‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—AUGUST 2024
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Check Out Our Current End-of-Season Specials
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
We Reuse Your Teal-colored 5″ Klein’s Pots
Flowers and Their Meanings: The Language of Flowers
Madison WI: One of America’s Premier Garden Destinations
Veggies To Plant Now for Fall Harvest
You Asked About Powdery Mildew on Peonies
Plant of the Month: Sweet Corn
Klein’s Favorite Tomatillo Recipes
Product Spotlight: Repels-All® from Bonide
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From July 2024
—Maintenance of Summer Annuals
—Return of the The Two-Banded Japanese Weevil
—Growing Cotton Is Fun and Educational
August in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
CURRENTLY ON SALE @ KLEIN’S
25% Off All Perennials, Shrubs, Ornamental Trees and Potted Fruits While Supplies Last.
We still have a fantastic and large selection in stock!! Late summer and fall are the perfect time to plant perennials and shrubs. Get a start now on your next season’s garden and landscape!!
25% Off All Herbs
We have all of your favorites for late season cooking and canning…an amazing selection of oregano, mint, thyme, lavender, rosemary and so much more awaits you and your senses! …And many will overwinter indoors on a windowsill for continued enjoyment.
50% Off All Tropicals (Sale excludes houseplants)
Buy One, Get One Free on Any Remaining Annuals
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.
WE STERILIZE AND REUSE YOUR TEAL-COLORED 5″ KLEIN’S POTS
Due to costs, we are unable to reuse most plastic pots and trays and never those from other retailers. But we are happy to take back and reuse the teal-colored 5″ Klein’s pots and their accompanying trays. Simply bring in your cleaned out pots and trays and drop them off with the associates at the checkout counters or in the bin along the building. We ask that you recycle or dispose of all other pots, containers and trays in compliance with your municipality’s guidelines. We do not reuse the plant identification tags.
Madison is currently NOT accepting rigid plastics (flower pots and trays) for recycling due to import restrictions enacted by China for scrap material. At present, there is no end market to accept the type of plastic scrap the mixed rigid plastic program produces. Until further notice, rigid plastics are to be placed in the refuse bins for disposal.
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.
AUGUST STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Open Labor Day, Monday, September 2: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Throughout August, visit Klein’s and check out our end of season specials. Specials and selection change weekly so give us a call for the most up-to-date information at (608) 244-5661 or on our home page @
www.kleinsfloral.com or our social media sites. We pride ourselves in having the best cared for plants in even the hottest weather.
And later in August, watch for the appearance our fall mums, ornamental kales and cabbages, mixed fall containers and cool weather vegetables, including; chard, kale, lettuces and cole crops. We have a nice selection of seeds for the fall vegetable garden, including; radishes, spinach, lettuce and SO much more!
August 19–Full Moon
September 2–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
Flowers and Their Meanings: The Language of Flowers
Nearly every sentiment can be expressed by flowers. It’s been said that, “Flowers are a perfect replica of human life: Planting, growth, bloom, withering.”
The following list includes some of the most common flowers and their meanings, realizing there are multiple sources with this information and sometimes flowers can have multiple meanings.
Next time you give flowers to someone, consider selecting particular ones to express your sentiment.
Amaryllis—Pride, pastoral poetry
Anemone—Forsaken
Aster—Symbol of love, daintiness
Azalea—Take care of yourself for me, temperance, fragile passion, Chinese symbol of womanhood
Bachelor button—Single blessedness
Begonia—Beware
Bells-of-Ireland—Good luck
Bittersweet—Truth
Bluebell—Humility
Cactus—Endurance
Calla—Beauty
Candytuft—Indifference
Carnation—Fascination, women love
- pink—I’ll never forget you
- red—My heart aches for you, admiration
- purple—Capriciousness
- white—Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, woman’s good luck gift
- solid color—Yes
- striped—No, refusal, sorry I can’t be with you, wish I could be with you
Cattail—Peace, prosperity
Chrysanthemum
- red—I love you
- white—Truth
- yellow—Slighted love
Cleome—Elope with me
Coreopsis—Always cheerful
Crocus—Cheerfulness
Cyclamen—Resignation and good-bye
Daffodil—Regard, unequalled love, you’re the only one, the sun is always shining when I’m with you (see also: Jonquil, Narcissus)
Daisy—Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity
Dandelion—Faithfulness, happiness
Daylily—Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother
Evening primrose—Inconstancy
Fern—Magic, fascination, confidence and shelter
- Maidenhair Fern—Secret bond of love
Fir—Time
Flax—Domestic symbol
Forget-me-not—True love, memories
Forsythia—Anticipation
Gardenia—You’re lovely, secret love
Garlic—Courage, strength
Geranium—Stupidity, folly
Gladiolus—Give me a break, I’m really sincere, flower of the gladiators
Gloxinia—Love at first sight
Grass—Submission
Heather
- lavender—Admiration, solitude
- white—Protection, wishes will come true
Hellebore—Tranquilize my anxiety, anxiety
Hibiscus—Delicate beauty
Holly—Defense, domestic happiness
Hyacinth—Games and sports, rashness
- blue—Constancy
- purple—I am sorry, please forgive me, sorrow
- red—Play
- white—Loveliness, I’ll pray for you
- yellow—Jealousy
Hydrangea—Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness
Iris—Your friendship means so much to me, faith, hope
Ivy—Wedded love, fidelity, friendship, affection
Jonquil—Love me, affection returned, desire, sympathy, desire for affection returned (see also: Daffodil, Narcissus)
Larkspur (pink)—Fickleness
Lilac—Old love
Lily (see also: Tiger Lily)
- orange—Hatred
- white—Virginity, purity, majesty, it’s heavenly to be with you
- yellow—I’m walking on air, false and gay
