‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—SEPTEMBER 2025
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or info@kleinsfloral.com
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Truckloads of Houseplants Are Arriving Fresh from Florida
50% Off Remaining Perennials, Shrubs, Herbs and Potted Fruits
Now Available: Fall Mums & All of Your Fall Gardening Favorites
Spring Blooming Bulbs Are Arriving. Shop Early for Best Selection!
Our ‘Mad Gardener‘ and ‘Houseplant Help‘ Are Ready for Your Questions
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue-About State Flowers
Why Join a Plant Society?…16 Reasons Why
About The Magical French Word Terroir
You Asked about Vine Crops with No Fruit This Season
We Reuse Your Teal-colored 5″ Klein’s Pots
Product Spotlight: Spring Bulbs from Netherland Bulb Co.
Plant of the Month: Peperomia
Klein’s Favorite Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) Recipes
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From August 2025
—Autumn Is the Beginning of Our Next Gardening Season
—Starting a Hummingbird Garden
—What? A Native Artichoke?
September 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
CURRENTLY ON SALE @ KLEIN’S
50% Off All Perennials, Shrubs, Ornamental Trees and Potted Fruits While Supplies Last.
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!!
We still have a beautiful and large selection of shrubs in stock!! Quality and selection are still amazing! We have a nice selection of:
- Lilacs
- Dogwoods
- Ninebark
- Roses
- Dwarf Conifers
- Potted Fruits
…AND SO MUCH MORE!
50% Off All Herbs
We have all of your favorites for late season cooking and canning…an amazing selection of oregano, mint, thyme, rosemary and so much more awaits you and your senses! …And many will overwinter indoors on a windowsill for continued enjoyment.
NOW AVAILABLE…FALL MUMS, FALL VEGETABLES, ORNAMENTAL KALES, CABBAGES, PEPPERS & SO MUCH MORE!
Now that it’s late summer and your summer annuals are beginning to wane, it’s time to fill those empty spots with colorful fall mums and annuals and in the coming weeks and as crops are ready, selection will be at its peak. Choose from not only mums, but also beautiful grasses, pansies and violas, ornamental kales, cabbages, peppers and so much more.
Klein’s is renowned for our selection of Jenny’s mixed fall containers, whether pre-made grab-and-go or custom designed to suit your taste or decor.
And in the weeks ahead we await the arrival of our large selection of locally grown garlic, pumpkins and gourds. Fall merchandise is arriving daily!!
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.
SEPTEMBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
About September 1—The Spring Bulbs Arrive!! Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and much more arrive for fall planting. We suggest that you hold off planting spring bulbs until the weather cools in October. But shop early for best selection!
September 1–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00
September 7–Grandparents’ Day
September 7–Full Moon
September 22–Fall Begins
September 22—Rosh Hashana Begins
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
Those pesky violets that invade our yards and gardens. You wonder how you can get rid of them. But did you know that they are Wisconsin’s State Flower and that each of our 50 states has their own state flower? Here’s a bit of information about Wisconsin’s State Flower and then a complete list of all the state flowers.
Wisconsin’s State Flower–Wood Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Adopted on June 4, 1949.
The violet is also the state flower for Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Wisconsin’s school children were asked to vote for an official state flower in 1908, which left four finalists: arbutus, violet, white water lily and wild rose. The following year they voted again using the four finalists and the violet won. However, the violet was only named Wisconsin’s unofficial state flower until 1948. Finally, during the Centennial celebration, a youth committee was set up to officially adopt several state symbols. At this time the official flower, tree and bird were decided. On Arbor Day 1909, the final vote was taken, and the violet won. Chapter 218, Laws of 1949, which created Section 1.10 of the statutes, named the wood violet Wisconsin’s official flower.
Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant. It is variable in flower color and to a lesser extent leaf shape.
Leaves: This plant has basal leaves only. Each heart shaped leaf is bluntly toothed and born on long stem. High in vitamins A and C it used to be a very welcome raw salad or cooked green early in the spring when fresh vegetables were hard to come by. The flowers are more often used nowadays. They can be candied and also used in jellies.
Height: Less than 1′
Frequency: Many plants found in low woods. This is the violet commonly found in yards and along roadsides.
Flowers: April; It is one of the first plants to bloom in the low, wet woods of the preserve in early spring. The flowers are irregular in shape . They are Deep blue or violet sometimes almost white with blue markings. Blooms first appear in early spring and continue into early fall. The side petals have beards or tuffs near the center of the flower. The flower grows on its own stem. There are also special flowers that stay near the ground and do not open…but they still produce bazillions of seeds!
Habitat: Almost anywhere. Prefers damp locations.
Range: Most of eastern US except extreme north and south.
