‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—APRIL 2023
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Our 2023 Spring Plant List Goes On-line About April 15
Extended Spring Hours Begin Saturday, April 29
Our ‘Mad Gardener‘ and ‘Houseplant Help‘ Are Ready for Your Questions
Administrative Professionals Week is April 23-29
Monrovia’s Shop Online…Shopping Made Easy
About Edible Flowers from the Garden
Madison Public Library’s Seed Library Returns
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
You Asked about Juniper Damage from Rabbits
Plant of the Month: The Summer Bulbs
Klein’s Favorite Spring Greens Recipes
Product Spotlight: Coast of Maine® Handcrafted Organic Soils and Amendments
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From March 2023
—A Boost for Growing Healthy Legumes
—A Surprise Visitor to My Birdfeeder
—A Historic Snowfall Hits Madison
April in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
NOW HIRING PART-TIME FLORAL DELIVERY DRIVER
Klein’s is currently looking for a part-time floral delivery driver. We’re looking for someone with a flexible schedule, who is available 2-3 days a week from about 8:00-3:00. Occasional Saturdays and floral holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day, etc.) are required. No experience is necessary with on the job training. A good driving record is a must, however.
This may be a perfect job if you’re retired and want to remain active or would like some extra cash working in a fun and unique environment.
If you enjoy meeting people and putting a smile on their face, this might be the job for you!!
Please stop by the store or contact Sue (info@kleinsfloral.com) or Sarah @ 608-244-5661 for more information or fill out an application @ Employment Application.
OUR 2023 SPRING PLANT LIST can be viewed on-line beginning about April 15 by clicking on Spring Plants or at the top of our website home page under the the “Greenhouses” dropbox. This comprehensive listing contains every plant that Klein’s will be offering at some time during the 2023 season and is extremely helpful for both the home gardener and landscaper alike. The list contains fun facts, cultural information and pot or pack size for each item and comes in very handy in planning your garden this spring.
***Please note the disclaimers and added notes at the beginning of each section***
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS OR GARDEN TOURS that you would like posted on our web site or in our monthly newsletters, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Events must be garden related and must take place in the Madison area.
HAVE YOU MOVED RECENTLY?
If so, we ask that as we go into the busy spring season, you update your new address in association with Klein’s Rewards Program so you continue to receive all possible benefits.
In addition to occasional coupons, we’ve been mailing out birthday month postcards with an added gift during the past year or so and find that many are being returned with an invalid address. We don’t want you to miss out!
If your address has recently changed, please send your new information to info@kleinsfloral.com and please include your name and your old address as reference.
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.
KLEIN’S ‘HOUSEPLANT HELP’
You can contact Klein’s in-house indoor plant experts by emailing to houseplanthelp@kleinsfloral.com 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. 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.
APRIL STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Extended Spring Hours Begin Saturday, April 29.
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-7:00
Tuesdays: 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00-6:00
Sunday: 9:00-5:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
April 1–April Fool’s Day
April 2—Palm Sunday
April 4–Spring Elections
April 5–Passover Begins
April 5–Full Moon
April 7–Good Friday
April 9–Easter Sunday
April 15–First Outdoor Farmers’ Market on the Square, 6:15-1:45. Madison’s Official Beginning of Spring! Visit https://www.dcfm.org/
April 16–Orthodox Easter
April 18–Tax Day
April 21—Eid al Fir
April 22–Earth Day
April 23–Beginning of Administrative Professionals Week. In appreciation to those people who make your life so much easier, have one of Klein’s talented designers create for you that perfect ‘Thank You.’ Nothing displays your appreciation better than a lovely bouquet of spring flowers or a cheerful blooming plant. Order early.
April 26–Administrative Professionals Day
April 28–Arbor Day
April 29–First Day of Klein’s Extended Spring Hours. The days are longer and there’s lots to do in the garden. We make shopping easier to fit into your hectic schedule by offering extended retail hours during May. Evenings are a great time to shop at Klein’s. The greenhouses are cooler and the lines are shorter. It makes for a more relaxed shopping experience and our staff is more available to answer all your gardening questions. See April Store Hours above for more details.
April 29 and 30—Klein’s Spring Preview Weekend. Visit with supplier reps and see what’s new for the 2023 gardening season. Visit our homepage and Facebook later in the month for details.
May 10–This is Madison’s average last frost date, but keep your eye on the weather before planting. Madison has a notorious reputation for late May frosts. Many local old-time gardeners refuse to plant, especially their tomatoes, peppers, morning glories, etc. until Memorial Day weekend when the soil has warmed properly. Novice gardeners have a tendency to plant too early!
May 14–Mother’s Day. Order early and shop early!!! Mother’s Day is second only to Valentine’s Day for deliveries and the Saturday before Mother’s Day is traditionally our busiest day of the entire year. Extra drivers will be on the road Saturday, May 13 for prompt and efficient service. Click on Delivery Information at the top of our home page for more details about Klein’s delivery. Because this is our busiest day of the year in the greenhouse, will not be delivering on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14.
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
Edible Flowers
Edible landscapes combine ornamental flowers with vegetables, fruits and edible flowers. Floral ingredients such as peppery nasturtiums or tart Calendula add flavor, texture, and color, and transform an ordinary salad into an exciting dish. They:
- Flavor and garnish foods.
- Add variety and interest to landscapes.
- Are usually annual flowers, though some may self-seed and regrow next year.
- Provide food and habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- There is a wide variety of colors, forms and sizes of edible flowers. Many are grown as annuals — plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season — and are easy to grow in garden beds, raised beds and containers.
Introduce edible flowers gradually and in small quantities into your diet. When seasoning with edible flowers, taste test and try to match the flavor to the recipe. Sweet or floral-scented blossoms can be used to decorate desserts or garnish cold drinks. Peppery nasturtiums, cucumber-flavored borage, and onion-flavored chive blossoms add interest to salads.