Lily-of-the-valley—Sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary, return to happiness, humility, you’ve made my life complete
Magnolia—Nobility
Marigold—Cruelty, grief, jealousy
Mistletoe—Kiss me, affection
Mock orange—Deceit
Monkshood—Beware, a deadly foe is near
Moss—Maternal love, charity
Myrtle—Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage
Narcissus—Egotism, formality, stay as sweet as you are (see also: Daffodil, Jonquil)
Nasturtium—Conquest, victory in battle
Orange blossom—Innocence, eternal love, marriage, and fruitfulness
Orchid—Love, beauty, refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children
Peony—Shame, happy life, happy marriage
Petunia—Resentment, anger, your presence soothes me
Pine—Hope, pity
Poppy—Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination
- red—Pleasure
- white—Consolation
- yellow—Wealth, success
Primrose—I can’t live without you
Rosebud—Beauty and you, a heart innocent of love
- red—Pure and lovely
- white—Girlhood
- moss—Confessions of love
Rose
- pink—Perfect happiness, please believe me
- red—Love, I love you
- dark crimson—Mourning
- yellow—Decrease of love, jealousy, try to care
- white—Innocence and purity, I am worthy of you, you’re heavenly, secrecy and silence
- white and red mixed—Unity, flower emblem of England
- white, dried—Death is preferable to loss of virtue
- white, withered—Transient impression, fleeting beauty, you made no impression
- tea—I’ll remember always
- damask—Persian ambassador of love
- thornless—Love at first sight
- leaf—You may hope
- bouquet of mature blooms—Gratitude
Smilax—Loveliness
Snapdragon—Deception, gracious lady
Stephanotis—Happiness in marriage, desire to travel
Stock—Bonds of affection, promptness, you’ll always be beautiful to me
Sweetpea—Good-bye, departure, blissful pleasure, thank you for a lovely time
Tiger lily—Wealth, pride (see also: Lily)
Tulip—Perfect lover, fame, flower emblem of Holland
- red—Believe me, declaration of love
- yellow—There’s sunshine in your smile
- variegated—Beautiful eyes
Violet—Modesty
- blue—Watchfulness, faithfulness, I’ll always be there
Wisteria—Will you dance with me?
Zinnia
- magenta—Lasting affection provider
- mixed—Thinking (or in memory) or an absent friend
- scarlet—Constancy
- white—Goodness
YOU ASKED. . .
Dear Mad Gardener, one of my peonies has powdery mildew and curled leaves. Is there anything that I can do now to treat this problem? Joan
Hi Joan,
Due to the wet weather, powdery mildew is a huge problem this year. During dry years it tends not to be much of an issue. Lilacs, garden phlox and bee balm also suffer during years like this one.
Unless your peony is already unhealthy, powdery mildew is simply cosmetic and should not pose an issue next season. However, on already weak plants, it can ultimately kill the plant.
For this season, the damage has already been done and spraying will be of little help with appearance. You can’t remove the unsightly foliage as the foliage is feeding the roots for the future.
Down the road, it’s important to remove the foliage in the fall and dispose of it completely. The spores are harbored in the old foliage. If concerned next season, you can preventively spray weekly with a copper fungicide starting in late May.
Thanks for your question,
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that Madison is one of the premier gardening destinations in the country?
The following article appeared in the current issue of American Gardener magazine @
ahsgardening.org/
Garden Destinations: Madison, Wisconsin
by Connie Cottingham
Marked by cold winters and long summer days, Madison, Wisconsin, is an urban outdoor lover’s dream with five lakes, 270 parks, and over 200 miles of biking and hiking trails. It is one of only five Platinum-Level Bike-Friendly Communities in the country. With Aldo Leopold, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the first Earth Day closely tied to Madison’s history, it is no surprise that conservation, education, and native habitats are keystones of the area’s gardens.
Downtown
Downtown Madison is on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Staying in a downtown hotel allows many options within walking distance. Madison celebrates late sunsets and warm weather with an abundance of outdoor summer concerts, including the bi-weekly free Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerts on the State Capitol grounds. The gold statue-adorned, domed State Capitol reigns as the center of downtown, surrounded by restaurants, shops, and museums. A pedestrian plaza to the southeast connects with the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed convention center on Lake Monona. State Street Pedestrian Mall to the west, lined with historic architecture, links downtown to the University of Wisconsin campus.
A must is a tour of Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, built almost 60 years after Frank Lloyd Wright developed his first design for the center in 1938. The William T. Evjue Rooftop Gardens offers views of downtown, Lake Monona and the State Capitol. Redbuds and native prairie plants and other perennials that can brave the sunny, windy, 68,000-square-foot concrete plaza are complemented by modern sculptures on display. Wright’s light spires on the plaza were inspired by hollyhocks. Ginkgos, one of Wright’s favorite trees, are planted throughout the 4.4-acre campus and their distinctive leaf form is used as a motif inside the building.
Period Garden Park in the Mansion Hill District was started almost 50 years ago when citizens bought the quarter acre to save it from development. Dedicated volunteers tend this charming, quiet, picturesque garden. It is a perfect spot to play with a camera and sketchpad or listen to the fountains and birds from a bench. For a guided experience of the city’s neighborhoods, I highly recommend the Historic Architecture Walking Tours, which run May through September and offers a variety of destinations.
The Dane County Farmers’ Market on the shaded sidewalks around the Capitol building is America’s largest producers-only farmers’ market. Come early on Saturday mornings from April through November for the best selection of produce, cheeses, baked goods, flowers, and more. Later, stores and museums open, and live music and crowds energize the market.