About State Flowers:
Before women were allowed to vote nationally, Washington State let them, and only them, vote on what people would come to associate with the state’s flower for decades to come: the coast rhododendron.
In 1892, the state was one of the last to officially name its state flower. After hundreds of suggestions were put through, more than 15,000 women across the state voted in voting booth. And 53% of those women voted on the beautiful pink and white rhododendron.
That’s just one example of how state flowers have defined a state, represented its history, or even helped push forward a political movement. Because shortly thereafter, women across the country began rallying to get their voices heard about political climates outside of state gardens.
The purple lilac in New Hampshire is a representation of the state’s residents’ hardy character. The Bitterroot became Montana’s state flower only after a member of the Montana Women’s Christian Temperance Union crusaded to convince the legislature to listen up, and allow all people, men and women, to vote for the flower.
California’s golden poppy is rooted in the state’s hillsides from north to south, a beautiful yellow flower that mimic’s the states seemingly everlasting sunshine.
Not exactly a flower, but…
Maine’s white pine cone and tassel is not a flower at all, but it was selected as the state’s flower in 1894, after officials saw the cone in a floral emblem at the World Fair.
The two large divisions in the plant species are flowering plants, angiosperms, or plants with cones, gymnosperms. All other states have flowers for their actual state flower, but Maine decided to be a little different. So technically, Maine has a state gymnosperm!
Oklahoma’s floral emblem, the Mistletoe, is not actually a flower either. But it is a flowering plant, which is close enough. Actually, Oklahoma is one of several states that have a state flower, a state wildflower, and a state emblem. For clarity’s sake, the list is the state’s official floral emblem. But most states don’t differentiate between the two.
State Flowers:
Alabama–Camellia
Alaska–Forget-me-not
Arizona–Saguaro Cactus blossom
Arkansas–Apple blossom
California–California Poppy
Colorado–Rocky Mountain Columbine
Connecticut–Mountain laurel
Delaware–Peach blossom
Florida–Orange blossom
Georgia–Cherokee Rose
Hawaii–Hawaiian hibiscus (ma’o hau hele)
Idaho–Mock Orange
Illinois–Purple Violet
Indiana–Peony
Iowa–Wild Prairie Rose
Kansas–Sunflower
Kentucky–Goldenrod
Louisiana–Magnolia
Maine–White pine cone and tassel
Maryland–Black-eyed susan
Massachusetts–Mayflower
Michigan–Apple blossom
Minnesota–Pink and white lady’s slipper
Mississippi–Magnolia
Missouri–Hawthorn
Montana–Bitterroot
Nebraska–Goldenrod
Nevada–Sagebrush
New Hampshire–Purple lilac
New Jersey–Violet
New Mexico–Yucca flower
New York–Rose
North Carolina–American Dogwood
North Dakota–Wild Prairie Rose
Ohio–Scarlet Carnation
Oklahoma–Mistletoe (Floral Emblem)
Oregon–Oregon grape
Pennsylvania–Mountain Laurel
Rhode Island–Violet
South Carolina–Yellow Jessamine
South Dakota–Pasque flower
Tennessee–Iris
Texas–Bluebonnet
Utah–Sego lily
Vermont–Red Clover
Virginia–American Dogwood
Washington-Coast Rhododendron
West Virginia–Rhododendron
Wisconsin–Wood Violet
Wyoming–Indian Paintbrush
YOU ASKED. . .
I have a garden overrun with gourd, cuke, and pumpkin vines, all with male flowers but very little fruit. Any idea why we’re not producing this summer? Kandis
You’re not alone!! We’ve heard this from a lot of customers this season. The reason is nearly always one of two reasons…
Because it’s been a wet, warm early season, growth was vigorous and the male flowers are first to form. Maybe the female flowers were just delayed due to the fast growth rate and formed later.
…Or it could be heat related. Because the female flowers form later, the heat of July and August could have affected flower production and there may not be any or as much fruit this season.
Thanks for your question,
madgardener@kleinsfloral.com, houseplanthelp@kleinsfloral.com
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . .that there are thousands of recognized plant societies in the United States?
Why Join a Plant Society?
• Learn from experts through lectures, workshops, and field trips
• Access in-depth plant knowledge, from propagation and taxonomy to design and history
• Receive publications filled with hard-to-find information
• Identify mystery plants and diagnose garden problems
• Discover new research and scientific advancements
• Swap or buy rare plants, seeds, or bulbs
• Get early or discounted access to sales, tours, and symposia
• Meet others who share your interests
• Join local or online groups for regional knowledge and support
• Support conservation efforts
• Document species through citizen science and fieldwork
• Visit private gardens not open to the public
• Participate in flower shows
• Find purpose through volunteer opportunities and education outreach
• Hand down knowledge from generation to generation
• Find a mentor. Make friends.
