‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—MARCH 2026
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or [email protected]
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Ever Thought about Working @ a Garden Center?
UW Extension’s Green Thumb Gardening Series Runs Through March
Free Houseplant Potting Service @ Klein’s
Our ‘Mad Gardener‘ and ‘Houseplant Help‘ Are Ready for Your Questions
Tips for Fresh Cut Tulips and Daffodils
Klein’s Favorite Seed, Bulb & Plant Sources
Seed Starting Basics for Maximum Success
Arriving in March: The Summer Bulbs
Homemade and Natural Indoor Fungus Control
You Asked about Aphids on an Overwintering Hibiscus
We Reuse Your Teal-colored 5″ Klein’s Pots
Product Spotlight: New Products at Klein’s for Seed Starting
Plant of the Month: Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
Klein’s Favorite Simple Chocolate Dessert Recipes
Notes from Rick’s Garden Journal—From February 2026
—Green Thumb Gardening Series 2026
—Nursery Tales
—Veggie Starter Plants’ Debut at Klein’s?
March 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
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING AT A GARDEN CENTER?
Perhaps now’s the time to explore the possibility.
February is the perfect time to fill out an application online @ kleinsfloral.com/employment/. By early March we try to have most of our hiring in place for the upcoming spring.
We’re always in need of temporary, part-time counter help in the spring and greenhouse production swings into gear during March. If you’re interested please fill out an application on our website or call the store @ 608-244-5661 and ask for Sue or Megan about retail positions or Michael for the greenhouse. Benefits include flexible hours, a generous discount on all purchases and a stimulating and fun work environment. Join our team and experience first hand how we make the magic happen.
WE’VE CHANGED OUR BIRTHDAY MAILING PROCEDURE
Starting in January we switched from our paper birthday “postcard/coupon” to an email in an effort to save on paper and expense 🌎💌
Please make sure your email address (and birthday month) is up to date with us so you don’t miss out on your birthday surprise! 🎉 Email Megan at [email protected] to verify your info. Thank you for helping us go a little greener!
FREE HOUSEPLANT POTTING SERVICE @ KLEIN”S
Did you know that if you buy both a plant and it’s new pot at Klein’s, we will pot it up for free and on the spot—time and staff permitting. That means no mess or hassle at home. Let Klein’s staff make it easy for you.
Klein’s has an amazing assortment of houseplants ranging from the smallest plants for terrariums and dish gardens, to tropical trees, to succulents and cactus and a huge assortment of air plants. Our knowledgeable staff will help select the perfect plant for any location and occasion, offering care tips and sound advice.
Obviously, we are overly busy (i.e. during the Valentine’s or spring rush) or understaffed, we may ask that you pick up your newly potted plants at a later convenient time.
Similarly, if your current houseplants have outgrown their pots, take advantage of Klein’s repotting services. Our repotting fees for existing plants are based on pot size and include soil and labor.
***Please note the. free potting service is only available with houseplant purchases and not for seasonal bedding plant and tropical patio plant purchases where normal potting charges apply.
THE MAD GARDENER
Madison’s Firsthand Source for Expert Gardening Advice
Ask any of your gardening questions by e-mailing them to us at [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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.
MARCH STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
March 3–Full Moon
March 8–International Women’s Day
March 8–Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 14—Terrarium Workshop at Klein’s, 11:00-12:00. Build your own custom terrarium! Our workshop starts with a discussion of terrariums by Chris, our terrarium expert extraordinaire, including building techniques, maintenance, appropriate plant and container selection, etc… Feel free to bring your own container, or shop our selection. Everything you need will be available. Price depends on materials used. Registration requested – call the store (608) 244-5661, or email [email protected] to sign up.
March 17–St. Patrick’s Day. From shamrocks to green carnations–we have it!
March 20–First Day of Spring!!!! It’s still too early to plant, but you’ll notice spring bulbs peeking through the cold soil, trees buds bulging and maybe even that first robin. Keep in mind that Madison’s average last frost date is May 10 so there’s usually still lots of cold and snow to come.
March 20–Eid al Fitr
March 29–Palm Sunday
April 1–April Fool’s Day
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind and curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead”
Daffodowndilly
by A.A.Milne (creator of Winnie the Pooh)
Before you know it, our gardens will be bursting with the heralds of spring–first the snowdrops and early crocus and in short order, the daffodils and tulips. Already at Klein’s, fresh cut tulips and daffodils fill our coolers and mixed bulb gardens are in high demand. Our customers long for spring.
Tulips and daffodils are some of our most desirable cut flowers in the springtime–whether purchased at a flower shop, from the local supermarket or picked from one’s own garden. Here are a few important tips when using both tulips and daffodils in fresh arrangements.
Cut Tulips:
Tulips are best purchased or cut from the garden when the flower bud is showing color but still closed. Harvested earlier, the color won’t fully develop. Purchasing or harvesting later reduces the life in the vase.
