‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—JUNE 2025
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Our 13th Annual Ladies’ Night is Wednesday, June 11
Extended Spring Hours Through Fathers’ Day, June 15
Our ‘Mad Gardener‘ and ‘Houseplant Help‘ Are Ready for Your Questions
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
Tips for Great DIY Flower Arranging
Plucked Tomato Suckers Produce a Quick New Crop
We Reuse Your Teal-colored 5″ Klein’s Pots
You Asked About Sunflower Seeds Not Germinating
Nurturing Little Green Thumbs
Plant of the Month: Solidago (Goldenrod)
Klein’s Favorite Chilled Soup Recipes
Product Spotlight: Espoma Fertilizers and Garden Amendments
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From May 2025
—Wildflowers
—My Cardinal Haven
—Think Tulips in June!
June in the Garden: A Planner
Gardening Events Around Town
Review Klein’s @: Yelp, Google Reviews or Facebook Reviews
Join Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Facebook
KLEIN’S ANNUAL LADIES’ NIGHT IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11…
…and we are currently seeking and accepting businesses that offer direct sales and/or services, artists and hand selected crafters for our annual Ladies’ Night. Email sue@kleinsfloral.com for more details. The event runs from 4:00-7:00. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please send them our way!
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS OR GARDEN TOURSthat 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.
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.
JUNE STORE HOURS:
Through June 15:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-7:00 (Open Tuesdays at 7:00)
Saturday: 9:00-6:00
Sunday: 9:00-5:00
After Father’s Day, June 15:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Open Friday, July 4: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Later in June, visit Klein’s and check out our specials on annuals, vegetables, hanging baskets and containers. Specials and selection change weekly so check our home page @ www.kleinsfloral.com or our social media sites (Click on the links at the top of our homepage). We pride ourselves in having the best cared for plants in even the hottest weather and throughout the month we’ll continue to offer a full selection of annuals and perennials.
June 11–13th Annual Ladies’ Night at Klein’s, 3:00-7:00
June 11–Full Moon
June 14–Flag Day
June 15–Father’s Day
June 19–Juneteenth
June 21–First Day of Summer
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
With the current bounty of fresh seasonal flowers available, here are a few tried and true arranging tips to help make your floral creation look like the pros’:
Add the larger, more dominant flowers first.
When you begin working on the arrangement, start with the largest or most prominent variety of flower first.
—Rather than adding one type of flower and then another, it’s better to work with a single flower type at a time. In this way, you can layer the different varieties, shapes and colors of flower evenly and create a more balanced arrangement.
—Work in a circle, placing in flower around the outer edge of the container. If you’re using wet foam, the stems should slide in easily. If they don’t, use a sharp object to poke a hole first, then insert the stem — just be careful not to make the holes any wider than the flower stems or the flowers won’t be secure.
—Turn the arrangement as you work to ensure that it looks even on all sides — a lazy Susan is great for this!
Layer the flowers as you go.
Once you have finished with the first circle of flowers, move on to the second, using a different variety of flower.
—This circle of flowers should be inside the first. Try to create a domed effect by leaving the stems slightly longer on the inner flowers. The finished arrangement should look like a bunch of flowers growing on a hilltop.
—Continue to layer the flowers in this manner, one variety after another, according to the size and number of flowers in your arrangement.
Use an odd number of flowers in each layer.
One of the main rules when it comes to flower arranging is to use an odd number of each variety of flower.
—For instance, you might have 7 red roses in the outer circle, 5 white roses in the inner circle and 3 sprigs of baby’s breath interspersed between them.
—This uneven number of flowers helps the arrangement to look less uniform and more organic.
Pay attention to height and width.
The height and width of your arrangement is another factor to consider when making your arrangement.
—The general rule when it comes to height is that your arrangement should be one and half times the height of the vase or container it’s held in.
—There’s no clear-cut rule when it comes to the width of your arrangement, but it should be wide enough to balance out the height.
—Rotate the arrangement as you work to ensure that the height and width are even on both sides.
Add any leaves, berries or other greenery last. When you have arranged all of the flowers to your liking, you can add the final touches by inserting any greenery, leaves, berries or other decorations.
—This is step is important — not only to add interest and texture to your arrangement — but also because the greenery helps to separate the blooms, giving air room to circulate in between them so the flowers stay fresh.
—Using filler material also helps to give the impression that there are more flowers in the arrangement than there actually are, so you can create an extravagant looking arrangement without the extravagant price!
YOU ASKED. . .
In the past I had great luck with sunflowers growing on our south facing berm. For the last few years I have planted seeds and not one even seems to germinate! Any thoughts? Warren
If you’re seeing no germination, there are really only three possibilities:
–The seed is too old. Sunflower seeds have a high oil contact and can turn rancid quickly if not stored properly. They are best not saved from year to year.
–Chipmunks are finding and eating the seeds. They can easily find planted seeds. Perhaps place a layer of chicken wire over the planted seed until they are up.
–Before you see them, animals are nipping off the seedlings early in the morning. Not only bunnies, but robins are notorious for nipping off and devouring sprouted seeds. Sunflowers and beans are their favorite! To prevent animal damage, place netting round and over the area.
Thanks for your question,
madgardener@kleinsfloral.com, houseplanthelp@kleinsfloral.com
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that you can raise a quick crop of tomato seedlings by rooting the suckers from plants already in your garden?
A version of the following article by Greg Coppa appeared a few years back in an issue of Horticulture magazine.
