or postponed until further notice.***
OCTOBER IN THE GARDEN-–A checklist of things to do this month.
**Although the average first frost date for Madison is about Oct. 6, killing frosts have occurred as early as September 12 (1955). Be aware of quick weather changes this time of year. Be prepared to cover tender plants at any time.
___Visit Olbrich, Rotary or Allen Centennial Gardens and note plants of fall interest for spring planting and best selection.
___Dig new beds now! It’s easier now than in spring when super-busy.
___Take geranium, salvia, impatiens, abutilon cuttings before the first freeze.
___Plant spring bulbs now! Plant tulips, daffodils, hyacinths & crocus.
___Plant bulbs for forcing and put in a cool location for 10-12 weeks.
___Plant Christmas amaryllis now for holiday blooms; paperwhites now for Thanksgiving blooms.
___Apply a systemic pesticide to plants to be wintered over indoors.
___Move potted bulbs to be stored like begonias, callas, caladiums and cannas to a garage so they can dry out before storage.
___Dig up and store dahlias, glads, cannas and elephant’s ear after tops freeze.
___Continue planting deciduous shrubs and trees until the ground freezes.
___Divide and plant perennials as desired.
___Clean up stalks and leaves of annuals and vegetables, preventing viruses and pests for next year’s garden.
___Continue harvesting brussels sprouts, kale, greens and root crops.
___Plant garlic. October is the best time.
___Stop deadheading perennials for winter interest, i.e. sedums, grasses, etc.
___Cut perennials back to 4-6”, leaving those for winter interest.
___Collect seeds for next year’s garden.
___Plant winter rye as a cover crop for spring tilling.
___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.
___Take pictures of your garden for record keeping.
___Mow the lawn at shortest setting for last mowing of the season.
___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
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 OCTOBER:
—We’ve put any leftover perennials to bed for the winter in one of out unheated back greenhouses. It’s been a good season…we have very little left to pack away.
—We begin shutting down the back greenhouses. They remain unheated for the winter allowing energy savings and pest control.
—Weatherizing continues. We seal up and insulate unused doors and caulk up air leaks. Water is shut off to the greenhouses not used during the winter.
—Pots, cell packs and trays arrive from our wholesalers in preparation for next spring. Most are stored in the unused greenhouses out back. It’s only 3 months till the first of next year’s geranium crop arrive (we already have some of next season’s tropicals).
—Plants begin arriving for the big Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February. Herbs, primrose and cool-loving annuals are arriving enforce.
—Cyclamen and azaleas continue to arrive for winter sales.
—We send out our mailings to local churches regarding poinsettia and blooming plant information for the upcoming holidays. We are proud to say that hundreds of area churches and businesses are decked out with Klein’s HOMEGROWN poinsettias during the holiday season.
—By month’s end the poinsettias begin to change color. Looking across the greenhouses, one begins to see hints of red, pink and white. We’ve moved many of our poinsettias into our retail area from the back greenhouses before cold weather sets in.
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
608/224-3700
Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic
Dept. of Plant Pathology
Insect Diagnostic Lab
240 Russell Labs
U.W. Soil and Plant Analysis Lab
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