Source: American Gardener magazine @ https://ahsgardening.org/
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.
Spring Bulbs from Netherland Bulb Company
It’s almost time to plant your spring bulbs and Netherland Bulb Company is one of the world’s leading wholesalers of flower bulbs, perennials and horticulture products for the home gardener and the professional grower.
About Netherland Bulb Company
Netherland Bulb Company is a wholesale supplier of premium Dutch bulbs and bare root perennials grown and shipped directly from our farms and packing facilities in Holland. Our customer service center and distribution facilities in the metropolitan Easton Pennsylvania area enable us to provide superior service and quality. We offer a wide range of flower bulb and bare root perennial varieties in packaging that meets your business and customers needs.
Netherland Bulb Company has been a family owned and operated business on both sides of the ocean for more than 35 years. Family ownership means you receive the benefit of a business that takes the utmost pride in delivering a quality product year in and year out. We continue to seek out new and innovative products from top notch growers and suppliers from Holland and beyond.
Better Prices on Higher Quality Bulbs
When you buy from Netherland Bulb Company, you are buying directly from the Dutch grower and shipper. This means that we can offer you better prices on higher quality bulbs. We are on the farm all year long, inspecting the crop and shipping only those bulbs that meet our stringent requirements. All of our bulbs are hand inspected and only the very finest, premium bulbs are sold to you. Our expert Dutch bulb checkers have been working with bulbs all of their lives!
There is just no substitute for quality. You can only purchase bulbs once a year. You wait months to see the results. Therefore, our motto is
“We are only as good as our last delivery.”
Source: www.netherlandbulb.com
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: AUGUST 11, 2025 (Autumn Is the Beginning of Our Next Gardening Season)
The first of the fall mums are making their appearance this week at work. As some of my containers begin looking a bit worn, I’ll soon begin to swap out the my dead and dying plants with fresh fall product in the days ahead.
Gardening need not end with the onset of autumn. In some respects, it’s just beginning! After all, fall is when we begin to plant next spring’s garden as the tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs make their appearance on store shelves. And fall is the season when many of our favorite annuals and perennials put on their finest show. Geraniums, salvias, asters, mums and grasses all glow in the garden as the days shorten and the weather cools.
What easier way to extend the season’s beauty than to enjoy a mixed fall container from Klein’s.
Fall containers can extend your garden’s color long after hard frosts have killed off your in-ground annuals and perennials. In fact, a fall container can look beautiful until Thanksgiving or even beyond.
Unlike flowers planted in your beds, containers can be moved indoors during cold snaps, only to reappear days later on our lovely Wisconsin autumn days. Some annuals, like flowering kales and cabbages and pansies, are at their peak as the weather cools. It’s not unheard of for these diehards to look good even through Christmas!
Choose from one of Klein’s own pre-made containers, filled with mums, grasses, kales, pansies, heucheras, etc. Or, if you prefer, have Jenny and our top notch crew plant you the perfect autumn container to suit your taste or decor. Choose from Klein’s lovely and large selection of containers or bring in your own. What better way to greet trick-or-treaters or Thanksgiving Day guests!
For info on fall containers, contact Jenny @ 608-244-5661 or @ customplanters@kleinsfloral.com
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ENTRY: AUGUST 20, 2025 (Starting a Hummingbird Garden)
This morning I got an email regarding this year’s updated info about the Community Hummingbird Tour on Madison’s near west side.
Kathi and Michael Rock have for many Septembers welcomed the public to their beautiful garden for their annual Community Hummingbird Tour. This year’s tour dates are Sunday, September 14, 1:00-5:30 and Wednesday, September 17, 1:00-5:30 @ 5118 Buffalo Tr., Madison 53705.
Start a Hummingbird Garden
Learn how to draw the world’s tiniest birds to your garden with these colorful flowers.
Written by Amy McDowell for Midwest Living @ www.midwestliving.com/
Tiny Joys
Gardeners Kathi and Michael Rock of Madison, are enchanted with hummingbirds. “Hummingbirds truly embody the magic, joy and freedom that we as humans would love to have,” Kathi says.
Kathi knows hummingbirds’ amazing statistics: They can fly faster than any other birds and have the largest proportionate brain size. And, of course, they can hover and snatch insects in midair.
Kathi and Michael first fell in love with hummingbirds a decade ago after adding a hummingbird feeder to their backyard. Now they have two dozen feeders and more than a hundred kinds of annuals and perennials to cater to the tastes and habits of their flying friends.
“We try to have plants that bloom at every point during the season,” Kathi says. The feeders fill in when flowers aren’t growing in early spring and after fall frosts.
The Rocks pass along their 10 years of expertise by hosting a hummingbird gardening website (sites.google.com/view/hummingbirdgardening/home) and by giving community presentations. They’ve learned a lot over the years about hummingbird habits in the Midwest.