Blossoms should be harvested the day they’ll be used; try to pick no more than one day early.
- Wash the fresh flowers gently and set them aside to dry.
- Refrigerate them in plastic sandwich bags until you use them.
- Remove interior flower parts such as stamens and pistils (i.e. squash or tulips). These are tart-tasting in some flowers. The white lower part of petals adjacent to the stem should be removed as it can be bitter.
- When serving flowers fresh, add them to your dish just before serving.
Some Popular Edible Flowers and Serving Suggestions
- Alpine Strawberry (Fragaria vesca var. vesca) — Flowers have a strawberry flavor; leaves used in tea.
- Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) — Flowers and leaves have a licorice flavor; used in tea.
- Apple or plum (Malus spp.) — Flowers are mild with sweet floral flavor; use candied or as garnish.
- Bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus) — Flowers have a delicate spicy-sweet flavor; eaten fresh or dried for tea.
- Beebalm (Monarda didyma) — Flowers have a citrusy, sweet, hot, minty flavor; flower taste may differ by species or cultivar and red flowers are said to have the best flavor.
- Borage (Borage officinalis) — Flowers have a cucumber flavor; leaves may also be used, but are hairy.
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) — Petals are a slightly bitter saffron substitute; more for color than flavor.
- Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomilla) — Flowers have an apple scent and flavor for tea; use fresh or dried.
- Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum mobile) — Flowers have an apple scent and flavor for tea; use fresh or dried.
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) — Flowers and leaves have onion flavor; float or sprinkle flowers on soups, salads, vegetables.
- Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) — Grown primarily for leaves; flowers and leaves have more pungent oregano flavor than Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens).
- Dandelion (Taraxacum offcinale) — Flowers have a honeylike flavor when picked young, but older flowers will have a bitter flavor; use young leaves in salads.
- Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) — Flower bud flavor compares to green beans and eggplant but open flower flavor is milder; petals used in pancakes, frittatas, dips; dried buds used in Chinese sweet and sour soup; flavor will vary between cultivars.
- Dill (Anethum graveolens) — Seeds, foliage, flowers are used in pickling, dips, sauces, fish dishes.
- Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea) — Flowers are sweetly flavored and scented; cook into pancake batter or brew into tea; use berries for jelly, jam, wine.
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) — Flowers taste mildly anise, licorice-flavored.
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) — Flowers have a mild cranberry/citrus flavor; use to add red color to teas.
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) — Flowers taste similar to tonic water.
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia or L. officinalis) — Use sparingly; flowers have a sweet perfumed flavor that can become bitter, astringent; enhances dishes with fragrance; used in ice cream, baked goods, herbes de Provence, teas, lemonade.
- Lemon (Citrus limon) — Flowers taste citrusy and sweet.
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) — Leaves and flowers are mildly lemon-scented.
- Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora)— Flowers and leaves used dried for tea, flavoring lemon syrup.
- Lilac (Syringa spp.) — Flower flavors vary depending on cultivar from no flavor to a green flavor to a true floral lilac flavor; use flowers in ice cream, soft cheeses, pastries.
- Mint (Mentha spp.) — Flowers and leaves have minty flavor; use in teas, fruit salad, cocktails, sauces, chutneys.
- Nasturtium (Tropaeloum majus) — Both flowers and leaves have a peppery taste; use fresh in salads for a spicy flavor.
- Pansy (Viola spp.) — Flowers have a grassy, green flavor.
- Pea (Pisum sativum) — Flowers have a floral, pealike flavor; use fresh in salads.
- Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) — Flowers are sweet with fruity, mint flavor with a little spiciness.
- Pinks (Dianthus caryophyllus) — Flowers have a sweet clove flavor; remove the base of the petal (usually white in color) as it is usually bitter; use in sorbets, cold drinks, salads with fruit.
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense) — Flowers are sweet; good brewed as a tea or fresh in limited quantities.
- Rose (Rosa rugosa alba, R. rugosa, R. damascena, R. gallica) — Use petals but remove the white base of the petal as it’s bitter; use rose hips (seed heads) for tea and vinaigrette.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) — Flowers have more mild flavor than leaves; sprinkle on salads, pasta, poultry-based soups.
- Scarlet Runner Beans (Phaseolus coccineus) — Make use of young pods as well as flowers.
- Scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) — Flower flavors vary depending on variety (rose, orange, mint, etc.); flowers and leaves are used to flavor jellies, sugar, butter, cakes, tea, honey.
- Signet marigold (Tagetes signata) — Flower petals taste like spicy tarragon..
- Squash (Curcurbita spp.) — Flowers can be stuffed with cheeses or fried.
- Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) — Tiny white flowers have a sweet, vanilla flavor; dried leaves smell like newly mown hay. Caution: Has a blood-thinning effect. Do not consume if taking blood-thinning medications.
- Tuberous begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida) — Flower petals have a tangy citrus flavor.
- Tulip (Tulipa spp.) — Flower petals have a pea or bean flavor; remove from stem and use in salads, with soft cheeses.
Never experiment by eating plant parts unless you are sure they are harmless.
Consult a reliable reference for edible flowers such as the AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants published by the American Medical Association.
Source: https://extension.umn.edu/
YOU ASKED. . .
The rabbits have eaten the bark off of my juniper bushes. Some have been girdled. Is there anything I can do to prevent the branches from dying? Sinikka
Hi Sinikka,
My only advice at this late time in the winter season is to wait and see. Winter is nearly over and the rabbits have exposed grass/plant crowns to feed on instead of your junipers (which are not their food of choice). If the bark has been girdled completely and deeply, there’s nothing you can do to prevent future die off. That said, depending on the age of your junipers, they can be very resilient if the damage doesn’t extend into the deeper layers of the bark. You won’t know the extent of the damage until late May and June when conifers send out their new growth. If you see no new growth, your junipers may go into a slow demise.