Once ready for the vase, line up the tops of the tulips and cut off the stems so all tulips are the same length. Bunch the tulips upright and place in a tall vase or bucket of very cold water for at least 30 minutes to rehydrate. It’s important that the stems are kept straight during this step. Tulip stems will assume whatever shape the stems are in during the rehydration process.
Once placed in a vase on their own or mixed with other cut flowers, tulips will continue to grow and elongate; creating a dramatic and ever changing display. Unlike most cut flowers, tulips should not be placed in a floral preservative. A tulip arrangement will last much longer if placed in a cold (but not freezing) location during the night.
Cut Daffodils:
Fresh cut daffodils exude a sticky sap that is toxic to most other cut flowers. To eliminate this problem, simply place your fresh cut garden daffodils alone in a vase or bucket of cold water in a cool location for at least 24 hours. After this time, the daffodils can be safely arranged with other flowers. Daffodils purchased at flower shops or at the supermarket have already been conditioned so this step can be skipped.
Daffodils will continue to open so long as the flower buds are showing good color and are about to crack open. Harvested too early, they may not open fully. Unlike tulips, daffodils will last longer if a floral preservative is used in the vased arrangement. Placing the arrangement in a very cool (but not freezing) location at night can double the lifespan of your bouquet.
YOU ASKED. . .
I have a beautiful hibiscus plant that winters inside and spends summer out on the patio. I have had it for five years and it is five feet tall in a large planter. Almost every winter it develops aphids which start on the blossoms and eventually spread all over the plants. How can I prevent this and/or treat it once it starts? Jackie
Aphids are usually pretty easy to get rid of with diligent spraying. Most indoor plant insecticides readily take care of aphids. Without diligent applications, eggs will keep hatching until they’ve all hatched. You must keep applying per package instructions until all hatching cycles have been eliminated.
You can avoid aphids entirely by applying a systemic to the soil beginning about Labor Day each season (about a month before you bring the plant indoors) and then reapplying every 5 weeks through the winter. Application rates are per package instructions.
Thanks for your question,
[email protected], [email protected]
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . that autumn isn’t the only time of the year to think about planting bulbs? How about March?
Many beginning gardeners see bulb planting as only a fall task; one of the last things one does before putting the garden to sleep for the winter. The bulbs planted in the fall are the spring bloomers: the tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. These bulbs are available at garden centers from about Labor Day into early November.
The other class of bulbs are the “summer bulbs”, those from tropical or subtropical origins that will not survive Wisconsin’s harsh winters. Though called bulbs, many are actually corms, tubers or rhizomes. The summer “bulbs” include dahlias, gladiolas, tuberous begonias, cannas, callas, caladiums and many others. These bulbs are either planted directly in the garden in spring or are started indoors in pots in late winter to give them a jump start for our short Midwest growing season. These bulbs all need to be stored indoors over winter. Summer bulbs become available at garden centers throughout the month of March and into early April. Klein’s are scheduled to begin arriving the week of March 9. The early arrivals are those that like that early jump start, especially caladiums, callas and elephant’s ears. These bulbs should all be started in pots by March 1 if possible. Dahlias and cannas can be started indoors around April 1. They could be planted directly into the garden in May, but we then lose a month of bloom time when planted that late. Gladiolas, on the other hand, are best planted directly into the garden beginning in late April. For a summering crop, continue planting glads every two weeks into June.
Lilies (Asiatics, Orientals, Tigers, etc.) can be purchased and planted in both spring and fall. Many garden centers offer started plants in the spring. Most lilies are fully hardy in southern Wisconsin so are treated as a hardy perennial. Therefore, they are not dug up in the fall.
Storing raised bulbs for the winter is a learning experience with great success, but you’ll find some misses along the way. There’s tons of advice available on the “best” way to store bulbs. As a rule of thumb, most over wintered bulbs do best in a cool, dark and dry environment. An old-fashioned root cellar works best, but few homes have those nowadays. A heated garage is the next best choice. However, most people will have at least some success in their basements–keeping in mind, the cooler, the better. Store bulbs in peat moss, sand or a mixture of the two for greatest success.
The foliage of most summer bulbs can freeze off in the fall. This will not ruin the tender bulbs underground. Cut off the dead foliage, dig up and allow to cure for a few days before storage. This allows freshly cut wounds or damage from digging to callous over before storage. Most stored bulbs must remain cool, dark and dry all winter. But some, like cannas, prefer a little moisture during storage. Each bulb has slightly different requirements so a little research goes a long way. Make sure to check stored bulbs periodically throughout the winter and discard any bulbs with signs of rot.
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.
New to Klein’s for Your Early Seed-Starting Needs…
In just a few short weeks seed starting will be in full swing so it’s time to inventory your supplies and stock up and we have it all!