Putting On a Tomato Variety Show/Rooted Cuttings Will Diversify Crop
Each summer I used to grow a couple of dozen tomato plants. I now rarely have more than eight plants in my garden, but of those there may be seven different varieties.
Sometimes I have participated in tomato plant swaps with co-workers. We would each bring in a six-pack or a dozen plants of a different variety, then we would trade them in late May.
In this way I was able to try yellow, orange and pink tomatoes as well as those shaped like oxhearts, grapes, bananas, small marbles and plums.
Some had high sugar content and others were bred for low acidity. A certain variety was not the best tasting, but it kept in a cool garage until February. An early cultivar matured in only 46 days and the seed package of a big meaty one advertised that it would take 78 days for it to get that way.
Strength in Diversity
One year I even grew and exchanged plants from seeds that had been irradiated during a spell on Skylab in space. The variety was ‘Rutgers’ and the hope among researchers was that there might be some interesting mutations among the specimens. We didn’t discover any, but that was probably welcome news for the spouses of the astronauts.
There are good reasons to grow different tomato cultivars in your garden. One is that different species have different resistance to diseases and environmental factors. If you grow the same kind of tomato plants and they are susceptible to wilt, a particular insect infestation or a dry spell, than you could lose all your plants or at least have very dramatically reduced yields. But with plant diversification that won’t likely happen.
And another advantage of diversification is that the plants won’t all mature fruit at one time, leaving you with a glut followed by a shortage.
If you see an interesting plant in a friend’s garden and think that you have to wait till next year to try it, you may be wrong. Ask your friend for a “sucker” from the plant. For more than a decade I have had very good luck rooting the so-called “suckers,” or side stems, which many tomato plant aficionados pinch off and discard to discourage vegetative growth and encourage fruiting.
Rooting a Sucker
With scissors, I just cut a 6-inch sucker and put it in a dark-colored bottle, like a brown or green beer bottle, so that 2 inches of the plant stem is immersed in water. I put the plant in indirect sunlight and in three or four days I see bumps on the immersed stem from which roots quickly emerge.
They say that suckers are born every minute, but my record is seven days. In seven days a plant developed from a sucker that had enough root structure to set out in soil. With results like this, I typically don’t even bother using a rooting hormone anymore.
But there is something else interesting about these suckers that you should know. I have to do more research, but it does appear that the rooted plants give mature fruit much faster than their seed-grown parents, even taking into consideration that, of course, you don’t have to wait for germination of a seed and that the plant is already 6 inches tall and hardy looking at “birth” in a week or two.
Frankly, it is sometimes difficult for me to tell the difference between the parent and offspring plants even when the two plants have been grown side by side.
Many garden centers have started selling larger, single plants in place of smaller ones in starter packs. If you can’t find several of the variety that you really want, or if a gardening friend has a specimen you would like to try, but does not have an extra plant for you, consider trying to root a sucker.
Remember that the suckers are genetically identical to the mother plant. Also remember that since most tomato plants are hybrids, it is not worth saving seeds from a plant for later in the season or the following year. The fruit that you will get will probably not resemble the fruit from which you harvested the seeds. But then again, you just might develop a very special tomato that nobody else will have.
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.
Espoma “A Family Tradition Since 1929.”
Klein’s carries an extensive selection of Espoma fertilizers and garden amendments!
Whether you love the taste of home grown veggies, or the beauty of evergreen shrubs and flower beds, you want to give your plants the best. So give them Espoma Organic’s Tone family of fertilizers. Packed with natural proteins and beneficial microbes, your plants will thank you with strong roots, deep green foliage, and big beautiful blooms and harvests. Espoma Organic – trusted for generations
- Long lasting natural organics break down slowly for steady, continuous feeding.
- Contains Bio-tone® microbes.
- Adds organic matter to soil.
- Naturally low in salts so it won’t burn.
- Approved for organic gardening.
- Pure, premium products – no fillers or sludges.
- Hard to find products for the avid and environmentally conscious gardener.
ROOTED IN HISTORY
Our company traces its roots back nearly a century, stretching back to the days of the Great Depression when Herbert Hoover was President. Since our early beginnings, we have been dedicated to the craft of transforming natural ingredients into the highest quality organic fertilizers. This proud tradition began with our founder H.G. Sanders in 1929 and continues today through his great grandchildren. His knowledge and expertise have been handed down from generation to generation and helped define the organic garden for over 95 years.
A FAMILY TRADITION
If you’re an Espoma Organic gardener, you’re in good company. Maybe your mom, aunt or grandfather was an Espoma gardener too. Espoma is a tradition that many families share, and for good reason – our products have over nine decades of proven results and have claimed their rightful places among the best-selling organic fertilizers of all time. Refined and developed for nearly a century, they are classic, timeless, and built on a heritage of passion, dedication, and innovation.
WE’RE STILL GROWING
Today we are proud to be the original and largest manufacturer of organic fertilizers in the lawn and garden industry. We have provided nearly a century of gardening joy to our customers and we’re still growing strong. We remain committed to championing organic gardening, educating people about the power growing a garden can have to uplift others, and inspiring people to express themselves through the beauty of gardening.