In the future, if your junipers survive and knowing rabbits are a problem, it’s best to wrap the lower parts of your plants with burlap or chicken wire to prevent damage. Rabbits will eat nearly any plant material when hungry in the dead of winter and with limited foliage available to them. I personally place about 50 chicken wire rings around the most susceptible shrubs in my yard, usually in early November when the ground is still soft and I can anchor them with bamboo stakes. I remove the rings in late March, flatten them and store them in my garage from year to year.
Thanks for your question,
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that you can order plants directly from Monrovia Nursery online and then pick up your order at Klein’s upon arrival in the springtime?
How To Use Monrovia’s Order Online…
Step 1: Bring Nature Home
Whether you’re looking to add a special plant to beautify your garden, or hoping to be inspired by something unique and perfectly suited for your landscape, Monrovia has the widest selection of the highest quality plants online today. From trees, shrubs and vines to stunning flowering perennials, color-rich annuals or delicious edibles, their plants are grown beautifully to thrive, ready for you to enjoy in your landscape.
Step 2: Select Your Perfect Plant
Select from the list of more than 3,000 varieties. Shop by area, by category, and by your preferred sizes. They’ll ship only when your plant is ready. Because bloom times and other conditions vary, delivery may take up to 3 to 4 weeks in spring.
Pre-ordering during the fall and winter? No problem! Monrovia will care for your plants until spring and then ship them to you when they are in prime planting condition for your landscape.
Step 3: Choose Your Garden Center
Your plant will be shipped for free to Klein’s along with our Monrovia plant order. Monrovia delivers plants nationwide to hundreds of local garden centers. Find the one that’s perfect for you if you’re not in the Madison area.
Step 4: Pick Up Locally and Easily
You’ll be notified when the plants are on the truck headed to Klein’s. We will contact you when they arrive. Your plants will arrive specially packaged with your name clearly visible. Please note that Monrovia plants are grown at many locations nationwide and can show up anytime during May and into early June.
Step 5: Get Growing
When you take your plants home, you’ll find an information label that offers step-by-step planting instructions and information. Browse Monrovia’s blog for inspiring tips and design ideas.
Click on www.monrovia.com to start.
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.
Coast of Maine® Handcrafted Organic Soils and Soil Amendments
Coast of Maine Organic Products was founded in 1996 with the simple idea that a healthy planet needs healthy soil to sustain life. From this idea, a love of gardening and a commitment to sustainable practices, Coast of Maine Organic Products has grown to offer what we believe are the most unique and effective organic gardening products available. Our organically approved, compost-based soils, enriching mulches, soil supplements and liquid fertilizers are designed to enhance and support healthy soil biology. We compost residuals sourced locally in Maine and New Brunswick, such as shellfish (lobster & crab), salmon, wild blueberries, and cow manure. Additional local ingredients include: tree bark, worm castings, and seaweed. Coast of Maine distributes organic retail bagged goods to independent garden centers along the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Mid-West.
Not sold in “big box” stores! Coast of Maine proudly supports the local garden centers and retailers. It has long been the philosophy of the Coast of Maine brand that our locally made products should be sold by local independent retailers and garden centers that feed the local economy. Independent garden centers and retailers specialize in gardening. They provide a level of superior knowledge, customer service and community support that the big-box, mass retail stores just can’t match.
Klein’s Featured Products (available sometime in April):
—Tomato & Vegetable Planting Soil
The optimal soil conditioner to revitalize the soil in and around your vegetable garden beds. It is naturally lightweight and contains just the right ingredients to grow plentiful, flavorful tomatoes and vegetables. Made with premium ingredients, it contains compost, lobster, and lime. Available in 20qt bags.
—Planting Soil for Roses & Flowers
The ideal planting mix to improve and revitalize the soil in and around all of your rose varieties, flowering annuals, and perennials. Perfect for supporting continual blooms and healthy foliage. Made with premium ingredients, it contains compost, aged bark, and lime. Available in 20qt bags.
—Planting Soil for Acid-Loving Plants
The ideal planting mix to improve and revitalize the soil in and around plants that thrive in lower pH soils like: rhododendrons, azaleas, hollies, blueberries, strawberries, ferns, fuchsias, camellias, dogwoods, and conifers. Made with premium ingredients, it contains compost, sphagnum peat moss, and aged bark. Available in 20qt bags.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: MARCH 19, 2023 (A Boost for Growing Healthy Legumes)
In a few short weeks it’ll be time to plant cool-loving peas and sweet peas in the garden and I realized that I’ve forgotten to add garden/legume inoculant to my list of supplies to pick up from work. Peas, sweet peas, as well as beans (which are planted well into May) are all legumes and help fix nitrogen into the soil. The following concise and simple explanation comes from http://www.gardeningknowhow.com
“Peas, beans and other legumes are well known to help fix nitrogen into the soil. This not only helps the peas and beans grow, but can help other plants later grow in that same spot. What many people don’t know is that a significant amount of nitrogen fixing by peas and beans happens only when a special legume inoculant has been added to the soil.
What Is A Garden Soil Inoculant?
Organic gardening soil inoculants are a type of bacteria added to the soil to “seed” the soil. In other words, a small amount of bacteria is added when using pea and bean inoculants so it can multiply and become a large amount of bacteria.
The kind of bacteria used for legume inoculants is Rhizobium leguminosarum which is a nitrogen fixing bacteria. These bacteria “infect” the legumes growing in the soil and cause the legumes to form the nitrogen fixing nodules that make peas and beans the nitrogen powerhouses they are. Without the Rhizobium leguminosarum bacteria, these nodules do not form and the peas and beans will not be able to produce the nitrogen that helps them grow and also replenishes the nitrogen in the soil.