Although there are 300 kinds of hummingbirds, the ruby-throated (left) is the only one common throughout the Midwest. The tiny birds arrive here in May and June, then leave gardens to build nests in isolated forest areas. As soon as mating is over, in early July, the males begin to migrate because they play no role in raising the young. Females head south after their offspring learn to fly.
“We see an increase in the number of hummingbirds beginning in early August,” Kathi says. “Our peak time in Madison is traditionally mid-September. By then, most of the adult males are gone, and we’re seeing female and immature birds almost exclusively.”
Hummingbirds will dine from flowers of any color, but red attracts them best. “They can see red up to a mile away,” Kathi says.
Flowers with tubular blossoms evolved with hummingbirds, so the Rocks keep a good supply. Hummingbirds also eat spiders and insects, including mosquitoes and gnats.
Kathi recommends six plants to get your hummingbird garden started: perennials honeysuckle, bee balm and cardinal flower, as well as annuals Mexican cigar plant, blue anise sage and Texas sage.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma) has blooms that look like starbursts and fragrant foliage. It reaches 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Grow in full sun or light shade. Zone 4.
The red or red-orange variety of Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) blooms with trumpet-shape flowers on a vine that reaches 10-15 feet long. Grow in full sun. Zone 4.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) attracts hummers with fire truck red blossoms on 2- to 3-foot-tall stalks from late summer through fall. Grow in full sun or part shade. Zone 2.
Mexican cigar plant (Cuphea ‘David Verity’) grows 2 feet tall with orange tubular flowers and tips that resemble lit cigars. It flowers from early summer until frost, grows well in containers and thrives in full sun. Annual.
Blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica ‘Black ‘n Blue”, i.e.) blooms with purple flowers from summer through fall. It reaches 2-4 feet tall. Grow in full sun to part shade. Annual.
Texas sage (Salvia coccinea) flowers prolifically with red flowers summer through fall. It reaches 2 feet tall and grows easily from seed. Grow in full sun.
Make Your Own Nectar
When your flowers aren’t blooming, feeders will help attract hummingbirds. Mix one part sugar with four parts tap water. Sugar dissolves quickly in warm water, so there’s no need to boil it. When nectar looks cloudy or moldy, wash the feeder and refill with a fresh batch.
While a traditional feeder is hung off a house or on a stand near your home, many different varieties are available, including ones that you can place in the ground (left) at any attractive spot in your garden.
In addition to the above, other annuals that attract hummingbirds include; fuchsias (especially ‘Gartenmeister’), lantana, nicotiana, pentas and hyssop.
All suggested plants are available at Klein’s in the springtime.
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ENTRY: AUGUST 30, 2025 (What? A Native Artichoke?)
There are so many beautiful, tall, yellow, perennial flowers currently in bloom along Wisconsin’s roadsides, parks and wild areas. There are goldenrods, the silphiums, the rudbeckias and, of course, wild sunflowers. Among those is our native edible sunflower… the sunchoke. These tasty, seasonal tubers are a fall treat worth trying!!
The following ‘all you need to know about sunchokes’ (Jerusalem artichokes) comes to us from Mother Earth News @ www.motherearthnews.com/
All About Growing Jerusalem Artichokes
By Barbara Pleasant
Once they’re established, growing Jerusalem artichokes is more a matter of containing than encouraging them. These productive, nutty-flavored tubers can stand in for potatoes.
Potatoes aren’t the only terrific tuber out there. Native to central North America, Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) — often called by the more modern name “sunchokes” — are so prolific they can become invasive, but if handled properly, they will be a productive and rewarding crop. The edible parts of these plants are their knobby roots, which have a crisp texture like that of water chestnuts. When cooked, they become a soft, nutty alternative to potatoes.
American and European gardeners have been selecting superior strains over the course of 300 years growing Jerusalem artichokes. A few of these are distinctive enough to bear variety names. Keep in mind that unnamed strains grown by local gardeners may be a great fit for your garden, so look for them at local farmers markets or plant swaps. You can also try growing from supermarket sunchokes, purchasing and planting them in early spring.
Strains vary by skin color, root shape, and maturation time. White-skinned strains include the early-maturing ‘Stampede’ variety, which develops crisp, round roots quickly enough to be grown in climates with short summers. The roots of slower-growing ‘Clearwater’ and ‘White Fuseau’ are longer, which makes them easier to scrub and peel.
Red-skinned strains include ‘Red Fuseau,’ which has red skin over topshaped roots with few attached round nodules, making the roots easy to clean. The roots of ‘Red Rover,’ ‘Waldspinel,’ and a few other red varieties are so long that these varieties are sometimes called “fingerling sunchokes.”