- Purple Cow Seed Starting Mix in two sizes
- A full assortment of Seed Starting Trays and Cell Inserts
- Starter Pots—both plastic and biodegradable
- Humidity Domes in three sizes
- …and so much more!
New to Klein’s this season…supplies to make seed staring even easier and with greater success:
SunPad™ Lite Seedling Propagation Mat
Start your seedlings with this nifty heated mat that is sized ideally for seed flats. This will cause faster germination, higher success rates, and faster growth for quicker transplanting. Helpful tips on watering, lighting, and transplanting are printed right on the mat so you will never lose the instructions.
- Germinates seeds faster
- Increases seedling and cutting success
- Helpful lighting and planting information printed on the mat
- Fits under common seed trays
- Waterproof construction
- Automatically warms rooting area 10-20F over ambient temperature
Available in two sizes; for a single 10″ x 20″ tray or for two trays.
SunKit™ Mini Greenhouse Kit
- Kit includes: 8 7/8″ x 19 1/2″ Heat Mat (17W, 120V, UL Listed), 11″ x 21″ Bottom Tray, 72-Cell Insert, Vented 7 1/2″ Dome, and Germination Tips
- BPA-Free 7-1/2″ humidity dome with four adjustable vents to allow for good control of humidity conditions for your growing seedlings and cuttings
- BPA-Free 11″ x 21″ watertight base tray
- Mat warms the rooting area 10 degrees F to 20 degrees F above ambient temperature to ensure proper seed sprouting
SunKit™ Seed Starting System
- BPA-Free: 2″ humidity dome with two adjustable vents, 72-cell seedling insert, 11″ x 21″ watertight base tray.
- 8 7/8″ x 19 1/2″ SunPad UL Listed seedling heat mat with 6′ cord. The mat keeps the tray reliably 10°F (50°C) to 20°F (above ambient room temperature).
We highly recommend using this seed-starting kit with our tabletop SunPak™ Grow Light System.
SunPack™ Grow Light Stand
The SunPack Grow Light Stand Rack lets you get a jump on the growing season or help plants grow in low-light areas. It will hold fluorescent or LED T5 and T5HO grow lights from almost any manufacturer, including SunPack’s full-spectrum lamps. The adjustable height lets you place the grow light plant stand over a variety of tables, benches or floor-standing crops while altering the light intensity. We offer two-foot and four-foot-long light stands to get you additional options.
- Simple toggle clamp for quick lamp height adjustment.
- Powder-coated finish repels moisture and rust.
- Fast, easy assembly featuring fast connect locking pins.
- Strong reinforced top bar to hold the light fixture.
Miracle LED® Daylight LED Grow Light Fixture
The Miracle LED Daylight LED Grow Light Fixture is lightweight, hangable, and linkable for easy expansion. The old days of growing under hot fluorescent bulbs are gone forever. No more withering leaves and high energy bills. No more short lifespans equipment and high replacement cost. Daisy chain up to 6 fixtures together to replace up to 300W grow panels and suspend them from almost any stand or hook. Available in 2′ and 4′ lengths.
Miracle LED® Clamp On Light Fixture
Provides the perfect solution to your home growing setup. Our easy-clamp system allows light placement wherever necessary while our rubber textured no-slip design allows for secure placement. Perfect for any screw-in grow bulb. Cover multiple plants with ease. Klein’s carries an assortment of individual Miracle LED® grow bulbs in various light spectrums for all your growing needs.
Miracle LED®, Kitchen Gardener Grow Light Kit
A complete LED Grow Light Kit, with (2) 150W Ultra Grow Lite full spectrum grow bulbs. Grow Fresh Herbs and Veggies right in your kitchen. Ultra Grow Lite bulbs emulate the sun, giving plants the energy they crave.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL–Tips and Observations from My Own Garden by Rick Halbach
ENTRY: FEBRUARY 2, 2026 (Green Thumb Gardening Series 2026)
I received an emailed reminder today that the UW Extension Green Thumb Gardening series continues through the month of March…
The Green Thumb Gardening vegetable series will help you to keep your kitchen garden thriving! The series covers many aspects of vegetable gardening for a robust background in vegetable production. UW-Madison Extension educators and UW specialists will provide in-depth, practical information for the novice to the experienced gardener. Classes are recorded (except Vegetable Diseases) and handouts are provided for your further review after each session.
All classes are Thursdays 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Register for the complete class series at a discounted price ($100.00) or individual classes ($12.00) according to your interests.
Full Vegetable Series – All classes are live; recordings are sent to registrants after the event (vegetable disease management is not recorded).
Visit Green Thumb Gardening 2026 for further details or register @ https://events.humanitix.com/gt-veg-2026/tickets .