How To Use Organic Gardening Soil Inoculants
Using pea and bean inoculants is easy and simple. First purchase your legume inoculant from your local nursery (such as Klein’s) or a reputable online gardening website.
Once you have your garden soil inoculant, plant your peas or beans (or both). When you plant the seed for the legume you are growing, place a good amount of the legume inoculants in the hole with the seed. You cannot over inoculate, so do not be afraid of adding too much to the hole. The real danger will be that you will add too little garden soil inoculant and the bacteria will not take.
Once you have finished adding your pea and bean inoculants, cover both the seed and the inoculant with soil. That is all you have to do to add organic gardening soil inoculants to the soil to help you grow a better pea, bean or other legume crop.”
***Note that Klein’s sells Garden Inoculant from Olds Garden Seeds and merchandised along with our seeds in our retail area.
* * * * *
ENTRY: MARCH 23, 2023 (A Surprise Visitor to My Birdfeeder)
I woke up in the middle of the night today to some odd clanking noises in the white pine grove just outside the bedroom window. The sound was familiar to me. Some animal was enjoying (or at least trying to enjoy) the shelled peanuts in the squirrel-proof just outside the window. Earlier this past fall I had been battling a raccoon who had figured out that he could sit on top of the feeder and reach down to grab the peanuts. Because he was sitting on top of the feeder there was no weight on the perch (which closes access to the food inside when something too heavy sits on it). I won that battle by wrapping the tree trunk with four feet of aluminum duct piping purchased at Menard’s. The raccoon was no longer able to scramble up the tree trunk to reach the feeder.
These new noises, however, were very different from the ones made by the raccoon. These were quick, nonstop openings and closings of the feeder, almost like when a flock of starlings attacks the feeder to get at the peanuts. But this was 3:00 in the morning!
Curious, I went downstairs, got a flashlight and shined it on the feeder from the nearby TV room window. Low and behold there were four super-cute flying squirrels taking turns feeding on the peanuts. In all of the nearly 40 years I’ve been feeding birds, this is only the second time I’ve seen flying squirrels on my feeders.
There are two species of flying squirrels in the Madison area. The following info comes from the UW Extension:
Flying squirrels are the smallest tree squirrels in Wisconsin. The northern species measures 10-13 inches in length, including a broad, flat 4-6″ tail, and weighs 4-8 oz. The southern flying squirrel is 8-10″ long and weighs only 2.5 to 3.5 oz.! You can easily distinguish the two species by size and color. The northern flying squirrel is slightly redder on the upper body parts, and the hairs on its belly are slate colored with white tips. The southern species is more drab, with a completely white underside. The sexes appear identical in size and color.
The flying squirrel does not actually fly. It glides from tree to tree, from a high point to a lower one. A fold of skin extends along both flanks from its front legs (wrists) to its hind feet (ankles). When the animal leaps from a tree, it flattens its body and extends its limbs, which in turn opens its “flaps,” allowing the animal to glide downward and eventually land. The flying squirrel can glide 150 ft. or more, and can control its direction in flight with its flattened rudder-like tail.
Flying squirrels move awkwardly on the ground and can be overtaken by a person.
Flying squirrels are shy animals. Their nocturnal lifestyle keeps them virtually unknown to many people. The northern species lives in heavily wooded, mature-growth, hemlock-maple or hemlock-birch timber. The southern species prefers abandoned orchards and mature hardwood-conifer woodlots. They can also be found in parks and older suburban neighborhoods with mature vegetation. They feed on nuts, fruits, berries, and insects such as moths and beetles. They readily use birdfeeders (and frequently cause mysterious overnight seed losses). Flying squirrels don’t create as many problems as other tree squirrels, but they will move into attics, vacant cabins, or walls, and can do damage. During winter, flying squirrels often gather in communal dens. Woodcutters may find a dozen or more in a hollow tree cavity.
Their large eyes and soft, silky fur make flying squirrels quite attractive. You can increase your chance of seeing them by building nest boxes and floodlighting birdfeeders.
* * * * *
ENTRY: MARCH 26, 2023 (A Historic Snowfall Hits Madison)
Yesterday’s huge 12.1″ snowfall was a big surprise. Though heavy, the temperatures were rather warm. Other than the sheer weight of the snow, emerging spring bulbs will come through the event unscathed. Here is an article from the Wisconsin State Journal (https://madison.com/ ) to put this historic snowfall in perspective.
Ask the Weather Guys: How did Madison get a foot of snow on Saturday?
The 12.1 inches of snow that fell over Madison in the first nine hours of Saturday morning was surely a surprise to many residents while setting the all-time monthly record.
Forecasts made through the late afternoon on Friday, consistent with those made on Wednesday and Thursday, were suggesting that the heaviest band of snow would run southwestward from Racine/Kenosha back to northwestern Illinois and leave Madison with an inch or two.
The forecast was in error not because the heavy snow band was not foreseen, but rather because the band ended up occurring farther northwestward than the computer forecast models had predicted.
This error underscores how hard it is to pinpoint the location of heavy precipitation bands in winter storms, especially rather weak winter storms like the one that hit on Saturday morning.
Even such weak storms have circulations that impact millions of square kilometers, while the precipitation bands impact only a small fraction of that area. In this case, the important structures and dynamics that conspired to produce the snow were well represented in the computer forecasts, but their location was different than the forecasted location for reasons that can be determined only in an after-the-fact investigation of the event.
Though much of the stunning progress in forecasting that has occurred in the past half century has been a result of relentless advances in theory, observational capabilities and the expanding power of computers, an often overlooked ingredient is the grueling detective work that ensues in the aftermath of such forecast errors. Meteorologists undertake “case studies” of such incidents to determine what physical factors were responsible for the weather as it actually occurred and also to better understand how and why the computer models went astray.