Plant small, whole tubers in early spring, or as late as you’d plant tomatoes. To get Jerusalem artichokes with big roots, give plants the longest growing season possible. After the first year, small tubers you missed while harvesting will usually shoot up sufficient plants to form a good crop.
A hardy, widely adapted perennial, Jerusalem artichokes grow best in well-drained soil with a near-neutral pH of about 7.0. Locate your crop in full sun but behind smaller vegetables, because the 10-foot-tall plants cast ample afternoon shade. A 5-by-5-foot bed (located outside the garden, where its perimeter can be easily mowed) is ideal for this exuberant crop. A 25-square-foot planting can produce more than 100 pounds of harvested tubers.
To prepare the site, dig out weeds and grasses, and dig in a 2-inch layer of compost to improve the soil’s structure. Plant small seed tubers 4 to 5 inches deep and 16 inches apart. When the plants are about a foot tall, mulch with grass clippings, rotting leaves, or another organic mulch that will help retain soil moisture.
Tubers, seeds or both are available seasonally from Jung’s and many other online sources.
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
…and now what to do with your bounty of sunchokes. Here are a few ideas.
ROASTED SUNCHOKES— An EASY and healthy vegetable side dish for fall or winter! Source: A Beautiful Plate website @ www.abeautifulplate.com
1 lb sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) *see recipe notes rinsed and scrubbed well, and cut into ½-inch thick slices
1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
½ teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1-2 sprigs fresh thyme finely chopped
Note: Sunchokes are a high source of inulin, which can cause stomach discomfort for some people, especially if eaten in large quantities. If you’re unsure, remove most of the peel prior to roasting.
Preheat the oven to 425° Fahrenheit (220°C) with a rack in the center position. In a medium bowl, toss the sunchokes slices with the olive oil, salt, and pepper until well coated. Distribute the sunchokes, cut-side down in an even, thin layer on a half sheet pan. Be sure to leave space between them, as this will help them caramelize evenly.
Roast for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through, or until the sunchokes are lightly caramelized and fork tender.
Gently toss the roasted sunchokes with freshly chopped thyme leaves and a light sprinkle of kosher salt. I like to drizzle them lightly with extra virgin olive oil before serving, but this is optional. Serve immediately. Serves 4.
SAUTÉED SUNCHOKES— With a sweet nutty taste and a tender creamy interior when cooked, sautéed sunchokes are a welcome cool weather departure from potatoes and other root vegetables. Source: Gourmande in the Kitchen website @ gourmandeinthekitchen.com/
½ lb sunshokes (aka jerusalem artichokes), washed and scrubbed clean
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (or butter for non-vegan)
½ lb fresh, cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
Pinch of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1 garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
The juice of ½ a small lemon
Thinly slice the sunchokes and place them immediately in a medium sized saucepan filled with salted water. Place the saucepan on the stove and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the sunchoke slices are tender but not falling apart. Drain and set aside. In the meantime make the persillade by finely chopping the flat leaf parsley, lemon zest and garlic together. Set aside.
Heat oil or butter in a large saute pan or skillet on medium heat. Add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt and pepper and turn to coat them well. Cook, turning the mushrooms over from time to time, until the water in the mushrooms has completely evaporated and the they feel tender to the fork. Add the cooked sunchokes and continue to cook stirring occasionally for another 2 to 3 minutes or so to lightly brown. Add the persillade and stir and cook for an additional minute before removing from heat and adding the lemon juice. Serve immediately. Serves 4.
SUNCHOKE SOUP–A traditional and wonderfully easy way to prepare these chokes is as a soup. If you like the taste of artichokes, we urge you to try your hand at making this soup with Jerusalem artichokes. This is lick-the-bowl good. Source: The Simply Recipes website @ www.simplyrecipes.com/
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
Kosher salt, to taste
2 pounds sunchokes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 quart chicken stock (use vegetable stock for vegetarian option, and gluten-free stock if cooking gluten-free)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium-high heat until melted. Add the onions and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Do not brown them. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt. Add the sunchokes and your choice of stock to the pot and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer, covered, until the sunchokes begin to break down, 45 minutes to an hour. Using an immersion blender or upright blender, purée the soup. If using an upright blender, fill the blender bowl up only to a third of capacity at a time, if the soup is hot. Hold down the lid while blending. Alternatively, you can push the soup through the finest grate on a food mill, or push it through a sturdy sieve. Add more salt to taste. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper before serving. Serves 4.