West and South Madison
Allen Centennial Garden is on the University of Wisconsin campus, west of down-
program in the country, to know how town. Open free to the public dawn to dusk, this small display and teaching garden surrounds the 1896 home that housed the College of Agriculture’s first four deans. There are 14 different garden spaces, including a dwarf conifer collection, secluded woodland garden, pond, formal garden, and cottage garden. As you leave, ask anyone on the sidewalk for directions to The Babcock Hall Dairy Store, located on campus and run by the school’s agriculture department. Trust the University of Wisconsin, which has the oldest dairy to create amazing ice cream.
A mile south of downtown and campus is the 1,260-acre University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum. It is a beloved green space, a living laboratory, and a National
Historic Landmark. Aldo Leopold was the research director when the arboretum was dedicated in 1934. The UW Arboretum contains the world’s oldest restored prairie (from farmland), other restored ecosystems, a visitor center with a native plant garden, and the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, with the largest and most diverse collection of trees and shrubs in Wisconsin. Joining a tour would enrich your experience.
J.W. Jung Seed Company started sending seed catalogs from Wisconsin in 1909. One of the six Jung Garden Centers is in Fitchburg, four miles southwest of the Arboretum. It is an impressive garden center, but what makes it special is the long wall of well-labeled and organized vegetable, annual, perennial, and organic seeds (stocked fall through spring.) Within 30 minutes south of downtown Madison are three well-loved, locally- owned garden centers to explore for a fun shopping break: Kopke’s Greenhouse, Fitchburg Farms, and K&A Greenhouse. Each has its own specialties and personalities.
East of Downtown
Family owned since 1913, Kleins Floral and Greenhouses (
kleinsfloral.com) is a florist and garden center with a 30,000-square-foot greenhouse. Since it opens early, you can spend time there before heading to Olbrich Botanical Gardens.
The Tower Garden is one of my favorite spaces there, changing from intimate to expansive in a few steps and offering a new discovery and view at every turn. The Birch Walk and the Kaleidoscope are mesmerizing.
A few blocks away is the Lansing Food Forest, an edibles demonstration garden where everyone is welcome to pick, learn about food plants, or relax on a bench.
Aldo Leopold Nature Center encourages children to love nature through hands-on learning experiences. Look over the prairie from the Center’s deck or walk the mown paths to the pond to be closer to the plants, birds and wildlife. Whether at this nature center or the Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum, learning about and standing in a prairie is an important part of understanding the Madison landscape.
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.
BONIDE REPELS-ALL®
Bonide REPELS-ALL® effectively repels Deer, Rabbits, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Dogs, Cats, Raccoons, Porcupines, Armadillos, Birds, Rats, Mice, Beaver, Ground hogs, Skunks, Voles, Moles and Shrews from around your home and garden area.
Apply around homes, gardens, garbage cans, barns, swimming pools, garden sheds, woodpiles, decks, patios, outbuildings, boathouses, campsites, picnic areas, cabins, trailers, travel trailers, RV hook-up sites, and other areas where these animals may be a problem.
May be used in areas where children and pets play.
REPELS-ALL® is biodegradable and will not harm lawns, gardens, flowerbeds or other desirable plants when used as directed. Not for indoor use. Do not use directly on plants intended for human consumption.
How It Works
The unique blend of ingredients in REPELS-ALL® causes a mild irritation to animal’s nasal passages. When an animal touches, tastes or smells REPELS-ALL®, this irritation triggers the natural instinct to escape/avoid and the animal simply leaves. REPELS-ALL® provides a powerful scent/taste repellent that animals find unpleasant and irritating. REPELS-ALL® does not harm the animal, it drives them away, naturally.
This product is an animal behavior modification tool. It may need to be supplemented with other behavior modification techniques to break animals (particularly domestic animals) of existing bad habits.
REPELS-ALL® Granules can be used to protect fall bulb plantings from squirrels, chipmunks and birds. After placing a bulb in the planting hole, apply 1 TBS. of granules into the hole, making sure the granules surround the bulb.
REPELS-ALL® is available in both liquid and granular forms at Klein’s.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: JULY 5, 2024 (Maintenance of Summer Annuals)
Plant maintenance is a regular part of my daily routine as we head into the dog days of summer. Plants are growing quickly now and blooming is fast and furious. The early summer annuals and perennials are now past their prime, looking a bit ragged and going into seed. It was time this morning to get out there, do a bit of deadheading and give many of my annuals their “summer cut”.
Each mid-July I give many of my potted annuals a drastic “haircut”. Doing so, along with regular fertilizing, revitalizes them for the rest of the growing season. Pruning them back accomplishes a number of tasks all at once–namely deadheading, ridding the plants of gangly growth and pinching them for renewed branching. The new branching means increased flowering in the weeks to come. Petunias and calibrachoas respond particularly well to being cut back by up to 75%. It seems like a lot, but in just a few weeks the now bushy plants will be loaded with fresh blossoms on bright green foliage.
Plants that respond well to a moderate (25-30%) pruning include geraniums, coleus, salvia, zinnias, pentas, nicotiana and many others. With these, I prune out heavy branches and essentially reshape the plants.
And some annuals I avoid pruning all together. These include many of the woody annuals whose growth rate is much slower. Were I to cut back my lantana, bougainvillea, angel’s trumpets, oleander or hibiscus this late in the season I might not see any blooms for the rest of the summer.