This difficult but necessary work informs the future development of these forecast models with the hope of minimizing future forecast errors. Thus, though such incidents as our Saturday snow might inspire the cynical view that weather forecasting is not a scientific endeavor, the exact opposite is actually true.
An abnormal heavy snow in Madison on Saturday broke records, pushing the total snowfall over the last year past 70 inches.
The city received 12.1 inches of snow on Saturday, a record for March 25, eclipsing the 5 inches that day in 1899, according to the National Weather Service. It’s also the new daily snowfall record for March, edging out the 12 inches that fell on March 18, 1971.
The springtime snowfall broke other records. The roughly foot of snow was Madison’s biggest one day snowfall since 2012, said Max Tsaparis, a meteorologist with Channel 27.
Since July, 70.4 inches of snow has fallen in Madison, according to the Weather Service.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
In just a few short weeks the first of the locally grown greens will begin showing up at the farmers’ markets, in stores or even in your garden if you have a cold frame. These early spring gems include spinach, lettuce, endive, arugula, mesclun, cress and many others. Other early season vegetables include: radishes, fingerling potatoes and asparagus.
A few of our favorite springtime salad recipes include:
GREEN SALAD WITH MINT AND PEAS–This very simple and refreshing salad appeared in Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food.
Dressing:
1 TBS. lemon juice
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 TBS. extra virgin olive oil coarse salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
Fresh greens of choice, washed, dried and torn
1 cup peas (either fresh or thawed frozen)
1/2 cup torn mint
Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Toss together the greens, peas, mint and dressing in a large bowl. Makes enough dressing for four servings.
SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD–Talk about fresh spring flavors! This favorite of adults and kids alike is from Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce.
2 TBS. sesame seeds, toasted and set aside
4 TBS. sugar
4 TBS. red wine vinegar
Minced garlic to taste
1 tsp. dry mustard
coarse salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup vegetable oil (not olive)
2 bags of spinach
2+ cups sliced strawberries
1 tsp. dried dill
Combine the sugar, vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk in the oil in a thin stream. Toss together with the spinach, berries, dill and sesame seeds. Serves 8.
SPINACH AND BEAN SALAD–a unique and flavorful salad from Better Homes and Garden Magazine.
1 x 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup snipped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1 sliced green onion
1 TBS. snipped cilantro
1 clove minced garlic
1/4 cup apricot nectar (available in the juice aisle)
2 TBS. salad oil
2 TBS. rice vinegar
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
4 cups shredded fresh spinach
In a bowl, combine the beans, apricots, bell pepper, onion, cilantro and garlic. Shake or whisk together the nectar, oil, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger. Pour over the bean mixture and toss to coat. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours. To serve, place spinach in individual salad bowls and top with desired amount of bean mixture. Season with salt. Makes 6-8 side servings.
SPRINGTIME POTATO SALAD–From a Wisconsin State Journal article dated June 22, 2001.
Dressing:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
6 TBS. red wine vinegar
1 TBS. sugar
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 TBS. dried basil
2 cloves minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
2 TBS. minced green onion
Salad:
1 1/2 lbs. small red potatoes, unpeeled
1 lb. asparagus
1 x 16 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
12 cherry tomatoes for garnish
Combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, basil and garlic in a blender or food processor. Blend till smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the green onions and set aside.
Cook the potatoes till tender. Drain well and cut in half. Cook the asparagus 1-2 minutes in a small amount of boiling water until barely tender. Drain and rinse in cold water. Cut into 1″ lengths. Slice the artichoke hearts. Place the potatoes, asparagus and artichokes in a large bow and refrigerate. Just prior to serving, pour the dressing over the veggies and toss gently. Serve garnished with cherry tomato halves either chilled or at room temp. Serves 6.
NATURAL NEWS–
Madison Public Library’s Seed Library Returns
Madison Public Library’s popular Seed Library program returned on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Select library locations offer free seeds for visitors throughout the spring, summer and fall. Madison Public Library’s Seed Library is expanding this year to include a fifth library location – Sequoya Library.
“We’re so excited to be offering our first Seed Library at Sequoya! We wanted a fun way to support sustainability, as we know it’s something our patrons care deeply about,” said Rachel Davidson, Community Engagement Librarian at Sequoya Library. “We hope they enjoy and use this free collection to start conversations with their neighbors, brighten their backyards, and make our community as a whole a more beautiful place.”
The Seed Library first came to Madison Public Library as part of a larger county-wide initiative in 2014. After the initial grant funding ran out for the county-based program, Madison Public Library continued to fund it through the Friends of Madison Public Library and Madison Public Library Foundation. Over the past nine years, the number and variety of seeds has grown, as well as the number of locations offering this service.
“The seed library was originally hosted at Lakeview and Goodman South Madison Libraries, and, based on community interest, expanded in 2022 to include Meadowridge and Pinney libraries,” said Hannah Majeska, Community Engagement Librarian at Lakeview Library. “Demand for seeds has been high since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to grow each year.”
Visitors can visit participating libraries to pick up vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seeds throughout the spring and summer. There is no limit to the number of seed packets you can take and each packet contains about 10 seeds. However, once seeds are gone, they won’t be restocked until late Fall when the library transitions its collection to feature native Wisconsin plant seeds.
The Seed Library has been a source of inspiration for library staff over the years, as well, prompting them to create gardening book lists and programs to accompany the seed collection. The goal is to do more than just provide seeds, but to also support the community in their gardening journeys.
“The seed library is important for a number of reasons. The ability to grow one’s own food — whether in garden beds or containers — promotes food security. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits supports physical health. Gardening is also a mindful activity that encourages folks to get outdoors and connect with nature, which benefits mental wellbeing,” said Majeska.