See more about Espoma products @ https://www.espoma.com/
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: MAY 1, 2025 (Wildflowers)
Wildflowers (Lyrics by Dolly Parton)
The hills were alive with wildflowers and I
Was as wild, even wilder than they
For at least I could run, they just died in the sun
And I refused to just wither in place
Just a wild mountain rose needing freedom to grow
So I ran, fearing not where I’d go, oh, oh
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don’t care where they grow
And the flowers I knew, in the fields where I grew
Were content to be lost in the crowd
They were common and close, I had no room for growth
And I wanted so much to branch out
So I uprooted myself from my home ground and left
Took my dreams and I took to the road
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don’t care where they grow
I grew up fast and wild, and I never felt right
In a garden so different from me
I just never belonged, I just longed to be gone
So the garden one day set me free
I hitched a ride with the wind, and since he was my friend
I just let him decide where we’d go
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don’t care where they grow
Just a wild rambling rose seeking mysteries untold
No regrets for the path that I chose
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don’t care where they grow
Wildflowers don’t care where they grow
* * * * *
ENTRY: MAY 20, 2025 (My Cardinal Haven)
It appears a pair of cardinals has decided to raise their first brood of the season in a dogwood bush just outside our living room window. The nest is extremely well hidden in the dense shrub and less than three feet off the ground. The female has been gathering materials all day for her twiggy and very flimsy-looking (when compared to a robin’s) nest. For the most part her nest is composed of the twiggy leaf remnants from the black walnut along the back of our property.
Once cardinal pairs are established, they are nearly inseparable; always communicating with a chirp so they always know where their partner is. During courtship, males are often seen feeding seeds to the female. Birds nest close to their food sources so are very common backyard nesters wherever food is made available. Cardinals are, for the most part, seed eaters. The nests themselves are made up of leaves, fine twigs and blades of grass. They are almost always 4 to 6 feet off the ground and usually built in shrub thickets. Cardinals commonly nest in foundation plantings right alongside the house; oftentimes in a perfect location for indoor viewing. The female lays 2-4 spotted, grayish-blue eggs, with up to three nestings in a single season. Cardinal nests are frequent targets of cowbirds who, when the opportunity presents itself, pushes the cardinal egg out of its nest in order to lay its own and have it reared by the cardinal family. I’ll oftentimes see female cowbirds in the yard eyeing up the local cardinals visiting the feeders.
* * * * *
ENTRY: MAY 31, 2025 (Think Tulips in June!)
I prepped in my personal fall bulb order from John Scheepers (www.johnscheepers.com) this morning. It seems odd to be thinking about fall given the fact summer is just getting started and we’re at our longest days.
Late May is the time the bulb suppliers send their picture-filled catalogs to gardeners. Why? Because our memories are still fresh about our spring gardens. During June, the last of our daffodils and alliums are just finishing up. We know where our gardens could use some more early spring color, or perhaps we saw a tulip, crocus or fritillaria at a neighbor’s or at Olbrich Gardens that we just have to have in our own gardens. By fall, when spring bulbs appear at the garden centers, that springtime garden is a faded memory. The bulb selection at garden centers in late summer can be daunting, especially when we look at our garden beds that are now seem completely filled with summer annuals and perennials.
In addition, many gardeners forget about the spring bloomers in the fall. They think the gardening season is winding down and it’s time to put the garden to rest. But come spring, they are quickly reminded that they again forgot to purchase and plant those tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus last fall that they so wanted last spring. The cycle continues.
That’s why now is the best time to sit down with bulb catalogs and do some planning. The selection offered by the bulb companies far surpasses the selection at most retail outlets and you have the luxury of doing your shopping at home. The bulb catalogs are colorful and informative.
Most mail order garden suppliers like Jung’s, Park’s, Burpee, White Flower Farm or Wayside Gardens offer a reasonable selection of spring bulbs. But the best selection comes from those companies that sell bulbs exclusively. Their print catalogs are usually free and you can order either by mail or online. Prices are also much better than those at the local garden centers and you can order in quantities greater than than most retailers can supply. Larger quantities are always available at even greater savings.
While ordering, don’t forget to get some extra bulbs for indoor forcing and some paperwhites and amaryllis for holiday entertaining and gift-giving.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Chilled soups are fun to make and require very little effort and preparation, but time must be allowed for thorough chilling. Add a complementary garnish for special effect. To set the course for a summer meal, serve an enjoyable chilled soup for a first course or a refreshing, cold fruit soup for dessert. Fruit soups are also delicious served for breakfast.
PICK-A-FRUIT FINNISH FRUIT SOUP—An authentic and versatile dessert soup that changes as the summer bounty of fruit progresses.
For Gooseberry Soup: (For other fruits see below)
2 cups water
2 cups gooseberries
3 TBS. sugar
1 stick cinnamon
3 TBS. cornstarch
3 TBS. cold water
whipped cream
Bring two cups water to a boil. Add the berries, sugar and the cinnamon stick. Cook the berries about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add the cornstarch to the 3 TBS. cold water and mix into a paste. Add to the boiling soup. Cook 2 minutes until thickened. Pour into a bowl and cool quickly. Serve with dollops of cream. Serves 6.
For Blueberries: Use 2 cups of blueberries instead and a touch of fresh lemon juice.
For Raspberries: Use 2 cups of raspberries and add a few drops of almond extract.
For Rhubarb: Use 2 cups rhubarb cut into 1″ pieces and increase the sugar to 1/2 cup.
For Strawberries: Use fresh or frozen berries, Omit the cinnamon and add a dash of nutmeg.
CHILLED MARINATED MUSHROOM SOUP—From The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen.