* * * * *
ENTRY: JULY 28, 2024 (Return of the The Two-Banded Japanese Weevil)
The following article by Lisa Johnson from the UW Extension appeared this morning’s edition of the Wisconsin State Journal @
madison.com/
More insect woes: Last week I talked about Japanese beetles in their annual return. Now I have been notified by the UW Department of Entomology Insect Diagnostic Lab that the two-banded Japanese weevil (Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus), last seen in Dane County in 2016, has returned here again as well.
This is another non-native invasive species that feeds on over 100 species of plants, but especially on shrubs and trees such as ash, azalea, barberry, dogwood, forsythia, lilac, rose, spirea, viburnum and weigela, among others. They especially like to feed on new foliage.
Weevils typically have a long “snout” (sort of like Gonzo from The Muppets), but in this case, they have a blunter, broader one. The adult insects are about ¼-inch long and mottled grayish or brownish with two black bands on their wing covers.
The two-banded Japanese weevil is expected to have one generation a year here, with adults appearing in July. Females lay up to 350 eggs in folded grass or leaf blades. As they hatch, the grubs burrow into the ground. Adults hibernate in leaf litter over the winter and emerge in spring to feed again.
In spite of the large numbers of eggs per insect, this insect in other Midwestern states has not caused extreme damage (like the Japanese beetle does), but it will make affected plants look somewhat aesthetically displeasing. However, we have not had this insect here long enough to judge how damaging it will be, for certain.
Two-banded Japanese Weevils tend to drop off plants when disturbed, but they can’t fly, so one way to trap and dispose of them is to carefully lay a sheet under an infested plant and then shake the plant so the weevils fall onto the sheet. From there they can be collected and put into soapy water.
Japanese weevils have a very distinctive feeding pattern that is probably what people will see first before finding any weevils. Unlike Japanese beetles that skeletonize foliage, the weevils feed on the edges of leaves, creating characteristic notch patterns.
If you think you have Japanese weevils, please send either a good quality photo of the damage or an insect or submit a physical sample to UW State Entomologist PJ Liesch at the Insect Diagnostic Lab. His email is
pliesch@wisc.edu and information on sending a sample is here:
insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/.
* * * * *
ENTRY: JULY 28, 2024 (Growing Cotton Is Fun and Educational)
Probably the most interesting and fun plant I’m growing in my garden this year is cotton (Gossypium herbaceum). Until a few years back, I had never seen a cotton plant before. The whole experience of growing cotton was so fascinating—beginning to end. The plants are easy to grow and fit so well into my mixed annual and tropical combinations. I’m growing a black leafed variety I purchased online from Logee’s Plants (
www.logees.com/). The 3-4′ plants are very dense with glossy and beautiful, maple-like foliage. Pale yellow flowers have appeared almost daily for the entire summer. The hibiscus-like blooms turn a pale pink as they mature. Like most members of the mallow family, blooms last just one day.
Later in summer and early fall, the plants are will be loaded with large, hard seedpods called bolls. When I grew black cotton a few years ago, the bolls burst open once the weather got cold in mid-October, releasing the cotton balls we all recognize (though each ball was loaded with tiny cotton seeds).
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Local tomatillos are just coming into season and with just a couple of plants (You need two plants for pollination.) you could have an abundance of fresh tomatillos for salsas, baked dishes, soups and so much more!
Tomatillos aren’t baby tomatoes. Even though the Spanish name translates to “little tomato,” they are something else entirely. These little fruits are native to (and largely grown in) Mexico, but have been adopted by American farmers due to their resistance to disease. Tomatillos, sometimes called husk tomatoes, look like green, unripe tomatoes with a dry, leafy husk that wraps around the outside. The color of the fruit is a beautiful bright green, which fades a bit once you cook them.
Tomatillos have a slightly more acidic, slightly less sweet flavor than ripe and unripe tomatoes. Overall, the flavor is more vegetal and bright, and the interior texture is denser and less watery. Prepping a tomatillo is pretty straight forward. The husks can be easily removed with your hands and discarded. You’ll notice a sticky film on the surface, which will come off with a quick rinse under warm water. From here, you decide what you want to do with them. If you want to keep the flavor bright and play up their bracing acidity, use them raw. If you want to mellow out that acidity a bit and access the fruit’s deeper, more savory qualities, cooking them—whether you’re roasting or grilling them whole or chopping them for a sauté—is the move.
Roasted tomatillo salsa is great. Raw tomatillo salsa is tangy and also great. But tomatillos are good for more than salsa. You can keep the sauce train running by pureeing them into creamy sauces and curries, or add them into vinaigrettes for more acid. They can also sub in for a tomato when sliced thinly, layered over some ricotta, drizzled with olive oil, and eaten on toast. You can grill them with onions for steak side, incorporate them into bean-heavy chili or posole, or braise them with chicken for a saucy stew. Source:
bonappetit.com
TOFU TOMATILLO STEW—Amazing flavors fill this vegetarian selection from Martha Stewart Living.
1 lb. tomatillos, quartered
1 onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
1 cup packed cilantro
1 jalapeño, halved, seeds removed fro less heat
3 TBS. vegetable oil
Coarse salt and pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
1x 15 oz. can white hominy, drained and rinsed
16 oz. extra firm tofu, drained and cut into 1″ cubes
2 TBS. taco seasoning
lime wedges, tortilla chips, cilantro leaves and chopped onion for serving
Preheat broiler. In a blender or processor, combine tomatillos, onion quarters, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, 1 TBS. oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper; puree until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan; simmer over medium heat until darkened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth and hominy; simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste.
Meanwhile, pat tofu dry; toss on a rimmed baking sheet with the remaining 2 TBS. oil and taco seasoning. Broil, stirring a few times, until a golden-brown crust forms on the tofu in places, 15-20 minutes. Serve the stew topped with the tofu, cilantro and chopped onion, with lime wedges and tortilla chips.