March 5 Vegetable Garden Weed Management
March 12 Cover Crops for the Vegetable Garden
March 19 Vegetable Crop Disease Management (this session will NOT be recorded)
March 26 Vegetable Garden Succession Planting, Companion Planting, & Season Extension
Please contact Lisa Johnson @ 608-224-3715 or [email protected] with questions or for more information.
* * * * *
ENTRY: FEBRUARY 21, 2026 (Nursery Tales)
Going through some old papers and collected articles, I came across this magazine article I cut out of a magazine many years ago. This article offers a delightful tongue-in-cheek insight into what it’s like to work at a garden center.
Nursery Tales
by Heather Lockman
“Ahhh,” sighed my friend Dana, with more than a touch of envy. “You know you’ve landed my dream job.”
Dana and I are both writers. The work is mostly rewarding, but sometimes when we get fed up with deadlines and sparring with editors, we’d joke about getting jobs at a garden center–spending a summer outdoors amid flowers and getting in touch with our souls. Now, to Dana’s astonishment, I’d actually gone and done it.
“Lucky you,” she said
I pictured myself counseling thoughtful customers, suggesting lesser-known bulbs and perennials for their borders. I would help beginning gardeners discover the joys of texture and foliage. I would share bits of gardening folklore. My days would be very peaceful and Zenlike.
Alas, I soon discovered there is nothing even remotely Zenlike about a nursery in springtime. In spite of appalling May weather, customers stormed the garden center to fill their shopping carts with common-as-dirt petunias and fought over which hanging basket to buy and who got the last white lobelia. I didn’t have time to share folklore. I barely had time to breathe.
Every twenty minutes or so, Annabel, the nursery’s chief grower, zoomed up from the growing fields and greenhouses behind the property in a golf cart hauling a trailer full of plants. She had waistlong blond hair, piercing Icelandic blue eyes, a wiry frame fueled by coffee, and the mouth of a stevedore. Annabel wouldn’t have recognized Zen if it crawled off the back of her cart.
“Help me unload this trailer, sister, or I’m gonna break your fingers!”
Somehow I’d never imagined the back-straining, knee-bending, shin-bruising tasks involved in this line of work. I ran like a rabbit unloading trailers and restocking empty tables. I wrestled sacks of potting soil and bales of peat moss into cars full of groceries and golf clubs. I swept and reswept the greenhouse floors.
“What a great place to work,” at least one customer said to me every day. “There’s nothing more peaceful than being around plants.”
I had always thought of gardening as a democratic pastime open to everyone. But I soon began to suspect there were people who simply shouldn’t be permitted to garden–people who asked questions like, “Do you have a spray that will kill all the weeds but won’t hurt the flowers I planted?” “What’s wrong with the basket of annuals I bought here a month ago? It was beautiful, but now looks like rubbish.” These were the folks who wanted to garden without ever bending over. They were looking for lawns that didn’t need mowing and trees that changed color in autumn but wouldn’t drop their leaves.
Even the veteran staffers could be stumped by customer questions. “What do you call those tiny containers plants come in?” one woman asked earnestly. My coworkers gave their best guess. Flower pots? Cell packs? Nursery flats? No, she said, none of those sounded right. Exasperated, someone offered, “Seeds?”
“That’s it!” the woman cried happily. “Have you got any of those?”
In spite of the grueling physical chores, grumpy customers, and endlessly goofy questions, there were some sweet surprises. A tattooed man with a ponytail bought six different hardy fuchsias because, he told me cheerfully, they reminded him of his auntie. A gardener who’d lost his vision fell in love with chocolate cosmos because of their candy-box fragrance. Elderly shoppers often asked which summer flowers were best to grow for cemetery bouquets.
Best of all were the wild things that lived on the grounds. “When customers really get to me,” a long-time employee admitted, “I go out and pet a frog.” Dozens of bronze tree frogs lurked beneath the benches and in the buckets of pond plants. We found garter snakes snoozing inside sun-warmed pots, chipmunks behind the gift-wrapping counter, and dim-witted killdeers nesting in the parking lot.
In August, the last of the bedraggled petunias were replaced with chrysanthemums, fall pansies, and flowering kale. By September, tulip and daffodil bulbs spilled from the retail shelves. Soon Annabel was shouting for help with the Christmas poinsettias and threatening us bodily harm if we busted so much as a stem. The days grew shorter and colder. Finally it started to rain. I wasn’t made of stern enough stuff to slog through a nursery winter. It was time to give up the dream job and find my way back to my desk.
Before I left the garden center, I rang up an order of fall bedding plants for a woman who owned a local historic inn overlooking the bay.
“I’m so jealous!” she told me. “I’ve always wanted to work here!”
“Be careful what you wish for,” I said. “It’s not nearly as rosy and idyllic as everyone seems to think.”
The innkeeper signed her credit card slip and flashed me a knowing smile.
“Yeah?” she said good-naturedly. “Try running a bed-and-breakfast.”