Free seeds are available at the following libraries:
Goodman South Library [2222 S. Park St]
Lakeview Library [2845 N. Sherman Ave]
Meadowridge Library [5726 Raymond Rd]
Pinney Library [516 Cottage Grove Rd]
Sequoya Library [4340 Tokay Blvd]
Learn more about Madison Public Library’s Seed Library and see the full list of seed varieties available at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/collections/dane-county-seed-library
APRIL’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
THE SUMMER BULBS
(Shop for Klein’s bulbs online @ Summer Bulbs)
Many beginning gardeners see bulb planting as a fall task; one of the last things one does before putting the garden to sleep for the winter. The bulbs planted in the fall are the spring bloomers: the tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. These bulbs are available at garden centers from about Labor Day into early November.
The other class of bulbs are the “summer bulbs”, those from tropical or subtropical origins that will not survive Wisconsin’s harsh winters. Though called bulbs, many are actually corms, tubers or rhizomes. The summer “bulbs” include dahlias, gladiolas, tuberous begonias, cannas, callas, caladiums and many others. These bulbs are either planted directly in the garden in spring or are started indoors in pots in late winter to give them a jump start for our short Midwest growing season. These bulbs all need to be stored indoors over winter.
Summer bulbs become available at garden centers beginning about February 1, but they continue to arrive until about April 1. The early arrivals are those that like that early jump start, especially begonias, caladiums, callas and elephant’s ears. These bulbs can be started in pots by March 1. Dahlias and cannas can be started indoors around April 1. They could be planted directly into the garden in May, but we then lose a month of bloom time when planted that late. Gladiolas, on the other hand, are best planted directly into the garden beginning in late April. For a summering crop, continue planting glads every two weeks into June.
Lilies (Asiatics, Orientals, Tigers, etc.) can be purchased and planted in both spring and fall. Many garden centers offer started plants in the spring. Most lilies are fully hardy in southern Wisconsin so are treated as a hardy perennial. Therefore, they are not dug up in the fall.
Storing raised bulbs for the winter is a learning experience with great success, but you’ll find some misses along the way. There’s tons of advice available on the “best” way to store bulbs. As a rule of thumb, most over wintered bulbs do best in a cool, dark and dry environment. An old-fashioned root cellar works best, but few homes have those nowadays. A heated garage is the next best choice, but most people will have at least some success in their basements–keeping in mind, the cooler, the better.
Store bulbs in peat moss, sand or a mixture of the two for greatest success. The foliage of most summer bulbs can freeze off in the fall. This will not ruin the tender bulbs underground. Cut off the dead foliage, dig up and allow to cure for a few days before storage. This allows freshly cut wounds or damage from digging to callous over before storage. Most stored bulbs must remain cool, dark and dry all winter. But some, like cannas, prefer a little moisture during storage. Each bulb has slightly different requirements so a little research goes a long way. Make sure to check stored bulbs periodically throughout the winter and discard any bulbs with signs of rot.
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.
Sky Dance @ the Arboretum
Saturday, April 1, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Night Walk
Listen for frogs and other night animals, like woodcocks. We can’t guarantee that wildlife will appear, but if they do, we may see the woodcock’s fascinating mating ritual known as “sky dance.” Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free. Registration required by March 28: https://arboretum-sky-dance-night-walk-2023.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, April 2, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, April 2, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Dane County Extension’s Green Thumb Gardening Spring Series
March 6 thru April 17, 6:00-8:00 on the dates listed below.
The evening classes are live on Zoom with UW experts who are available to answer questions during and after class. Visit https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture for further details. You can purchase the nine-class series for a package price or just purchase selected classes. Register @ Register Here
April 3: Rain Gardens and Pollinator Gardens: Planning, Construction and Native Plants
April 10: Strawberries, Raspberries and Blueberries
April 17: Perennials for Sun and Shade
Classes are recorded for later viewing except for the vegetable disease class, but handouts of the talk will be available.
Please contact Lisa Johnson @ 608-224-3715 or johnson.lisa@countyofdane.com with questions or for more information.
Or visit: Isthmus Calendar of Gardening Events for this and many garden related events in the Madison area.
Dane County University of Wisconsin-Extension
5201 Fen Oak Dr, Suite 138
608/224-3700 or dane.uwex.edu
The Canopy Sessions at Olbrich Gardens
Held on the first Fridays of February, March, and April, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
In the Bolz Conservatory
Start your weekend with a live concert performed in one of Madison’s most unique venues. Explore the tropics, enjoy the warmth, and be entertained by some of the area’s most talented musicians.
$8 – General Admission
$5 – Child (Ages 6-12)
FREE – Ages 5 & under
- Purchase tickets in-advance online @ Order Tickets or at the door.
- Ticket revenue supports local musicians and Olbrich Gardens.
- A limited number of reduced fee tickets are available. To request a fee waiver, please contact Mike Gibson at mgibson2@cityofmadison.com or 608-243-0156
- This is a strolling concert. There are a limited number of benches in the Conservatory.
- Lobby doors open at 5:30 p.m., Conservatory doors open at 6 p.m.
- Face masks are required
- Bar service available in the Conservatory
The Canopy Sessions 2023 Schedule:
April 7:
Samba Novistas—Samba Novistas are a five piece band that plays a wide variety of Brazilian and Brazilian-influenced music including samba, pagode, bossa nova, samba-reggae, lambada, sertanejo, coco and forro, as well as originals and our own interpretation of Anglo tunes.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Container Gardening @ Pinney Library
Saturday, April 15, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pinney Library Community Rooms A and B Combined
Container gardening has become a hot topic in recent years as more of us are living in condos and apartments and would like to garden. Also, as people age, gardening with containers allows us to garden with less bending and kneeling. To be a successful container gardener, you need to know not only about the plants that grow in containers but also how growing in containers affect plants. A certified Master Gardener Volunteer from Dane County UW-Extension will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different container types, container soils and their characteristics, watering and fertilizing schedules, plants that are well suited for containers and container design.