TOMATILLO SALSA—From the Food Network
1 lb. whole tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1 small onion, quartered
1 serrano pepper, halved lengthwise, keeping seeds for added heat
3 cloves garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro, stems separated from the greens
coarse salt
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lime
Combine the tomatillos, onion, serrano, garlic, cilantro stems and 1 tsp. salt in a medium saucepan. Add enough water to just cover the tomatillos and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook 15 minutes until the tomatillos are tender. Allow to cool a bit, then transfer the solids with a slotted spoon to a blender or food processor, reserving the cooking liquid. Add the cilantro leaves and puree until smooth, adding a few TBS. reserved liquid if the salsa is thicker than desired. Allow to rest 30 minutes to meld the flavors. Add the lime juice and season to taste. Serve with tortilla chips or as a condiment. Makes 3 1/2 cups.
CHILE RELLENOS PIE–Chile Rellenos without all the mess, but all the flavor. Good for company! Excellent for a buffet table! Variations include adding small chopped cooked shrimp or chopped cooked crab to the filling for an excellent brunch dish. Monterey jack cheese may be used instead of Mexican-style cheese. From
allrecipes.com 4 large eggs eggs
½ cup milk
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
2 dashes jalapeno sauce
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 tomatillo, diced
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single crust pie
Beat the eggs. Combine with milk, cilantro, bell pepper, spices, cheese, chiles, and tomatillo. Pour filling into the pie shell.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool to room temperature. Garnish each individual piece of pie with a dollop of sour cream and drizzle with your favorite salsa! Serves 6.
2 TBS vegetable oil
2 lbs. boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tsp. kosher salt, or to taste, divided
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground coriander
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
10 fresh tomatillos
3 medium jalapeños, seeded
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded
6 cloves peeled garlic
½ cup packed cilantro leaves
1 bay leaf
2 ½ cups chicken stock, or as needed
1 ½ lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup sour cream
pickled red onions (optional)
1 TBS. chopped fresh cilantro
Heat vegetable oil in a pot over high heat until it’s nearly smoking. Add pork shoulder cubes in a single layer. Let sear until brown on one side, 4 to 5 minutes. Mix and turn pieces over and brown on the other side, 4 to 5 minutes. Add onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring until onions turn translucent, about 4 minutes. Add oregano, cumin, coriander, and cayenne. Stir and cook until seasonings get fragrant, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
Remove paper husk from tomatillos and rinse. Cut into quarters. Place in blender with garlic, jalapeño pepper, poblano, cilantro, and chicken broth. Pulse on and off until pieces start to break down. Then blend until mixture has liquefied, about 30 seconds. Stir sauce into the meat mixture. Add 1 teaspoon salt and bay leaf. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low to maintain a slow but steady simmer for about 1 hour. Add potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper. If mixture has reduced to where potatoes are not immersed, add more broth to cover. Simmer until meat and potatoes are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Garnish individual servings with a dollop of sour cream, some pickled red onions (if desired), and cilantro leaves. Serves 4.
NATURAL NEWS–
Though it’s the middle of summer, it’s time to plan your veggie garden for fall harvests. In some seasons, cool weather vegetables like carrots and kale can be harvested all the way into December. Given the fact that Madison’s first average frost date is about October 10, here is a list of vegetables and planting dates for the upcoming weeks. Klein’s fall crop of starter vegetables including chard, lettuce and the cole crops will be available for sale in just a few weeks. In addition, we still have on hand a nice selection of cool weather seed items for you to start at home; including spinach, radishes, carrots, lettuce and so much more! Fall is also the time for planting spring harvested garlic. Garlic bulbs from locally sourced Keene’s Garlic will be available in early September for fall planting.
Beans–The last planting for a fall bean harvest should can be no later than mid-July, so it’s a little late for planting beans . . . but make a note for next year!! Oftentimes gardeners are unaware they can plant successive bean crops for later harvests.
Beets–Seeds for fall harvest can be planted beginning about August 1 and continuing through August. Fall grown beets are small, tender and sweet compared to their summer counterparts. Beets do not transplant well.
Broccoli–Seeds can be sown directly into the garden beginning about August 1 and continuing through August. August is also the best time for transplanting broccoli into the garden for largest heads.
Cabbage–Though a cole crop, it’s too late to plant cabbage into the garden after mid-July. Cabbage needs the extra time for heads to mature. This is a commonly asked question at Klein’s as customers search for cabbage starters among the other cole crops we offer.
Carrots–Sow carrots beginning about August 1 and continuing through all of August. Carrots can be harvested until the ground freezes. Late harvests yield the sweetest carrots, though sometimes small because they haven’t had the time to grow and mature. Carrots must be direct sown. Transplants are unavailable.
Cauliflower–Cauliflower, like broccoli, can be direct sown or transplanted throughout the month of August–the earlier the better in order for the heads to grow and mature before cold weather sets in.
Chard–Seeds can be planted throughout August and even into the first week of September. Though chard is best direct sown, transplants are available and are best planted into the garden before Labor Day. We offer ‘Bright Lights’ in 4-packs. It’s both beautiful and edible!
Collards–Collards seeds can be sown for fall harvest beginning already the end of June in that, unlike many common cole crops, they are far more heat tolerant–hence their popularity in the south. On the other hand, they mature slower and need some extra time. Fall collards should be in the garden no later than August 1.
Head Lettuce–Direct sown head lettuce can be planted into the garden anytime during the month of August. Look for varieties that mature quicker allowing full heads to form before cold weather. Bibb types are great! Transplants should be planted by mid-month.
