‘THE SAGE’-Klein’s Online Newsletter—SEPTEMBER 2026
Klein’s Floral & Greenhouses
3758 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
608/244-5661 or [email protected]
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Truckloads of Houseplants Are Arriving Fresh from Florida
50% Off Remaining Perennials, Shrubs, Potted Fruit & Ornamental Trees
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
About Klein’s Easy-To-Use Rewards Program
Tips on How To Turn Kids on To Gardening
About Klein’s Fresh Flower Sources
You Asked about Overwintering Specific Annuals
We Reuse Your Teal-colored 5″ Klein’s Pots
Free Houseplant Potting Service @ Klein’s
Product Spotlight: Insect Control from Bonide
Plant of the Month: Globe Allium (Ornamental Onions)
Klein’s Favorite Grill Basket Veggie Recipes
Notes from My Garden Journal—From August 2026
—Mid-summer Petunia Care
—An Old Window Screen Is a Fountain Pump Savior
—Love Is Like a Butterfly
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!! Please note this sale does not include fall mums or asters.
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
- Azaleas
- Burning Bushes
- Weigela
- Roses
- Dwarf Conifers
- Potted Fruits
…AND SO MUCH MORE!
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, 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 [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 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.
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.
SEPTEMBER STORE HOURS:
Monday thru Friday : 9:00-6:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 10:00-4:00
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Around September 1—The Spring Bulbs Arrive!! Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and much more begin arriving 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 7–Labor Day. Special Store Hours: 10:00-4:00
September 11–Patriot Day
September 11–Rosh Hashana Begins
September 13–Grandparents’ Day
September 21–Yom Kippur
September 26–Sukkot Begins
September 26–Full Moon
September 23–Fall Begins
‘THE FLOWER SHOPPE’:
“Where do your fresh flowers come from?” and “How often do you receive fresh cut flowers?”
These are often asked questions at any flower shop where freshness is your trademark and when dealing with such a fragile and perishable product. Similar to produce, product must be harvested and in the consumer’s hand as quickly as possible to ensure optimum freshness.
Due to its cost prohibitive nature, fresh flowers are seldom grown here in the north in hothouses as in generations past. Not that many decades ago, local growers (like Klein’s) grew many of their own cut flowers in their own greenhouses during the winter months and in fields on their property during the summer when greenhouse space was used for bedding plants. Things changed in the mid-20th century when faster and more efficient shipping options were made available. These days, most fresh flowers are grown year round in Central and South America and the southwestern United States. A few specialty items are still shipped in from western Europe (primarily the Netherlands), Hawaii and southeast Asia. From these distant locations, flowers are then shipped to local wholesalers where they are inspected, repackaged and redistributed to flower shops and other retailers.
Among the floral wholesalers we use at Klein’s are Bill Doran Company out of Rockford (with a Madison distribution site on Pflaum Rd.); Krueger Wholesale from Rothschild, WI and Karthauser & Sons of Germantown, WI.
About Our Flower Sources:
Due to its close proximity to Klein’s, the Bill Doran Co. (billdoran.com) is our quick go-to supplier when we need fresh flowers on short notice. On some days our drivers may stop two and even three times for not only fresh flowers, but any type of floral supply imaginable. Their helpful staff quickly and efficiently pulls fresh product from their huge walk-in cooler and packages it for us within a few minutes notice. Bill Doran’s also delivers to us as needed. Their Pflaum Rd. fleet distributes throughout much of southern Wisconsin.
Krueger Wholesale’s (www.kruegerwholesale.com) large, refrigerated vehicle, on the other hand, stops three (sometimes more) times in any week. In addition to standing orders of some of our most popular fresh flowers, we’re able to shop right off the truck; allowing our designers to pick the freshest and most beautiful product available to us. It’s like being a child in a candy store. We can literally have fresh flowers delivered from our supplier and into your hands within minutes! Krueger Wholesale not only supplies us with beautiful flowers, but also many of our houseplants and blooming plants. Fresh houseplants arrive on Tuesdays and in a different truck from their floral vehicle.