1 lb. mushrooms, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
fresh ground black pepper
3-4 TBS. fresh lemon juice
1 TBS. minced fresh basil (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 TBS. minced fresh dill (or 1 tsp. dried)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2-3 TBS. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup minced fresh chives or green onions
lemon slices for garnish
Place the mushrooms, onion, garlic, bay leaf, wine, water, salt and pepper in a medium-large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, uncover, and allow to stand 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the lemon slices. Transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid and chill until very cold. Serve with lemon slices. Serves 4-5.
CHILLED SPICY TOMATO SOUP—easy, refreshing-with-a-bite . . . and 100% fat-free! From The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen.
2 medium-sized (3″ diameter) ripe tomatoes
4 cups tomato juice
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. horseradish
2 TBS. Worcestershire sauce
10-15 drops Tabasco to taste
1 stal celery, finely minced
2 TBS. minced fresh dill (2 tsp. dried)
1-2 finely minced green onions
fresh ground pepper
Bring a medium-sized saucepanful of water to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Core the tomatoes and drop them in the water for about 20 seconds. Remove and pull off the skins. Cut open and remove the seeds. Mince the remaining pulp and set aside. In a bowl, whisk together the juice, mustard, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (including the tomatoes) and season with black pepper. Cover tightly and chill. Serves 4-5.
SONOMA GREEN SUMMER SOUP—An appealing and beautiful combination of green summer vegetables, loaded with vitamins and minerals, blended together. From the The Big Book of Soups & Stews by Maryana Vollstedt.
5 cups chicken stock or broth
2 cups chopped fresh green beans
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
2 cups chopped zucchini
2 cups peas, fresh or frozen
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper
creme fraiche or plain yogurt for topping
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine all ingredients except the salt, pepper and topping. Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer, partially covered, until the veggies are tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor (in batches if necessary) and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and chill. Serve with a dollop of topping. Serves 6-8.
COLD AVOCADO SOUP WITH CASHEWS—Anything easier than this? Delicious served with crostini. From the The Big Book of Soups & Stews by Maryana Vollstedt.
2 ripe avocados, halved and pitted
2 cups chicken stock or broth
2 TBS. fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 tsp. salt
3 drops Tabasco
1/4 cup chopped cashews for topping
Scoop out the avocado pulp and put in a food processor along with the stock, lemon juice, yogurt, salt and Tabasco. Process until smooth. Transfer to a container, cover and chill several hours. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with nuts. Serves 4.
CHILLED MELON SOUP—This cooling soup derives its flavor from juicy, ripe melons. A delightful ending to a summer dinner!! From the The Big Book of Soups & Stews by Maryana Vollstedt.
4 cups seedless watermelon chunks (1″ pcs.)
Juice of 1 lime
2 fresh mint leaves, torn (plus 4 for garnish)
2 TBS. honey
1/4 cup dry red wine or cranberry juice
1/2 cup diced cantaloupe
1/2 cup dice honeydew
In a food processor, place 3 cups of the watermelon chunks, lime juice, mint and honey. Process until almost smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the wine, cantaloupe and honeydew. Cut the remaining watermelon into 1/2″ pieces and add to the bowl and mix well. Cover and chill several hours. Ladle into goblets and garnish with a mint leaf. Serves 4.
NATURAL NEWS–
Nurturing Little Green Thumbs
By: Eve Adamson for the Willy Street Co-op Reader @ https://www.willystreet.coop/
When my two sisters and I were youngsters, my dad had a great idea. One warm May
day, as the three of us stood in the grass of our big backyard watching and wondering
what he was up to, he cut 15 six-foot lengths of molding left over from our recent
basement remodel, stuck them into the warming dirt of our garden in three circles, and
lashed the tops of each together with twine to make three “teepee” forms. Next, he tore
open a packet of pole bean seeds and gave us each a small handful. He showed us
how to plant them around each wooden stake, and then he watered the soil with the
green garden hose, while we ran through the spray.
Every day, we went out to the backyard with my dad to check on our seeds. When the
sprouts emerged, we cheered. He showed us how to pluck out the weeds and keep the
soil moist. As the beans began to grow, in the impressively speedy way they tend to in
the rich Iowa soil, something amazing happened. Without any prompting or guidance
from us, vines sprouting leaves and bean pods began to wind around the wooden
stakes until they reached the top. The leaves and tendrils grew thicker and denser, until
one day, each of us could crawl inside our little green houses and be completely alone. I
remember sitting in the cool dirt, quietly marveling at the way the vines filtered and
freckled the bright July sun. It is one of my fondest childhood memories.
Sometimes I would pluck a tender raw bean and eat it. It tasted like spring to me—fresh
and grassy. Or, I would collect them in a bowl and bring them into the kitchen, so my
mother could make them for dinner. I didn’t even mind eating them too much—with a
little butter. They tasted nothing like those mushy beans from the can we had to eat in
the winter, and those fresh beans prompted me to try the garden carrots, lettuces, and
tomatoes, too.
There’s something about growing things that appeals to kids, and several casual studies
suggest that when kids grow their own vegetables, they are more likely to eat
vegetables. It was certainly true in my case. Decades later, my own son, who at
14 remains suspicious of most green things, finally became more open minded when
his summer camp grew a vegetable garden.
If gardening is the way to get kids to eat more vegetables (not to mention spend more
time with you), then why aren’t we all doing it? Even if you only have a small backyard
plot, or room for a few containers on your deck or porch, you can get
growing together.