Kale–Seeds can be planted into the garden anytime after mid-July and continuing into mid-September. Kale is one of our cold hardiest crops and light frosts enhance its flavor. Fresh kale from the garden can be a nice Thanksgiving treat. Klein’s offers Red Russian and Redbor transplants beginning mid-August. Ornamental kales are also delicious and make a nice garnish.
Kohlrabi–Can be direct sown into the garden through August and into mid-September. Fall harvest kohlrabi is delightfully sweet and tender. Spring grown kohlrabi can become tough and bitter as the summer heats up. Transplants are available at Klein’s.
Leaf Lettuce–Unlike head lettuce, leaf lettuce requires little time to mature and is a treat in the fall garden. Planted too early, garden sown seed can bolt in hot weather so wait until at least mid- or late August for best results and then continue sowing all the way into mid-September. Transplant started plants throughout September.
Mustard Greens–Closely related to kale, mustard greens can be sown starting mid-July and continuing into mid-September. Flavor sweetens as the weather cools. Klein’s offers mustard green transplants only in the springtime.
Peas–Though peas are a cool weather crop, they require time to mature before harvest. Peas planted too early for fall harvest suffer in summer heat . . . too late and there’s not enough time before frost. Peas planted right around August 1 should have enough time to mature for a fall crop. In certain microclimates they can be sown maybe a week or two later.
Radishes–Radishes relish our cool fall weather. Whereas spring crops can sometimes turn woody and bitter as the weather warms, fall crops remain crisp and sweet. Seeds should be sown beginning in mid-August and then into the end of September. Like carrots and beets, radishes can continue to be harvested long after our first frost date has passed.
Spinach–Fast growing spinach should not be planted into the garden until the heat of mid-summer has passed and the nights are cooler. Begin sowing into the garden at the end of August and continue sowing into mid- or even late September. It’s not unusual to harvest fresh spinach for your Thanksgiving meal (though you may have to protect it from extreme cold spells during November).
Turnips–Fall grown turnips are super-sweet! Sow starting about August 1 and continuing throughout the month. Because turnips are a root crop, they can be harvested well into the fall.
And a reminder that your radish, turnip and beet greens are also delicious when used young in salads or in sautes and braises once they mature.
AUGUST’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Sweet Corn
Sweet corn or corn on the cob is a variant of Zea mays, Zea mays var nigosa or Zea saccharata (meaning sugary). It originated in what is now Mexico and Central America, from a wild grass, which was crossed with teosinte (another wild grass) but the original ancestor no longer exists. Popcorn comes from Zea mays var. everta. Zea mays is the original corn that was grown by the tribes of Central America and Mexico, the Aztecs, Mayans and Olmecs and can be yellow, white, purple, red, brown and even have multi-colored kernels. Some corn pollen grains were found in drill cores 200 feet below Mexico City which are believed to be 80,000 tears old, so it has a very ancient history. Perhaps it originated in the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico, but scientists are not certain of this.
It is believed that it was first domesticated between 9,000 and 8,000 BC and by 2,000 to 1,500 BC it had become a staple food in the diets of the Olmecs and Mayans, who held it in great reverence, so much so that it became part of their daily rituals and took on religious significance. It also featured in their art.
Native Americans also valued corn and used it as both a food and medicine as well as for other purposes, such as weaving the fibers from the plant into sleeping mats, moccasins, baskets and other items. Corn husk dolls were also made after using the edible kernels.
They used corn for grinding into flour, and this cornmeal was also used in poultices for bruises, swellings and to cure sores and headaches. They also used corn as a diuretic to get rid of excess fluids in the body. The corn husks would be burned and parts of the body which had sores, ulcers, or other skin problems would be held over the smoke, to cure them.
Corn has wound healing properties due partly to the presence of allantoin which is often used in herbal remedies, but which comes, in other countries, from comfrey, Symphytum officinale.
The Spaniards came across corn in the 15th century and too it back to Spain in the 16th. It was the only grain known in the Americas at the time. To begin with sweet corn was greeted with suspicion in Europe and confined to having purely ornamental value. The same thing happened with the aubergine, potato, sweet potato and of course the tomato when they were first introduced into Europe.
The introduction of corn caused some confusion in the England and Wales as corn was the name in those countries for what is now called wheat, and this is how cornflowers got their name. In Scotland and Ireland, corn was the name used for oats, which further confused the issue. Even now, wheat fields are referred to as corn fields by many in England and Wales. Corn on the cob is called that and sweet corn to distinguish between wheat and what the Native Americans called and still call maize.
Corn contains some of the B-complex vitamins including B1 (thiamin), B2 (niacin), B3 (riboflavin) B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6, making corn good for hair, skin, the digestion, heart and brain. It also contains vitamins C, A and K along with amino acids, flavonoids, and large amounts of beta-carotene and a fair amount of selenium which improves the functions of the thyroid gland and plays a role in the proper functioning of the immune system. Beta-carotene is also found in tomatoes, papaya, pumpkin and red peppers. Corn therefore possesses potent antioxidant properties which help to protect the body from the ravages of free radicals which can damage the cells and cause cancer. Corn also contains fiber which is essential to our diet. It also helps with production of sex and stress-related hormones and is good for our sexual health especially that of men as niacin can help with erectile dysfunctions.
It is believed that it can help with the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism as the B-complex vitamins can improve joint mobility.
Today there are many uses for corn, and the majority of that grown is not used for human consumption, but to make ethanol which is used instead of lead to increase the octane level of petrol, and for animal feed. We use cornstarch for glue used in binding books, for printers’ ink, shoe polish, aspirin and cosmetics as well as for strengthening fabrics. Corn starch is also made from this plant, and that is found in more than 2,000 processed foods, including marshmallows (the sweet, not Marsh mallow the plant) and ice creams.