* * * * *
ENTRY: FEBRUARY 27, 2026 (Veggie Starter Plants’ Debut at Klein’s?)
While gathering info for our March newsletter, I came across a really good question from our March 2025 newsletter regarding Klein’s availability of vegetable starter plants. I thought I might share it again…
You Asked:
When do you get in your live vegetable plants? Is there a pre-order ability or a catalog of what you will get in? Margot
Hi Margot,
The first of the veggies available (We grow most of our own from seed.) are the cold weather crops like lettuce, chard and members of the cabbage family (broccoli, kale, etc.) They are usually ready (weather dependent) by early April.
Madison’s last average frost date is about May 10 so we hold back on the rest of the veggies until the first week of May. If we put the tender veggies on the sales floor earlier and get a late freeze, customers tend to blame us for putting them out so early and want/expect replacements. We recommend not planting tender veggies until at least May 15 and even then looking ahead to the 10 day forecast at that time. Old timers wait until May 20 or even later. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and so many others require warm soil regardless of air temperature.
As for availability, take a look on our website @https://kleinsfloral.com/spring-plants/ for last season’s selection. It usually doesn’t change much from year to year. We post the current season’s availability around April 15, once we’ve sown, know germination success and know how the crops are doing.
For select items, you will be able to shop online on our website @ https://kleinsfloral.com/shop/. We only put our most popular varieties in our shop online store…the ones that are available season-long. Therefore, choices are limited there as selection changes daily as plantings sell out and we wait for the next crop to be ready for sale. It’s best to shop in store for our complete selection at any given moment.
Happy Growing Season!! Spring is just weeks away!!
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
The following are easy-to-make chocolate-rich recipes from the Klein’s staff. They are surely to become some of your favorite dessert recipes.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE TORTE–Absolutely elegant. A rich, dense cake topped with a lovely chocolate glaze then served, if desired, with a simple raspberry sauce. Who’d believe it was this easy?
Torte:
1/2 cup butter
6 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup flour
Glaze:
1/4 cup butter
2 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 TBS. water
1 TBS. honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9″ spring form pan.
For the torte, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat till smooth. Cool 15 min. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt on high speed till thick, 3-4 min. Add flour; mix well. Stir in the cooled chocolate. Pour the batter into the prepped pan. Bake 25-30 min . until a toothpick placed in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack in the pan at least one hour before frosting.
For the glaze, combine all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool 10 min. Loosen the edges of the spring form pan and place the cake on a serving platter. Apply all the glaze to the top and sides.
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and/or a raspberry sauce of 2 cups pureed fresh or frozen thawed raspberries mixed with 2 LBS sugar and chilled.
SNICKERS BARS–Even better than the candy bar!! The following recipe is a 1987 Wisconsin State Journal Cookbook winner.
1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 x 7.5 oz. jar marshmallow creme
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup salted dry roasted peanuts
1 x 11.5 oz. bag caramels
4 TBS. cream
Melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips, 1/4 cup the butterscotch chips and 1/4 cup of the peanut butter in a saucepan. Spread into a 9×13″ pan and let cool. Combine sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 5 min. Add to this the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter, the marshmallow creme and the vanilla. Stir in the peanuts. Spread this over the first layer in the pan. Melt the caramels in the cream and spread over the peanut mixture in the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate and butterscotch chips. Cool thoroughly and cut into bars.
Speaking of candy bars turned into desserts . . .
REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUP BARS–This dessert is amazing chilled, but even better frozen and tastes exactly like Reese’s peanut butter cups. Kids love’m! The recipe is originally from the ‘Orange Tree Imports Cookbook’.
2 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
12 oz. chocolate chips
Melt 1 1/2 sticks of the butter with the peanut butter. Stir in the crumbs and the powdered sugar. This mixture will become very thick. Spread into a 9 x 13″ pan. Melt the chocolate with the remaining 1 stick butter. Spread this evenly over the peanut butter mixture then chill or freeze. Dip the bottom of the pan in warm water for easier cutting and removal. Don’t cut the pieces too big because this recipe is super rich.
NATURAL NEWS–
Homemade and Natural Indoor Fungus Control
This is something we hear at the greenhouse quite often by late winter…
“Powdery mildew is beginning to show up on my indoor rosemary plants. This happens every year when I bring my rosemary indoors for the winter months, but I always hope for the best. Because I use my rosemary in cooking through the entire winter, I can’t use chemical fungicides for the control of the powdery mildew. What do I do?”
There are a number natural ways to control powdery mildew and most other fungal problems on indoor plants. These include:
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) -This is possibly the best known of the home-made, organic solutions for powdery mildew. Although studies indicate that baking soda alone is not all that effective, when combined with horticultural grade or dormant oil and liquid soap, efficacy is very good if applied in the early stages or before an outbreak occurs.