SUNCHOKE SAUCE–A Unique Spin on the Classic Fettuccini Alfredo!! Source: The Emerald Palate website @ www.emeraldpalate.com/
12 oz. fettuccini pasta
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
10-12 medium-sized sunchokes, peeled (about 1 – 1.5 pounds)
1 Tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. flour
3 tsp. lemon zest, plus more for garnish (reserve the lemon for serving)
1/2 cup whole milk
3 oz. cream cheese
Fresh nutmeg
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish (or similar, like Pecorino Romano)
Chopped parsley for garnish
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss peeled and chopped sunchokes with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper (a few grinds from a mill is enough). Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until golden brown and soft. Remove the roasted sunchokes from the oven and mash with a potato masher in a bowl as well as you can. You’ll puree the sunchoke sauce later, so don’t worry if it’s still chunky.
Meanwhile, make the pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil. When boiling, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook until al dente, about 5 minutes. Reserve some of the cooking water before draining. While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter on medium in a Dutch oven pot or tall sided pot that won’t get damaged by an immersion blender (so avoid non stick). When the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add the flour and 3 tsp. of lemon zest, stirring with wooden spoon until it becomes a golden brown paste.
Add milk and cream cheese to the pot, whisking constantly to thicken, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, mashed sunchokes, and a few grates of fresh nutmeg. Use an immersion blender to puree the sunchoke sauce to the consistency you want.
Optional: If the sunchoke sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like it, create a mixture of 1 Tbsp. flour and cold milk. Then add the mixture to the sunchoke sauce and whisk constantly until thicker. Add cooked pasta to pot, mix, add cook for 1-2 minutes to incorporate. Use the reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed. Add fettuccini with the Alfredo sunchoke sauce to serving bowls. Squeeze with lemon juice and garnish with additional lemon zest, parsley, and cheese. Serve and enjoy! Serves 4.
NATURAL NEWS–
Terroir, noun: the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate and the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced.
Terroir: A Concept and Practice
Terroir, is a magical French word! French people talk about it all the time – how much terroir is important for the quality of a wine or a cheese, how a recipe is a recette de terroir … But what exactly do we mean when we use this word?
Terroir is a mix between a geographical definition and a cultural one. It is a geographical area with specific geological, hydrological, soil and climate characteristics. But it is more than that. The terroir has a strong cultural side. It is the reflection of the human societies that work its land. Different societies produce different terroir with the same territory. The notion of terroir is strongly linked with agricultural production. Indeed, agriculture is also the reflection of the natural conditions and the ways human societies work with them. Making the most of one’s land is the common goal of farmers and the heart of the notion of terroir.
To give a more practical example, let’s focus on a French cheese like Roquefort. It can only be produced in a small area, because the natural conditions influence the grass and flora that the sheep eat and therefore the milk they produce. But it is also the “savoir faire” of the people from the area of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and the way that they make the cheese that is inimitable. The combination of those two factors, geophysical and human, make that Roquefort can only be produced in this specific “terroir.”
The most striking example remains wines terroir. In France, people don’t only refer to wines according to the type of grape they were made of but principally according to the terroir. Indeed, some natural conditions like the type of soil or the exposition to the sun or what is called microclimate have a great influence on the quality of the wine. The area where the grape grew and the methods of its production (put in barrels or not, how long …), the art of making wine – “l’art d’élaborer le vin”– are essential factors. This is the reason why there are so many names for our French wines. Every area is unique and therefore deserves to be recognized for its own value.
Terroir is also an important tradition to pass on. The skills require making a special product, a recipe using ingredients from a special area like cassoulet (southwest of France) or choucroute (East of France). Therefore, French people as well as policy makers want to preserve this amazing heritage. The creation of denomination of origin, or the compilation of terroir recipes through the National Program for Food are examples of the actions keeping this tradition and notion alive!
SEPTEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Peperomia
Peperomia is a genus which is a member of the Piperaceae family and is related to black pepper (peppercorns). Hence the name: Peperomia means ‘resembles peppers’. It’s a large group of plants comprising more than 1500 species, which mainly come from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. They are often herbaceous plants, shrubs or climbers with fairly unspectacular flowers, which are usually spikes which resemble a tail. Peperomia is particularly about the decorative leaf shapes, colors and markings. The plants have semi-succulent properties, which means that they are able to store moisture in their fleshy stems or leaves to fall back on in times of need. However, they are significantly less good at storing moisture than true succulents and cacti.
The Pepper Family Piperaceae does not include bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) and chili peppers. These belong to the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae).
About a thousand species of peperomias have been described, mainly from tropical South America although a few (17) are found in Africa. Many of these plants are perennial epiphytes growing on rotten logs and they have thick stems and fleshy leaves, some with leaf windows. The palmate pattern of leaf veins is marked out in some species as furrows in the leaves or as colored lines. Most peperomias have tiny flowers which are packed into a characteristic greenish or brown conical spike (spadix) like an inverted catkin.