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.
Olbrich Garden’s Blooming Butterflies Exhibit
Through August 11
Daily from 10:00-4:00
In the Bolz Conservatory
THE BUTTERFLIES ARE BACK!
Blooming Butterflies features up to 19 different species of free flying butterflies in the tropical Bolz Conservatory. Visitors make connections with these fluttering friends while learning about the butterfly life cycle. Two chrysalis cases provide opportunities to possibly witness a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis!
During Blooming Butterflies, the outdoor gardens spotlight relationships between plants and pollinators with an ‘I SPY’ Pollinators scavenger hunt. A pollinator themed children’s book is displayed as a StoryWalk along Starkweather Creek. And every child that attends Blooming Butterflies receives a coupon for a free junior scoop from our friends at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream!
The life span of different butterflies varies from a few weeks to a few months. All flying butterflies live out their natural lives in the Conservatory, with food sources remaining for them after the exhibit dates.
Butterfly Action Day
Friday, August 2
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Join us for a special day with representatives from local organizations invested in butterfly conservation! Display booths and kid-friendly activities in the Learning Center will highlight what you can do to support butterflies. No cost to attend or participate, but there is a separate cost to enter Blooming Butterflies.
The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Olbrich Botanical Society members are admitted free. Parking is free. Bus tours are welcome; groups of 10 or more must register by calling 608/245-3648.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, August 4, 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
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, August 4, 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
Summer Sundays: Jazz in the Garden at Allen Centennial Garden
Add a little bit of musical enjoyment to your Sunday afternoons this summer with Summer Sundays: Concerts in the Garden. The concerts will be held alternating Sunday afternoons starting June 9 and ending August 18, from 5-6:15 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public. Brought to you by the Friends of Allen Centennial Garden.
August 4
Ray Rideout Jazz Quartet
Everything from post-bop, to old standards and Tin Pan Alley, RRJQ is a burst of energy chanelleing Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, John Coltrane, along with music of Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Modern jazz professionalism personified.
August 18
The Jazz Guys Quintet
The Jazz Guys return with tight new renditions of modern jazz and standards and stylish jazz arrangements of classic pop in carefully honed original arrangements first developed during the pandemic quarantine and debuted at Café Coda in spring 2021.
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison
Learning Together: Everywhere Plants @ the Arboretum
Tuesday, August 6, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Family Class
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Olbrich After Hours
The Summer Concert Series is back with a fresh twist and new name – Olbrich After Hours! We’re open late! Enjoy an evening in the gardens with a rolling line-up of dynamic musicians, pop-up performances, and delectable food carts. Quench your thirst with a microbrew, summer cocktail, or mocktail. And connect with eco-friendly organizations committed to conserving our environment. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket seating.
Concerts are FREE to the public; a $5 suggested donation is appreciated.
No tickets required. Please carry out all trash.
Olbrich Concerts in the Gardens 2024 Schedule:
(All concerts are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.)
August 6
Mokoomba—Mokoomba is an explosively talented six-man crew from Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), Zimbabwe. Hailed as one of the most exciting bands from Africa in the 21st century, they are setting dance floors ablaze with their unique mix of traditional Tonga and pan-African music cultures with dashes of Rap, Ska, Soukous, and Afro-Cuban music. With over 40 countries and prestigious international festivals under their belt, they have performed at the world’s biggest venues!
August 13
Opera at Olbrich—Fresco Opera is back! Stroll through the Gardens and take in roaming performances of several operatic scenes performed in a variety of garden areas. A magical experience for all your senses.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
Native Grasses @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, August 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Garden Tour
Susan Carpenter, garden curator, will focus on color, size, and features of native Wisconsin grasses, from purple love grass to big bluestem, growing in the Wisconsin Native Plant Garden. Tour may be canceled for unsafe weather. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Dragonfly Monitoring Walk @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, August 14, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Family Walk
Join the Arboretum and the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society for guided walks to monitor dragonflies. Help identify species and collect data for the Arboretum’s dragonfly monitoring project. No experience required, but an online training video is available by request (
email citizenscience@arboretum.wisc.edu). Recommended for ages 12 and up. Walks take place several times a month through early October but may be canceled for rainy or cool weather. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Rotary Garden’s Butterfly Gardening with Lisa Johnson
Wednesday, August 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
Learn how to support butterflies in your garden. Butterflies are wonderful visitors to our gardens, providing beauty as well as helpful pollination services.
Join Lisa Johnson, UW-Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist, to learn what you can do to design your garden to support butterflies, both in their caterpillar and adult stages.
Registration cost is $10 for RBG members and $15 for non-members.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
Dahlia Show @ the Goodman Center
Saturday, August 17, 11:00-4:00
Sunday, August 18, 10:00-2:00
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa St., Madison, WI 53704
Dahlias are late summer bloomers known for their diverse forms and bright colors. Sponsored by the Badger State Dahlia Society.
On Sunday at 2 p.m., we give away all the blooms, so bring a vase or bucket to carry away some beautiful and FREE cut blooms for your table.
Full Moon Night Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, August 17, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk (full moon August 19). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by July 16:
uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com . Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Nature Hike in the Grady Tract @ the Arboretum
Sunday, August 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Walk
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover sloping terrain. 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 Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. (No restroom facilities at Grady Tract.)
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Family Nature Program: Wonderful Water @ the Arboretum
Sunday, August 18, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. 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
Rotary Garden’s What’s in Bloom? Tour
Wednesday, August 21, 10:00-11:00 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 select Wednesdays of each month (April-September). The tours are free for RBG members, or $10 for non-members.