Gardening with your kids gives them many gifts. They learn where food really comes
from. They learn how to work together with others toward a common goal. They learn
practical skills. They learn how fresh food tastes. They learn the feel and smell of wet
dirt and mulch. And they learn that they have the power to take something as small and
full of potential as a seed, and nurture it until it becomes everything it was meant to be.
Just like you are doing with them.
Fun projects to do with kids:
Tube garden
Start your seeds and recycle at the same time. Toilet paper
tubes are easy for small hands to manipulate. Plant tomato,
pepper, pea, or bean seeds in tubes filled with potting soil, in early
spring. Prop them upright in a tray or flower pot. When the seeds
sprout, pop the whole tube into the garden after the soil is warm.
Salad in a box
Any window box, bucket, basket, or other container with drainage
at the bottom will do. Fill it with potting soil and plant a variety of
lettuces and spinach scattered over the top. Press into place and
water lightly. Keep the soil moist. When the greens sprout, trim off
a few leaves each day to include in a salad. For kids who don’t like
bitter tastes, butter lettuces are a good choice.
Mushroom garden
If your child has a daring palate, try growing mushrooms. Many
companies sell mushroom growing kits that make it easy to
spawn this fascinating fungus in a box at home.
Herb circles
A round container or a small circle dug out of your sod can
become an herb circle. Plant basil, lavender, tarragon, thyme and
edible nasturtium flowers in concentric circles. Your child can
sample the different smells and tastes, and help you decide which
herbs to add to which foods.
Flowers & fruit gardens
For some kids, fruit is an easier sell than vegetables. Try planting
watermelons, cantaloupe, or honeydew melons, interspersed
with native wildflowers, for a pretty and gastronomically
satisfying garden experience.
Bean teepee
If you have the space, give your child a magical-seeming,
ephemeral playhouse. You don’t have to use leftover molding like
my dad did; any thin wooden pole or bamboo rod will work. For each
teepee, put five or six poles, about 5 to 6 feet long, in the ground
in a circle, approximately 3 feet in diameter. Prop or tie the tops
together. Plant pole bean seeds around each stake. Water and
mulch, then watch as each teepee leafs out, creating a private
space just for small people.
Salsa, pizza, or spaghetti
Devote your garden plot to a food theme kids can relate to. For a
salsa garden, plant tomatoes, tomatillos, bell peppers, jalapeño
peppers, onions, and cilantro. For a pizza garden, plant Roma
tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil, spinach, or whatever else you like
on your pizza. For a spaghetti garden, try tomatoes, onions, garlic,
oregano, and thyme.
Pumpkin garden
Two or three pumpkin plants will sprawl and spawn just what you
need for Halloween crafts as well as pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter,
pumpkin bread, and pumpkin puree you can add to applesauce,
smoothies, or even chill. Marigolds nestled between the vine make
a prettier plot.
JUNE’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
SOLIDAGO (Goldenrod)
Though an American native, goldenrod sure has received a bum rap over the years as an undesirable perennial for the American garden. The reason being is that goldenrod has been falsely accused as a contributor to allergies and hayfever, when ragweed is the primary culprit. Ragweed and goldenrod happen to bloom at exactly the same time and because ragweed blooms go completely unnoticed, it’s the showy goldenrods that catch the heat. The fact is, goldenrod pollen is too heavy to become airborne and, in turn, does not contribute to allergies and hayfever.
In Europe, goldenrod has long been considered a valuable and much desired plant for the mixed perennial border. In fact, nearly all popular solidago hybrids were developed in Europe from the American natives and are only recently being accepted back into the American garden. On the other hand, because it is not native to Europe and spreads quickly, it is now considered a nonnative invasive and its use in the garden there is becoming increasingly frowned upon (much like purple loosestrife here).
Solidago is a native member of the aster family with about 100 different species, mostly from North America. and Mexico. In most species, the flowers are a variation of yellow (hence the name goldenrod), though species with white and orange flowers exist. Most goldenrods are short day bloomers and won’t begin their bloom cycle until the days begin to shorten in late summer. Goldenrods make a lovely and long-lasting cut flower. In the garden, roadside varieties, though beautiful, can become invasive with aggressively spreading roots and are usually tall and floppy. The hybrids tend to be clump-forming and are most often the better choice for the home garden. For tall varieties and the species, a pinch in late May will produce short, well-branched, bushy plants with many more flowers per stem. Goldenrods lure many beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden and are an underused and valuable addition to any perennial bed.
Solidago offered at Klein’s this season include:
SOLIDAGO x ‘Little Lemon ‘(Dwarf Hybrid Goldenrod)
One of the most compact forms of goldenrod on the market today, typically growing to only 14″ tall and to 18″ wide. It is a clump-forming plant that is noted for having a compact basal branching habit. Tiny light yellow flowers bloom in upright, dense, terminal inflorescences in mid to late summer on stems clad with lanceolate medium green leaves. Cut back flowers after initial bloom to encourage a second fall bloom. Grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun. Provides good color and contrast for the late summer to early fall perennial border, wild garden, meadow or naturalized area. Nice in containers. Zone 4.