Peperomias are best cultivated in a light, well drained compost containing plenty of humus and do well in shallow containers. Coming from tropical rain-forest habitats, they love warm humid conditions and most need a minimum temperature of 50 – 55°F. However, the fleshy stems and foliage can be prone to rotting and peperomias should be watered sparingly from below (especially in winter) using soft water, avoiding wetting the crown of the plant.
Peperomias are non-toxic to animals.
Below is a listing of some of the more common peperomia species often available at Klein’s:
Peperomia acuminata
Name: Latin acuminata = gradually tapering to a point referring to the leaves
Thick scrambling green stems, rooting at their nodes where they touch the ground, with alternate, oval thickened, waxy green leaves with pointed tips. A succulent type.
Peperomia caperata
Name: Latin caperata = wrinkled
The green deeply veined heart-shaped leaves on red petioles of the wild plant have largely been displaced in cultivation by numerous selected forms with red and bronze leaves. During the Summer, narrow white flower spikes are produced. Commonly called rippled peperomia.
Native to the South American rainforest, probably Brazil, but described from a cultivated specimen. Although well known before 1958, there was no valid botanical description.
Peperomia clusiifolia (Red Edge Peperomia)
Name: with leaves similar to genus Clusia, named for Charles de l’Écluse (Latinized: Carolus Clusius) (1526 – 1609) a Dutch botanist
This species has thick reddened stems and fleshy, waxy dark green leaves with a red margin. Flowers are yellow or brown narrow spikes.
Native to the West Indies and Venezuela. Numerous selected named forms are in circulation. An easy, tolerant houseplant.
Peperomia clusiifolia var. tricolor has thick stems and fleshy, waxy green, pink and silver variegated leaves. A very showy plant.
Peperomia ferreyrae
Named for: Alejandro Huerta Ramón Ferreyra (1910 – 2005) Peruvian botanist
Green stems bearing long, narrow light green leaves with a darker-green window along their curved upper surface.
Native to tropical forests of Peru. As a forest-floor dweller this very succulent Peperomia grows best in bright diffuse light but not full sun. This unique looking peperomia is often included in our mix of tropical terrarium plants.
Peperomia griseoargentea
Name: Latin griseoargentea = grey + silver
This species has deeply veined heart-shaped, silvery-gray foliage, tinted green or copper along the veins.
Native to Brazil. Numerous selected forms are in circulation.
Peperomia magnoliifolia
Name: Latin magnoliifolia = Magnolia Leaf
This Peperomia spreads through adventitious brown stems to form mats or hummocks of glossy green leaves. Numerous variegated and colored leaf forms are in circulation.
Native to Northern South America into Mexico, West Indies and Bermuda.
Sources: www.flowercouncil.co.uk and succulent-plant.com/
AROUND TOWN:
For neighborhood events or garden tours that you would like posted in our monthly newsletter, please contact Rick at (608) 244-5661 or rick@kleinsfloral.com. Please include all details, i.e. dates, locations, prices, brief description, etc. Events must be garden related and must take place in the Madison vicinity and we must receive your information by the first of the month in which the event takes place for it to appear in that month’s newsletter.
GLEAM, Art in a New Light @ Olbrich Gardens
Thru October 25
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
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Rotary Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale
Thursday, September 4 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM (Members-only)
Friday, September 5 from 9 AM to 4 PM
Saturday, September 6 from 9 AM to 4 PM
At the Horticulture Center, 825 Sharon Rd., Janesville
Shoppers will be able to find an assortment of mums, asters, kales, perennials and compost during the sale. RBG volunteers will be available to assist shoppers with questions and purchases.
Those with a valid Rotary Botanical Gardens membership card will receive 10% off their total purchase. Memberships will be available for purchase at the plant sale.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885 orwww.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/for details.
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 7, 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
Dragonfly Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, September 13, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
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
A Native Gardening Conference @ the Arboretum
Native by Design: Gardening for a Sustainable Future
Sunday, September 14, 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The annual native gardening conference promotes the use of native plants in home landscapes for biodiversity, habitat, beauty, and sustainability. Expert-led workshops inspire and inform gardeners and landowners to create and maintain native gardens or small-scale restorations.
Keynote: “Habitat as Home: Native Plant Gardens and Insect Life,” Micah Kloppenburg, restoration outreach coordinator, UW Arboretum.