To register, please call 608.752.3885.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
Jumping Worms: The Impact of a New Soil Invader @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join the Wild Ones Madison chapter for this free presentation. Bradley Herrick of the UW Arboretum will shed some light on the elusive jumping worm – a relatively new invader spreading its way through Madison.
He’ll give an overview of jumping worms and earthworms in general, and why we are concerned about them. He’ll speak to some control options as well. Participants will have a chance to get their hands dirty looking for jumping worms including using the “mustard extraction” technique to sample them.
This workshop will be a presentation followed by some hands-on sampling outdoors to get a closer look at jumping worms!
“The best thing you can do to control jumping worms is to prevent their spread! “
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, August 25, 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
GLEAM, Art in a New Light @ Olbrich Gardens
August 28 thru October 26
Wednesdays thru Saturdays in September from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in October, rain or shine
In the gardens @ Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Take a walk through a dream – GLEAM envelopes the senses, engaging and exciting the imagination. Escape the day to day and enter a third space, a place for creative interaction and dynamic play. Light installation artists from far and wide transform the Gardens into an extraordinary adventure, expect appearances from wild animals, create a self-portrait with time lapse technology, re-live childhood memories getting lost in the corn and wander through a kaleidoscope of light. Come bathe in the shine and enjoy art in the Garden in a whole new light. Ticket sales begin August 5!
Advanced timed-tickets are required.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
Dragonfly Monitoring Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, August 31, 10:00-11:30 p.m.
Family Walk
Join the Arboretum and the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society for guided walks to monitor dragonflies. Help identify species and collect data for the Arboretum’s dragonfly monitoring project. No experience required, but an online training video is available by request (
email citizenscience@arboretum.wisc.edu). Recommended for ages 12 and up. Walks take place several times a month through early October but may be canceled for rainy or cool weather. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 1, 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
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 1, 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
A Native Gardening Conference @ the Arboretum
Native by Design: Gardening for a Sustainable Future
Thursday, September 5, 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The Arboretum’s native gardening conference is held every September to promote sustainable gardening practices and use of native plants in home landscapes. Expert-led workshops inspire and inform gardeners, homeowners, and landowners to create and maintain native gardens or small-scale restorations where they live. The program welcomes people with a range of interests and experience.
The 2024 conference will take place September 15 at the Visitor Center. The all-day event features expert-led workshops, lunch, a keynote speaker, tours of the Wisconsin Native Plant Garden, a resource packet, and ample time for questions and conversations.
Presentations cover topics such as: garden design, native trees and shrubs, butterflies and bees in your garden, garden planting and management, nature journaling, gardening for bird habitat, native plant identification, and beneficial insects.
The keynote by Skye Bruce, coordinator of the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative, will explore the essential relationships between butterflies and their botanical partners.
Registration for the 2024 conference is now open.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Workshop @ the Arboretum: Panicle Hydrangeas for Pollinators
Saturday, September 7, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Although panicle hydrangeas are not native to Wisconsin, they grow well here and support diverse native pollinators. This indoor/outdoor workshop will cover pollinator services, insect identification, photo-documentation, and how to report observations to Bumble Bee Brigade. Led by project collaborators Elizabeth Braatz, David Stevens, and Gustavo Meneses. Free registration requested:
uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 13 thru November 9, 6:15-1:45
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 24 thru November 6, 8:30-1:45
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Northside Farmers Market
Sundays, May 5 through October 20, 8:30-12:30
In the Northside TownCenter at the intersection of N. Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr. across from Warner Park.
The Northside Farmers Market is a nonprofit community enterprise. It is one of the newest and fastest growing farmers’ markets in Dane County. In keeping with the innovative spirit of Madison’s Northside, we are surpassing what defines the traditional farmers’ market. Our fundamental principles include:
–Providing an abundant selection of high quality, locally grown foods.
The market accepts Quest, WIC and Senior FMNP vouchers.
–Supporting our local agricultural entrepreneurs who are increasingly important today in ensuring that we have the best and safest food possible.
–Educating the community about traditional foods and the history of local agriculture in an attempt to preserve (and expand upon) our rich heritage.
Parking is always FREE!
AUGUST IN THE GARDEN-–A checklist of things to do this month.
___Give the garden at least 1″ of moisture per week.
___Mow as little as possible and with mower raised to at least 2″.
___Mulch beds to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
___Deadheading spent blooms as needed.
___Collect seeds for next year’s garden.
___Make notes in your garden journal for changes, improvements, etc.
___Take pictures of your garden for record keeping.
___Stake and support tall plants as needed.
___Divide daylilies as they finish blooming.
___Transplant and divide iris and peonies.
___Plant late crops of lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc.
___Order spring bulbs for fall planting: daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, etc.
___Plant fall blooming crocus bulbs.
___Fertilize potted plants at least every 2 weeks. Follow directions.
___Stop fertilizing all trees and shrubs.
___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.
___Watch for pests and control as needed or desired.
___Shop for early mum selection and fall pansies.
Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:
For seeds:
For bulbs:
For plants:
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 AUGUST:
—The poinsettias continue grow and thrive. They’re already so large, that we’ve had to give them adequate spacing.
–The first of the mums, pansies and fall cole crops go out onto the sales floor.
—Summer maintenance projects are under way.
—We continue to space and pamper the fall mums that are now just beginning to bloom by month’s end.
—Many of our perennial, shrub and many annual orders have already been placed for the 2025 season.
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 $9.95 for Madison, Maple Bluff, Monona and Shorewood Hills; $10.95 for Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor; and $11.95 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.
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