Use this recipe to make your own solution—mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of dormant oil and one teaspoon of insecticidal or liquid soap (not detergent) to a gallon of water. Spray on plants every one to two weeks.
Potassium Bicarbonate– Similar to baking soda, this has the unique advantage of actually eliminating powdery mildew once it’s there. Potassium bicarbonate is a contact fungicide which kills the powdery mildew spores quickly. In addition, it’s approved for use in organic growing.
Mouthwash – If it can kill the germs in your mouth, certainly the fungal spores of powdery mildew are no match. And that’s the premise. Generic, ethanol based mouthwash can be very effective at control. Tests using one part mouthwash to three parts water worked for well for Jeff Gillman, Ph.D and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, Department of Horticulture. Just be careful when mixing and applying mouthwash as new foliage can be damaged.
Vinegar – Similar to mouthwash, the acetic acid of vinegar can control powdery mildew. A mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of common apple cider vinegar, containing 5% acetic acid mixed with a gallon of water does job. However, too much vinegar can burn plants but at the same time, higher concentrations (above 5%) are more effective.
Sulfur and Lime/Sulfur – Direct contact by sulfur prevents disease spores from developing. When mixed with hydrated lime, the solution will penetrate leaves for even greater effectiveness. A widely available version of this combination includes copper sulphate and hydrated lime, known as Bordeaux mix. However, all of these solutions can burn plant tissue and is damaging to microorganisms in the soil and harmful to beneficial insects. It is also considered moderately toxic to mammals and humans. Use sparingly and with caution if at all.
Milk – The latest player in the fight against powdery mildew is milk. It’s not clear yet why it works so well, but it is believed that naturally occurring compounds in the milk are at work to combat the disease while also boosting the plant’s immune system. One experiment showed good results by applying a weekly dose of one part milk per two to five parts water.
Water – Ironically, dry conditions and high humidity are the most favorable conditions for powdery mildew to form. But straight water is its enemy because it washes off the spores before they have time to embed. However, water isn’t something that I promote for control because wet foliage is friend to many other plant diseases. If you’re going to try this option, do so early in the day so foliage has time to dry out quickly.
Neem Oil – This is a readily available organic option to disease and pest control. Neem oil is extracted from the neem tree, native to India. This is an effective disease control and a broad spectrum, natural insecticide that is kinder to beneficial insects and mammals. As for controlling powdery mildew, results vary but it is not the best option. Results are usually moderate at best.
Source: www.growingagreenerworld.com
MARCH’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
FITTONIA (Nerve Plant)
Fittonia is a genus of plants native to the tropical regions of South America. These plants have adapted to live in the warm, moist environment of tropical rainforests and can be seen in abundance in the wild. They are also cultivated in some regions of the world as houseplants, arboretum specimens, and greenhouse plants. Nurseries sometimes stock Fittonia and can order seedlings by request from customers.
These plants are creepers, growing low to the ground and expanding by forming mats. The foliage is roughly oval in shape with distinctive white veins referenced by the common names of nerve plant and mosaic plant. Some species produce dark green leaves, while others grow in red, white, or purple shades. The flowers are very small and not very noticeable. People growing the plants in cultivation tend to pinch the flowers off to promote the development of stronger, larger leaves.
Fittonia is slightly hairy, although the hairs are not sharp or irritating. The plant makes an excellent groundcover, in regions where people have an environment hospitable to members of this genus. As a houseplant, it can be grown in terrariums in homes that tend to be more dry, or in open pots in a home with high humidity or a dedicated gardener who will take time to mist the plant to maintain the moisture levels it prefers.
Like other tropical rainforest plants, Fittonia benefits from warm temperatures, high humidity, and indirect light. These plants are adapted for the rich floor of the rainforest and prefer soil amended with compost and other organic materials. The soil should be rich and moist to keep the plant happy and fertilizer can be periodically added to keep the leaves healthy and large. The wet conditions needed can sometimes be conducive to the growth of mold and mildew and gardeners should remain alert to any signs of infection or disease in their plants.
Some Fittonia specimens will thrive in more variable conditions, like slightly dry offices, although they will remain small and may grow very slowly. To keep humidity levels up around the plant, people can do things like bagging it or sticking it in a large fishbowl. While these may not be aesthetically pleasing solutions to the humidity problem, they can be used to perk a straggling plant back up. Once the plant is healthier, it can be exposed to room air again and misted regularly to keep it healthy.
Source: www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fittonia.htm
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 [email protected]. 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.
Orchid Escape @ Olbrich Gardens
Through March 8, 10:00-4:00 daily
Orchid Escape is an annual exhibit in the tropical Bolz Conservatory, featuring hundreds of orchids including specimen from Olbrich’s collection.