Early bird registration: $65, through July 21; regular rates: $70, starting July 22. Students (with ID): $35. The registration deadline is September 4. (Capacity is limited and the conference may sell out before the deadline.) Register @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/learn/adult-education/native-gardening-conference/ngc-registration/
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Community Hummingbird Garden Tours
Sunday, September 14, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 17, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
5118 Buffalo Trail, Madison, 53705 (near Hilldale & Oscar Rennebohm Park)
One of Wisconsin’s Hummingbird Banders, Mickey O’Connor, will be banding hummingbirds for the Sunday tour. Larry & Emily Schuenemann will present a program about hummingbirds for both tours at 3 p.m. We have 100+ plants and shrubs on display (including some rare salvias from South America), 20 hummingbird feeders, a garden pond, and a door prize drawing on each day at 2:00. You must be present to win. We will also provide printed information about hummingbird gardening. Please bring your own water or beverage bottle if you wish.
For more info please contact Kathi or Michael Rock at kathijr@yahoo.com.
Visit sites.google.com/view/hummingbirdgardening/home for more information.
Nature Hike in the Grady Tract @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 14, 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
Rotary Garden’s What’s in Bloom? Tour
Wednesday, September 17, 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/wp-content/uploads/2025-Sept-17-Whats-In-Bloom-Tour-registration-form.pdf
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
Fall in the Native Plant Garden @ the Arboretum
Saturday, September 20, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
A Garden Tour
Color, fruits, seeds, late blooming plants, late-season insects – we will find these and more in the diverse native plant gardens around the Visitor Center. Susan Carpenter, garden curator, will lead this tour. 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
Fall Equinox Night Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, September 20, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk. (Equinox is morning of September 22.) 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 September 17: 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
Family Nature Program: Bluebirds @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 21, 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
Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 28, 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
Nature/Culture Walk: Black Walnut Tree Collectives @ the Arboretum
Daily, Monday, September 29 to Saturday, October 4, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Join artist, visual cultures scholar, and 2024 Arboretum Research Fellow M Hamilton for a nature/cultural walking conversation about black walnut tree collectives in and around the border spaces of the Arboretum. The walk will take place entirely on paved routes. Walks scheduled daily from September 29 to October 4. See Eventbrite for details: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com . Free registration required by September 25. Space is limited. Meet at the Arboretum’s west entrance.
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
SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN-–A checklist of things to do this month.
**Although the average first frost date for Madison is about Oct. 6, killing frosts have occurred as early as September 12 (1955). Be aware of quick weather changes this time of year. Be prepared to cover tender plants at any time.
___Continue sowing lettuce, endive, escarole and spinach.
___Plant garlic now! This is the best time for Wisconsin.
___Plant bearded iris rhizomes and transplant peonies.
___Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
___Apply a systemic pesticide to plants to be wintered over indoors.
___Continue planting shrubs and trees.
___Plant grass seed. September is one of the best times as nights cool.
___Aerate your lawn.
___Divide and plant perennials as desired.
___Stop deadheading perennials for winter interest, i.e. sedums, grasses, etc.
___Dig tender bulbs as the foliage yellows.
___Give the garden at least 1″ of moisture per week.
___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.
___Keep and eye on the weather. Water as needed.
___Shop for spring bulbs, mums and pansies.
___Bring dormant amaryllis bulb indoors for 3 mo. of rest.
___Begin checking out the garden centers for spring bulb selection.
___Take cuttings of geraniums, coleus and other plants to winter over.
___Late in the month, begin planting spring bulbs, but wait as long as possible.
___Begin moving houseplants back indoors.
___Visit Klein’s—Great selection of mums, kales, cabbages, pansies & more!
Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:
For seeds:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds @ www.rareseeds.com or 417/924-8887
Burpee @ www.burpee.com or 800/888-1447
Harris Seeds @ www.harrisseeds.com or 800/514-4441
Johnny’s Select Seeds @ www.johnnyseeds.com or 207/861-3901
Jung’s Seeds @ www.jungseed.com or 800/247-5864
Park’s Seeds @ www.parkseed.com or 800/845-3369
Pinetree @ www.superseeds.com or 207/926-3400
Seeds of Change @ www.seedsofchange.com or 888/762-7333
Seed Savers @ www.seedsavers.org or 563/382-5990
Select Seeds @ www.selectseeds.com or 800/684-0395
Territorial Seeds @ www.territorialseed.com or 888/657-3131
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 SEPTEMBER:
—The poinsettias continue grow and thrive. They’re almost ready to bring into our retail greenhouses before the weather gets too cold.
—Crops such as cyclamen for winter sales and select tropicals for next spring are arriving.
—We begin weatherizing the greenhouses for winter.
—All remaining perennials are cut back, cleaned up.
—We continue stocking fall mums as they go into bloom. We’ll continue to have a good selection usually into November.
—Ordering plants for spring 2026 is going on fast and furious. Our growers order early to ensure best selection. They pore over stacks of catalogs containing the newest plant material for next 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
Yelp, Google Reviews or Facebook Reviews
Follow Klein’s on Facebook where we post updates and photos on a regular basis.
Join Klein’s on Twitterwhere 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.
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