Pinney Library
516 Cottage Grove Rd.
Madison, WI 53716
Madison, WI 53716
608-224-7100
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, April 16, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Rotary Garden’s What’s in Bloom? Tour
Thursday, April 20, 10:00 a.m.
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
Rotary Botanical Gardens Director of Horticulture, Michael Jesiolowski will provide a behind-the-scenes look at what’s blooming this month and answer any questions you may have.
What’s in Bloom? Tours take place on the 3rd Thursday of the month (April-September). The tours are free for RBG members, or $10 for non-members.
To register, please call 608.752.3885., sign up in person on the day of the tour or sign up @ https://rotarybotanicalgardens.org/event/whats-in-bloom-tour/2023-04-20/ .
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
Magnolias @ the Arboretum
Saturday, April 22, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Garden Tour
Tour the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens’ extensive collection of more than 80 magnolia trees. Join Julia Czaplewski, horticultural specialist, for a flower-filled stroll. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Garden Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, April 23, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This gently paced stroll through the gardens is well-suited for a multi-generational outing. Learn about plants, animals, and fungi; phenology; and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks take place rain or shine, except in unsafe weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Rotary Garden’s Earth Day Celebration
Sunday, April 23, 10:00-2:00.
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
An event with three live exotic animal shows and lots of other family friendly activities.
Admission to Rotary Botanical Gardens is free to all during these activities. Please dress for the weather.
There will be additional outdoor activities throughout the day, including exciting games, garden adventures, hands-on projects and community information courtesy of RBG and the following organizations:
GreenLight E Recycling will have a collection bin for all your old, outdated, unused or broken electronics. They will be accepting anything from laptops & towers, cellphones & gaming systems, motors, cords & cables … if it runs off a battery, motor or plug, you will be able to drop it off helping ensure our little corner of the Earth stays greener a bit longer.
For more info call (608) 314-8415 or email delaney.sherwood@rotarygardens.org.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
Container Gardening @ Lakeview Library
Saturday, April 27, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lakeview Community Room Combined
Container gardening has become a hot topic in recent years as more of us are living in condos and apartments and would like to garden. Also, as we age, gardening with containers allows us to garden with less bending and kneeling. To be a successful container gardener, you need to know not only about the plants that grow in containers but also how growing in containers affect plants. A certified Master Gardener Volunteer from Dane County UW-Extension will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different container types, container soils and their characteristics, watering and fertilizing schedules, plants that are well suited for containers and container design. Don’t forget to pick up seeds from Madison Public Library’s Seed Library to use after the program!
Space is limited for this event; registration is required. Please use the sign up link once registration opens @ Register Here or call (608) 246-4547 . Registration opens on April 13 at 10 a.m., two weeks prior to program date.
This program is supported by the Friends of Lakeview Library.
Lakeview Library
2845 N Sherman Ave
Madison, WI 53704
Madison, WI 53704
608-246-4547
Early Signs of Spring @ the Arboretum
Saturday, April 29, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Garden Tour
As trees begin to leaf out, Dutchman’s breeches, twinleaf and rue-anemones might be blooming in the woodland gardens, and prairie-smoke in the prairie gardens. Susan Carpenter, garden curator, will lead this tour of the Native Plant Garden. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Willy Street Plant Sale
Saturday, April 29, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Willy St. Park
1002 Williamson St.
Madison, WI 537o3
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, April 30, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Dane County Late Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, January 7 thru April 8, 8:00-noon
The Garver Feed Mill behind Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3241 Garver Green (access off Fair Oaks Ave.)
The Late Winter Market runs each Saturday from January 7th 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.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 6:15-1:45
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 19 thru November 1, 8:30-1:45
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
APRIL IN THE GARDEN–A checklist of things to do this month.
___Continue bringing out your cooled forced bulbs for indoor enjoyment.
___Early in the month, pot up cannas and dahlias for early growth.
___Begin removing, cleaning and storing winter bird feeders.
___Begin your summer bird feeding regimen.
___Keep birdbaths full and clean.
___Repair and put out birdhouses. Put out nesting material like pet hair & fibers.
___Seed starting is in full swing and even winding down by the end of April.
___Sterilize seed starting equipment and pots with a 1:16 bleach solution.
___Shop for summer bulbs like gladiolas, lilies and dahlias.
___Prune late summer and fall blooming shrubs.
___Do not prune spring blooming shrubs like lilacs, forsythia or viburnum.
___Continue bringing in branches for forcing: pussy willow, forsythia, quince, etc.
___Increase fertilizer to full strength by month’s end (houseplants).
___Ready the lawn mower if you haven’t done so already.
___Start weeding your beds. It’s easier while weeds are small & the soil moist.
___Remove all winter mulch from beds.
___Remove the soil mound from around roses and mums.
___Lay soaker hoses in beds. It’s easy now without plants in the way.
___Cut back all remaining perennials and ornamental grasses left from fall.
___Begin sowing seeds of larkspur, poppies and hardy annuals in the garden.
___Plant pansies, violas and calendula into the garden and containers.
___Harden off your seedlings and wintered over potted geraniums.
___Repair lawns by sowing grass seed. Rake the lawn.
___Move cole crop transplants to the garden; broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, etc.
___Plant onion sets and early spring crops like lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets
___Begin planting perennials. Plant shrubs and trees.
___Visit Klein’s—the showrooms are filled with spring annuals.
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
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 from Select Seeds:
What You Need to Start for Indoor Sowing
Media: Soil-less seed germinating mix is formulated with finely milled sphagnum peat, vermiculite or perlite, free of weeds or pathogens. If the mixture is dry, add some warm water and mix in; let it sit for a few hours to absorb the moisture. The mix should be fine textured and lightly moist.