Admission:
$10 – General Admission
$6 – Child (ages 6-12)
FREE – Ages 5 & under
FREE – Olbrich members (adult/child)
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, March 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
The Canopy Sessions at Olbrich Gardens
March 6 & April 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Kick off your weekend with a live concert in one of Madison’s most unique spots: the Bolz Conservatory! Stroll through the vibrant plants, sip on refreshments, and let the music transport you to a tropical escape right in the heart of Madison.
Concerts are 6:00-8:00. Admission varies by event for the general public ranges and from $12-16 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Olbrich members (ages 13 and up), and $6-8 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free.
- Bar service available in the Conservatory
- Lobby doors open at 5:30 p.m. Conservatory doors open at 6 p.m.
- This is a strolling concert, so no seating is provided, through there are a few benches in the Conservatory. No carry-in chairs.
- The Canopy Sessions are amplified performances, not acoustic.
- You are encouraged to purchase tickets in-advance online. If the concert does not sell out online, remaining tickets will be available at the door.
- For ticket assistance, call 608-246-4550.
- A limited number of reduced fee tickets are available. To request a fee waiver, please contact Mike Gibson, Program Specialist, at [email protected] .
March 6
Heavy Looks—A Madison-based power pop rock band led by Dirk Gunderson and Roz Greiert, blending raw vocals, grunge riffs, and catchy guitar hooks into an energetic, emotionally charged sound. Since their 2014 debut Senses Growing Dull, they’ve opened for national acts like Gin Blossoms and The New Pornographers
April 17
Bill Roberts Combo—The Bill Roberts Combo delivers a tight, soulful, and rhythmically powerful take on blues-jazz. Led by award-winning guitarist Bill Roberts (voted Madison’s best electric guitarist and acclaimed for his album Blues Rides Shotgun) the group performs both instrumentally and with full-band arrangements.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Nature Hike: Walking in Leopold’s Footsteps @ the Arboretum
Sunday, March 8, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Visit key sites and learn about Aldo Leopold’s early phenological research and experiments to restore Wisconsin ecosystems during his time as the Arboretum’s first research director. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe 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
Orchid Sale @ Olbrich Gardens
Saturday, March 14, 11:00-4:00
At the conclusion of Orchid Escape a selection of orchids featured in the Bolz Conservatory will be offered for sale. The orchid pricing is discounted to reflect the usage in the one-month exhibit. Some orchids will be out of bloom post exhibit.
Early Bird Shopping
Opens at 10:00 AM
Access the sale before the public by purchasing an early bird ticket for $25, available online or in-person at the Gardens. Early bird shoppers can starting lining up to enter sale area in the Commons at 10:00 a.m. The sale opens to the public at 11:00 a.m.
Visit https://www.olbrich.org/calendar/orchid-sale for event details.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Family Nature Program: Welcoming Spring @ the Arboretum
Sunday, March 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
Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, March 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
Class: Phenology – Keeping Track of Nature @ the Arboretum
Saturday, March 28, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The recent equinox offers the perfect time to think about spring unfolding. Phenology – noting the periodic occurrences in the natural world – is both art and science, practiced for millennia across cultures and regions. Learn about different approaches and maybe find your own. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Indoor class. Fee: $25. Register by March 24 @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/classes/class-phenology-keeping-track-of-nature/ . Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, March 29, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Dane County Late Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, January 3 thru April 4, 8:00-noon
The Garver Feed Mill behind Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3241 Garver Green (access off Fair Oaks Ave.)
The Late Winter Market runs each Saturday from January 3rd until the beginning of the outdoor season. Get your market fix all year long. You will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, cheeses, hyper-local meats, honey, bakery items, and many specialty items.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
MARCH IN THE GARDEN–A checklist of things to do this month.
___Pinch back over wintered geraniums one last time. Root cuttings if needed.
___Check perennials for heaving during warm spells. Re-mulch as needed.
___Check for early spring bloomers like crocus, winter aconite & hellebores.
___Begin uncovering roses by month’s end.
___Continue bringing out your cooled forced bulbs for indoor enjoyment.
___Inspect stored summer bulbs like dahlias, cannas and glads for rotting.
___Check for and treat for pests on plants brought in from the garden.
___Keep bird feeders full. Clean periodically with soap and water.
___Keep birdbaths full and clean for the return of the first robins & other arrivals.
___Repair and clean out birdhouses. Early arrivals will be here soon!
___Inventory last year’s leftover seeds before ordering or buying new ones.
___Seed starting is in full swing: petunias, tomatoes, peppers and cole crops.
___Sterilize seed starting equipment and pots with a 1:16 bleach solution.
___Shop for summer bulbs like gladiolas, lilies and dahlias.
___Remove mulch & rodent protection (chicken wire) from tulip and crocus beds
___Use the winter days to plan next summer’s garden.
___March is the month to prune most fruit trees and apply dormant oil.
___Prune late summer and fall blooming shrubs.
___Do not prune spring blooming shrubs like lilacs, forsythia or viburnum.
___Begin bringing in branches for forcing: pussy willow, forsythia, quince, etc.
___As the days lengthen and new growth occurs, increase fertilizing houseplants
___Check your garden for any plant damage from weather or rodents.
___Ready the lawn mower—just a few weeks to go.
___Visit Klein’s—the showrooms are filling up with spring annuals. Pansies, violas, calendula, cole crops & onion sets become available by month’s end.