SOLIDAGO flexicaulis, syn. S. latifolia, (Zigzag Goldenrod)
A Wisconsin native plant with upright habit; broadly oval, toothed, medium green foliage; spikes of starry, yellow flowers in Aug-Sept. Ht.: 24-48″. Spread: 12-24″. Grow in average, moist to well-drained soil in part to full shade. Use in the native woodland, shade garden, as a cut or dried flower and to attract butterflies. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO ohioensis, syn. Oligoneuron ohioensis, (Ohio Goldenrod)
An important Wisconsin native for pollinators. Upright habit; lush, lance-shaped foliage, large, flat-topped clusters of small, bright yellow-gold flowers in Aug-Sept. Ht.: 36-48″. Spread: 18-30″. Grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun. Use in the prairie garden, cut flower or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO riddellii, syn. Oligoneuron riddellii, (Riddell’s Goldenrod)
An important Wisconsin native for pollinators. Upright habit; narrow, lance-shaped foliage, large, flat-topped clusters of small, bright yellow flowers in Aug-Sept. Ht.: 36- 48″. Spread: 18-24″. Grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun. Use in the meadow garden, wetland, cut flower or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO rigidum, syn. Oligoneuron rigida, (Stiff Goldenrod)
An important Wisconsin native for pollinators. Upright habit; large, broadly oval, slightly hairy foliage, dense, flat-topped clusters of small, bright yellow flowers in Aug-Sept. Ht.: 24-36″. Spread: 18-30″. Grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun. Use in the prairie, cut flower or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO rugosa ‘Fireworks ‘(Rough-stemmed Goldenrod)
Upright, clump-forming habit; lance-shaped foliage; open, arching sprays of golden- yellow flowers in Aug.-Sept. Ht.: 42-48″. Spread: 18-24″. Grow in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Use in the prairie garden, cut flower or border garden. Zone 4.
SOLIDAGO shortii ‘Solar Cascade’, (Short’s Goldenrod)
The species of this authorized selection is considered endangered in it’s native Indiana and adjacent Kentucky. Compact, clump-forming habit; clean, deep green, glossy foliage; open arching sprays of golden yellow flowers in Aug-Oct. Ht.: 24-30″. Spread: 12-24″. Grow in lean to average, well-drained soil in full to part sun. Use in the prairie garden, cut flower or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)
An important Wisconsin native for pollinators. Narrow, lance-shaped foliage; a Wisconsin native plant; golden-yellow flowers in Aug.-Oct. Ht.: 36-72″. Spread: 18- 30″++. Grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part sun. Use for native prairie, nectarous plant, cut flower, birds. Zone 3.
SOLIDAGO sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece ‘(Garden Goldenrod)
Clump-forming habit; heart-shaped foliage; open sprays of dense, horizontal spikelets with small, gold flowers in Aug-Sept. Ht.: 18-24″. Spread: 18-24″. Grow in rich, well- drained soil in full sun. Use in the prairie garden or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies, cut flower. Zone 4.
SOLIDAGO ulmifolia (Elm-leaved Goldenrod)
A Wisconsin native plant with upright habit; “elm-leaved” shaped, medium green foliage; open, arching sprays of gold flowers in July-Oct. Ht.: 18-24″. Spread: 24-36″. Grow in rich, well-drained to dry soil in full sun. Use in the prairie garden or border garden and to attract birds and butterflies, cut flower. Zone 3.
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.
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, June 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
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Learning Together: Incredible Insects @ the Arboretum
Tuesday, June 3, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Family Class
We will share stories and create nature art and crafts. This class is for preschool-age children and their adult caregivers. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come seasonally prepared for weather and insects. Fee: $20 per family/group of up to four people. Register by May 26 @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/group-classes/learning-together-family-class-incredible-insects/ . Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Pollinators and Your Gardens @ Pinney Library
Tuesday, June 3, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Community Room B
Many of our pollinators such as bees and butterflies have been in decline due to multiple reasons. 87% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators for their reproduction. This includes 35% of the world’s food crops. A Dane County Extension Horticulture Volunteer will tell you about what you can do in your gardens to help provide habitat and protect our local pollinators.
Registration is recommended for this event. Please contact your local library to register.
Register @ https://events.madisonpubliclibrary.org/events/197734
Pinney Library
516 Cottage Grove Rd
Madison, WI 53716
608-224-7100
pinney@madisonpubliclibrary.org
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, June 8, 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
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 8 and ending August 17, 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.
June 8
EMY CASTRO PERUVIAN JAZZ QUINTET
Emy Castro’s powerful voice is immersed in the captivating world of Peruvian Creole music (music Criollo), channeling her exuberant vigor in service of preserving the rich cultural tapestry and heritage of a people.
June 22
THE JAZZ GUYS QUINTET
Back by popular demand, The Jazz Guys return with stylish and tight renditions of modern jazz, standards, and classic pop in carefully honed original arrangements.
July 6
JOHANNES WALLMANN GROUP
Director of Jazz Studies at UW-Madison, pianists Wallmann assembles a stellar quartet to offer up a high energy, imaginative, and infectious performance of original compositions.
July 20
GERRI DIMAGGIO PROJECT
After last year’s rainout, DiMaggio returns with her sultry mix of Brazilian melodiesand jazz standards, as original as it is enticing. Irresistible music honoring the traditions of Jazz and Latin rhythms, telling stories with tones of sadness and bittersweet joy.
August 3
RYAN MEISEL QUARTET with Susan Hofer
Modern and original jazz steeped in the history of swing, bop, and avant-garde. Vocalist Susan Hofer offers up an instrumental vocal style, matching Meisel’s fiery saxophone.
August 17
LES CORDES EN BLEU
Music inspired by the legendary Django Reinhardt with a love of hot jazz, trad jazz, bebop, straight-ahead jazz, and jazz standards.