Container: Clean pots are essential, so be sure to wash any reused plastic pots in soapy water that has a splash of bleach in it. Good drainage is essential! Shallow pots with holes in the bottom, such as the common 6-pack, are ideal. When filling, do not pack the growing medium into the pot, as this will decrease space for air, water, and root growth. Instead, tap the sides or bottom of the container to get the mixture to settle. Leave about 1/2″ of space to the top of the container.
Bright Artificial Light: A fixture outfitted with led lights or even two cool fluorescent bulbs is bright enough for growing good stocky seedlings.
How to Sow Your Seeds Indoors
When to Sow: Find your last spring frost date with this easy zip code frost date lookup. Count backwards from that date to find the best sow times for the seeds, organizing them in groups by sow date. Most annual flower seeds need 6-8 weeks, while some need 9-12 weeks indoors.
Spacing: Generally, space the seeds about four seed-widths apart from each other. Tiny seeds: 4–6 seeds per cell in a 6-pack container. Medium to Large seeds: 2–3 seeds per cell in a 6-pack or 4-pack.
Depth: Check each packet for sowing depth. Some seeds may need direct light or darkness to germinate. Seeds that require light to germinate will be indicated on packet as “Surface sow.” This means they should not be covered, just pressed lightly into the media and sprinkled with a dusting of fine vermiculite. A few varieties require darkness and should be covered by a sheet of black construction paper until germination.
Cold Stratification: Some varieties may need a period of cold temperatures to break dormancy. Sow in moistened flats with covers or place the seeds between moistened paper towels in sealed plastic bags and refrigerate. If stratifying indoors, do not allow the seeds to dry out or freeze. Follow the packet instructions for temperature and duration. More info on outdoor winter sowing coming soon!
Water: Water in with a gentle spray or mist and create a humid environment by covering flats with a clear lid or dome.
Temperature: A room temperature of 65–75°F is suitable for most varieties. Check the individual packet for temperature needs. Heat mats with a thermostat can raise the temperature of the soil to the desired level in a colder room.
Growing Healthy Seedlings
Remove the Dome: Seedlings need air circulation to stay healthy.
Temperature: For most varieties, lower the daytime temperatures by 10°F to 55–65°F. Check the packet for specific temperature information.
Place Under Bright Light: After your seeds germinate, keep them very close to the lights (about 2–4″ away) keeping the lights on for 16–18 hours a day. Close attention to watering is needed to be sure that seedlings do not dry out.
Water: Water from the bottom to promote deep rooting and prevent the sudden collapse of your seedlings, called damping off, which is associated with surface dampness. Place containers in a tray of water and allow the medium to soak up moisture; as soon as the top has darkened a bit, remove from the water and allow
excess water to drain. Overhead watering is better tolerated as seedlings grow larger.
Fertilizer: Use half strength fertilizer or organic formulations for seedlings every two weeks as over fertilization can cause weak, leggy plants.
Thin Crowded Seedlings: Thickly sown seeds will need thinning with tweezers as soon as they come up. Leave 2–4 plants per cell, depending on seedling size.
Time to Transplant
Potting Up: Wait until seedlings have at least two true leaves. Transplant to slightly larger, individual containers. Handle seedlings carefully, gently pulling by leaves not stems. Potting up to a container that is too big will result in the excess growing media retaining too much moisture, leading to root rot.
Hardening Off: Once your seedlings have filled in their roomier quarters with a healthy root system, it is time to get ready to plant outdoors. Begin hardening seedlings off on a partly to mostly cloudy day by exposing them to outdoor conditions including sunlight, cooler/warmer temperatures, and wind, for a couple of hours at a time over the course of several days, gradually working up to all day and overnight
Planting Out: Transplant into well-prepared, raked soil on a cloudy day—misty weather is ideal. Firm in lightly and water immediately.
Visit Select Seeds website @ www.selectseeds.com to see their online catalog or to order their free print catalog.
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 APRIL:
—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 our limited space.
—Retail items are arriving nonstop for unpacking and pricing, everything from
garden ornaments and pottery to pesticides and fertilizers.
—Employees are readying the thousands of lilies, hydrangeas, azaleas, mums and spring bulbs that we deliver to the many area churches each Easter. We look forward to this time when the greenhouses are emptied to make room for our spring crops.
—Product is moved from the warmth of the greenhouses to the outdoors for the hardening off process. Plants are pinched back and moved outside so they can be acclimated for spring planting in your garden. Plants that have not been properly acclimated can find the transition to full sun and temperature extremes quite difficult. You’ve probably noticed that many garden centers do not harden off their plants properly. Symptoms include leaf burn and root rot.
—We’re readying the showrooms for the spring onslaught. Tables become fully stocked. Spring info and price signs are put into place. The last week of April is an amazing time to visit Klein’s. The showrooms are jam-packed, bursting with color, awaiting the spring rush which usually begins about May 1.
PERMANENT FEATURES–
KLEIN’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Have our monthly newsletter e-mailed to you automatically by signing up on the top of our home page @ kleinsfloral.com . 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.
KLEIN’S ‘HOUSEPLANT HELP’
You can contact Klein’s in-house indoor plant experts by emailing to houseplanthelp@kleinsfloral.com 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. 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.
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 5% 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.
DELIVERY INFO
Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses delivers daily, except Sundays, throughout all of Madison and much of Dane County including: Cottage Grove, Deerfield, DeForest, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and Windsor. We do not deliver to Cambridge, Columbus 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, Deerfield, 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.
Horticulturalist & General Manager–Jamie VandenWymelenberg jamie@kleinsfloral.com
Floral Manager—Sarah Sonson floral@kleinsfloral.com
Houseplant Buyer, Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach rick@kleinsfloral.com
Purchasing—Megan Johnson megan@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