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
A SEED STARTING PRIMER–
Starting your own plants from seed can be both rewarding and frustrating for the beginning gardener. From experience, it’s best to start out slow. This eliminates some of the frustration. Experience will gain you knowledge and confidence. Before starting your seeds, read the packet and get a little basic information. Some seeds are best sown directly in the garden come spring and not started indoors. It’s best to do a little research by going on-line or purchasing a good gardening book. The packets themselves will usually tell you whether to direct sow in the garden or how many weeks before our last frost date to sow indoors. Our last frost date is about May 10. Using a calendar, count back from May 10 and this will be your sow date.
One can start seeds on any sunny windowsill and in almost any container. Warmth and moisture are critical in getting most seeds to germinate. But a few pieces of basic and inexpensive equipment purchased at your garden center and/or hardware store will help you get started and make your seed starting experience a great success. Here is a shopping list:
*A heating mat–makes seeds germinate quickly and uniformly
*A few 10×20″ trays without holes
*A few clear humidity domes
*A sterile seed starting mix
*A 4′ shop lamp w/ 2 fluorescent bulbs (you don’t need “gro-lights”)
or a seed growing rack if you’d like to make an investment
*A few 10×20″ trays with holes
*A few sheets of empty cell packs, e.g. 4-packs or 6-packs
*A water mister
*A timer
*A soilless potting mix
All of the above items, except the timer, are available at Klein’s.
Again, following package instructions, sow the seeds, as many as you want, in a very shallow, open container, filled with moistened seed starting mix. This container can be anything from very low or cut off dairy containers to disposable food storage containers. Per package instructions, cover or don’t cover the seed. Some seeds require light for germination. Next place your seeded containers in a tray without holes, mist them till well watered and cover with a humidity dome. Place your covered tray on the plugged in heating mat under the shop light. Set your timer so the shop light is on for 13 hours (off for 11 hours).
In a few days, as your seeds begin to sprout, remove them from under the humidity dome and place in a well-lit, warm location. Keep your seeds and seedlings moist. Different seeds sprout at different rates so this can take from a few days to a few weeks. Once all your seeds have germinated, unplug your heating mat. You can now move all of your seedlings to under the shop light still set at 13 hours.
Once your seedlings have 2 sets of “real” leaves it’s time to “prick them out” (transplant them). Do this by placing a sheet of empty cell packs in a tray with holes. The holes now become necessary for proper drainage. Fill the cells with soilless potting mix and moisten well with the mister. Using a pen or pencil “dibble” a hole into each of the cells. This is where you’ll now place your seedling. Remove the seed starting mix and seedlings as a clump from their starting containers. Gently break apart this root ball, separating your seedlings. The pen or pencil will come in handy as an added tool to help separate the seedlings. Carefully place one seedling in each of the holes you put in the prepped cells. Gently firm in with your finger tips. Mist well to water thoroughly and place in a warm, well lit area. Using your shop light again makes this easy. The seedlings may seem weak and somewhat abused, but they’re very resilient and will pop back quickly. When watering, fertilize your new plants with a very dilute solution, rather than at full rate. By May 10 your flowers and vegetables should be ready to put in your garden and you can say that you did it yourself–beginning to end.
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 new state of the art growing greenhouses behind our beautiful open-to-the-public retail space. 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 MARCH:
—Transplanting is in full swing on the transplanting line in our back greenhouses.
Employees work 8-10 hour shifts planting thousands of plugs and tiny seedlings into the cell packs you purchase in the spring.
—The greenhouses and showrooms are filling fast with thousands of hanging
and potted plants. We’re constantly moving product around, trying to make the best use of space.
—By the end of the month we’re moving product outside into hoop houses. We move product that is very cold tolerant, such as pansies, dianthus, dusty miller, alyssum and even petunias. The cold keeps them compact and pest free and hardens them off for the transition outside. We also need the room in our ever-filling greenhouses.
—Perennial plugs and bare roots arrive and are stepped up into 3 1/2″, quart and gallon sizes.
—Geraniums are pinched and shaped for the last time by the first week of the
month. Any later pinching will delay blooming too much for spring sales.
—Retail items are arriving nonstop for unpacking and pricing, everything from
garden ornaments and pottery to pesticides and fertilizers.
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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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.
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 [email protected]
Floral Manager—Sarah Somson [email protected]
Houseplant Buyer, Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach [email protected]
Purchasing—Megan Johnson [email protected]
Owner, Floral Designer & Purchasing—Sue Klein [email protected]
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