Allen Centennial Gardens
620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison
608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.wisc.edu/ for details.
Dragonfly Walk @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, June 11, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Family Walk
Join the Arboretum and the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society for guided walks to learn more about dragonflies and damselflies. Participants can practice identifying species and collecting data for the Arboretum’s dragonfly and damselfly (Odonata) monitoring project. No experience required. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Walks take place monthly, June through September, but may be canceled for rainy or cool weather. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Woodland, Savanna, and Prairie Gardens @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, June 11, 7:00
Garden Tour
Celebrate late spring by visiting our woodland, savanna, and prairie gardens. This tour, led by garden curator Susan Carpenter, provides an overview of the Wisconsin 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
Summer Breeze @ Olbrich Gardens
Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 4:00-9:00
Unwind with friends or family, feel that cool Lake Monona breeze in your hair, stop to smell the roses, or become a flamingo ring toss champ, all while supporting your free public garden! Grab a beverage and take a stroll in the Gardens with your sweetheart, play a game of bocce ball or cornhole with your pals, or start a dance party on the Great Lawn. From fantastic local food cart fare, to giant lawn games, to local music, there’s something for EVERYONE at Summer Breeze!
Admission at the door; no pre-sale tickets. Additional cost for food and beverages; no carry-ins.
General Admission – $10
Olbrich Members – $8
Child (Ages 6-12) – $5
5 & Under – FREE
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Family Nature Program: Who’s Buzzing in My Ear @ the Arboretum
Sunday, June 15, 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
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Rotary Garden’s What’s in Bloom? Tour
Wednesday, June 18, 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 (May-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-2025-06-18/
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
Summer Solstice Night Walk @ the Arboretum
Friday, June 20, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Walk
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free. Register by June 16: https://uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Tenney-Lapham Chicken Coop/Garden Tour
Saturday, June 21, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
This is a self-guided walking tour in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood. Maps will be available the day of the tour at 917 E. Dayton and 461 N. Few.
Sign up by emailing Bob Shaw robert.e.shaw@gmail.com & Tony Sturm tonyeats@gmail.com
Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, June 22, 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
Olbrich After Hours
Turn up your Tuesdays at Olbrich After Hours, where the gardens stay up late and the good times roll in! Each week offers a fresh blend of live music, surprise pop-ups, crave-worthy food carts, and the perfect pour (think cocktails, mocktails, and brewskis). Stroll the gardens during the golden hour, soak in the sounds, and connect with inspiring eco-friendly groups making a difference for the planet. It’s summer – turned all the way up!
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 2025 Schedule:
(All concerts are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.)
June 24
Waco Brothers—Blend country and punk with rowdy, high-energy performances. Originally a local Chicago act, their success on Bloodshot Records led to national tours and collaborations, including Great Chicago Fire with Paul Burch, praised by the Chicago Tribune as “If the Rolling Stones were still making great records, this would be it.” Their live album Waco Express was hailed as “country as it should be” by NPR’s Ken Tucker. Known for their raucous SXSW shows and annual Schubas Tavern gigs, the Waco Brothers deliver raw, honky-tonk-fueled rock with wit and grit.
July 1
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.
July 8
Sinkane—Blending pop, funk, and electronic sounds with the rhythms of his native Sudan, the album is a journey through eras, emotions, and healing. Calling it his “love letter to Black music,” Gallab infuses each track with the energy of gospel, Afro-beat, and 70s funk, featuring collaborations with artists like Bilal, Kenyatta Beasley, and Casey Benjamin. What began as a solo endeavor evolved into a deeply communal experience, reflecting the album’s central theme—freedom. Freedom to create, to move, to belong. In reaching beyond himself, Gallab ultimately finds his way back to who he is.
July 15
VO5—This 9-piece disco-funk powerhouse from Madison brings the party with groovy originals and irresistible ’70s hits from ABBA, the Bee Gees, Ohio Players, and the Jackson 5. Their award-winning album Dance Originality even caught the attention of MTV, and they’ve racked up multiple Madison Area Music Awards, including “Best Cover Band.” VO5 believes in peace, justice, and shaking what your mama gave you—because every revolution needs a disco ball and platform heels!
July 22
Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Alter Boys featuring Westside Andy—Delivers straight-up, traditional blues with smoking grooves, hot harmonica, and smooth, stinging guitar. They perform originals alongside nods to legends like Slim Harpo, Little Walter, and the three Kings. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Reverend Raven has been playing the blues since 1971. After a 15-year Navy stint, he landed in Milwaukee, forging a lasting partnership with harmonica great Madison Slim. A staple at Buddy Guy’s Legends for over 18 years, he’s shared stages with B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, and more, keeping the blues burning bright.
July 29
Eras Encore—A Taylor Swift Cover Band unites six powerhouse Madison-area musicians, all former instructors at Girls Rock Camp Madison. This all-star lineup features Olivia Dregne (keyboard, vocals), Jenna Joanis (bass), Lesley Goff (vocals), Marlo Darken (drums), Beth Kille (guitar), and Kelly Maxwell (keyboard, vocals). Though a fresh collaboration, these women bring decades of experience from some of your favorite local bands. With a handpicked setlist of their favorite Taylor Swift hits spanning multiple albums, they’re ready to deliver an electrifying performance—so sing along and enjoy the magic!
August 5
TAE & The Neighborly—A Wisconsin based Soul-pop R&B group, found themselves playing music together in a very unconventional way. They were all neighbors, each one living alone on one floor of a five-story flat. Cake baking is a shared passion of the five member group, but in the sugar shortages early in the 2020 pandemic, they found themselves so continually knocking on each other’s doors asking for a single cup of sugar that a group decision was made to all move in together and share cake-baking resources. And since everyone knows all good rhythms begin in the kitchen, it wasn’t before long that the group began to write and perform together across the nation.
August 12
Zar Electrik—defies borders, blending the sounds of Morocco, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the West into a hypnotic fusion of tradition and modernity. Formed in Marseille, the trio unites Anass Zine’s mesmerizing vocals and traditional instruments (gumbri, oud) with Arthur Péneau’s deep voice and electrified kora, enriched by Miosine’s masterful touch on synths and electronic beats. The result is a high-energy groove that pulses with raw intensity, inviting bodies to move and spirits to soar. More than just music, Zar Electrik creates a shared experience—where rhythm, culture, and celebration collide in an electrifying dance.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
What’s in Bloom? @ the Arboretum
Wednesday, June 25, 7:00
Garden Tour
Join Susan Carpenter, Wisconsin Native Plant Garden curator, to find, compare, and learn about flowers on native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. 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
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Class: Mindfulness in Nature – Wildflowers @ the Arboretum
Saturday, June 28, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Mindfulness helps reduce stress and improve physical and mental health using a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment. Mindfulness In Nature uses nature for all practices (sitting, standing, and moving). Monthly series runs through October. No experience needed. Instructor: Roger Reynolds, certified natural mindfulness guide. Outdoor class. Fee: $10. Register by June 24 @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/classes/mindfulness-wildflowers/. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Nature Hike in the Grady Tract @ the Arboretum
Sunday, June 29, 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
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Learning Together: Animal Clues @ the Arboretum
Tuesday, July 1, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Family Class
We will share stories, go on a discovery walk, and create nature crafts. This class is for preschool-age children and their adult caregivers. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come seasonally prepared for weather and insects. Fee: $20 per family/group of up to four people. Register by June 29 @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/group-classes/learning-together-family-class-animal-clues/ . Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 12 thru November 8, 6:15-1:45
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 23 thru November 5, 8:30-1:45
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
Northside Farmers Market
Sundays, May 11 through October 26, 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!
For details visit www.northsidefarmersmarket.org
JUNE IN THE GARDEN-–A checklist of things to do this month.
___By early June, finish planting all annuals and vegetables.
___By early June, move all houseplants out that spend the summer outdoors.
___In early June give all beds a thorough weeding for easier follow-up.
___June is a great month to plant perennials, trees and shrubs.
___Prune evergreens.
___Prune hard any spring flowering shrubs like forsythia, quince, etc.
___Mulch beds to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
___Begin deadheading spent blooms as needed.
___Remove yellowed foliage of spring tulips, daffodils, etc.
___Begin staking and supporting tall plants as needed.
___Begin your fertilizing regimen. Regular fertilizing makes for healthy plants.
___Order spring bulbs from catalogs while your memory is still fresh.
___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.
___Watch for pests and control as needed or desired.
___Begin seeding cole crops for fall harvest. Also sow pansies and wallflowers.
___Pinch hardy mums until July 4 for bushier less floppy plants.
___Visit Klein’s—Watch for end of season savings on annuals and perennials.
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.comor 860/567-0838
For plants:
High Country Gardens @ www.highcountrygardens.com or 800/925-9387
Logee’s Greenhouses @ www.logees.com or 888/330-8038
Plant Delights Nursery @ www.plantdelights.com or 912/772-4794
Roots and Rhizomes @ www.rootsrhizomes.com or 800/374-5035
Wayside Gardens @ www.waysidegardens.com or 800/213-0379
White Flower Farm @ www.whiteflowerfarm.com or 800/503-9624
BEHIND THE SCENES AT KLEIN’S—This is a sneak peek of what is going on each month behind the scenes in our greenhouses. Many people are unaware that our facility operates year round or that we have 10 more greenhouses on the property in addition to the 6 open for retail. At any given moment we already have a jump on the upcoming season–be it poinsettias in July, geraniums in December or fall mums in May.
IN JUNE:
—The back greenhouses are nearly empty of product. We’ve had another successful season. This is the time to plan for next spring–while our memories are still fresh: How can we improve in 2026? Which plants did we run out of too early? How was staffing?
—Watering is a nonstop endeavor. On hot, windy days, we no sooner finish the first round, when we have to start all over again. Some plants in our retail areas may need watering 3 or 4 times in a single day! You wouldn’t do this at home, but customers don’t like to see wilted plants. It’s not harmful for us to let them wilt a bit, but it makes for bad presentation.
—We continue to plant some annuals, hanging baskets and containers for summer sales.
—Fall mums and asters are stepped up into larger tubs and containers for fall sales.
—We begin prepping some of the back greenhouses for the arrival of poinsettia plugs in just a few weeks.
—Our employees breathe a sigh of relief and spend some much needed downtime with family and friends.
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.
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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.
Horticulturalist & General Manager–Jamie VandenWymelenberg jamie@kleinsfloral.com
Floral Manager—Sarah Somson 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
http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/index.php
Insect Diagnostic Lab
240 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/
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)
also http://www.mailordergardening.com/
Invasive Species
http://www.invasiveplants.net/
Community Groundworks
3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4
Madison, WI 53704
608/240-0409
http://www.communitygroundworks.org
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
http://www.allencentennialgardens.org/
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
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/westmad/
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