Karthauser and Sons (www.karthauser.net) supplies Klein’s primarily with their fantastic selection of high-quality blooming plants and houseplants, delivered to us on a weekly basis either on Tuesdays or Thursdays. They too have an extensive floral department that supplies us with supplies, glassware and fresh flowers during peak times and as needed throughout the year.
In addition to the above year round wholesalers, we florists in the Madison area are lucky to be in the midst of a booming local cut flower trade. Starting each May, Klein’s begins receiving regular weekly visits from local vendors who supply us fresh cut flowers and plant material directly from their fields. Because the flowers are grown locally, they arrive to us unblemished and in pristine condition.
YOU ASKED. . .
I have a beautiful hanging petunia plant I purchased from Kleins in early spring. It is still lovely but as summer draws to a close I wonder what I should do with it. Do I plant it? Toss it? Overwinter it in my garage? I also purchased a fuchsia that is in a big pot. Again, what do I do with it come winter? Allison
Petunias don’t overwinter well and harbor pests. It’s normal to dispose of them. Fuchsias, however, can be kept for years and get larger as they age. They need to be overwintered in the house in a sunny window. Watch for aphids, especially by late winter (But they are relatively easy to control.). Pests can be easily controlled by applying a systemic pesticide monthly starting around Labor Day. Prune it back hard before bringing indoors in early October. You’ll be cutting off blooms, but it’s necessary to maintain size and shape through the winter.
Thanks for your question,
[email protected], [email protected]
DID YOU KNOW. . .
. . . about Klein’s fantastic and easy-to-use Rewards Program?
Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses appreciates your business! We’ve put together a wonderful rewards program for our loyal customers to provide you more gardening information, invitation only events, preferred pricing promotions as well as monthly e-mail newsletters. And, we make it easy for you to earn your rewards. There is no card to carry, we keep track of everything! And it’s FREE! Earn a point for every dollar you spend at Klein’s (excludes gift cards, services, tax and events outside premises). Points accumulate and do not expire. When you reach 200 points, you will receive $10 off your next purchase.
Your Privacy is Our Priority – Klein’s is committed to protecting the privacy of its customers. Therefore, you have our word that the information you give us will remain strictly confidential. We promise that we will not sell any personal identifying information (name, address, phone number, or email address) to any person, company, organization, or agency. Phone numbers are used to look up customers in store; we will not contact customers by phone.
Rewards members who supply their email address will automatically be added to our mailing lists. Most correspondence and notices will be sent via e-mail. You can expect e-mails to keep you up to date with happenings at the store, special notification by email of unannounced/unadvertised specials, sales, membership appreciation events and receipt of monthly newsletter “The Sage” packed with information and gardening tips!
The rewards program will automatically deduct your senior discount if you are 62 years old or more on Tuesdays. The loyalty program will also deduct your Master Gardener discount (must be updated annually).
It’s our way of saying thank you for your patronage of our business. We know you have other choices and are grateful that you have chosen us. It’s also a great way for us to connect with our best customers, give you tips and advice, and reward you with exclusive offers and savings.
To get started, simply click Rewards Program Sign-Up
Please note:
-No points are given for prior purchases. Returns will be deducted from Rewards point balances.
-Membership is non-transferrable and may only be used by an individual member for personal benefit. Businesses and organizations excluded, sorry!
-Program benefits may not be combined with other benefits accrued by another member or other group discount programs.
-Klein’s reserves the right to exclude certain purchases from our rewards program at our discretion. Klein’s reserves the right to modify or discontinue our rewards program at any time, with or without notice.
-Can’t find you receipt? If you’ve used your rewards account then we can find it for you after your initial sign up information has been entered in our computer system!
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.
Systemic Insect Control from Bonide
If planning on bringing any plants indoors that have spent the summer outside, it’s almost (during the first week of September) the time to begin preventative measures to avoid bringing insect pests inside along with your plants. It’s far better to begin a regular routine now than to deal with pest problems once established indoors.
Systemic pesticides, unlike those directly sprayed on the insect, are absorbed by the plant itself and makes the plant toxic for insects to feed on them. Soft tissued plants absorb the chemicals quicker than woody plants which require the 4-6 week period for the systemic to work. We recommend starting Labor Day weekend for application for two reasons. First off, it happens to fall in that 4-6 week window before our average killing frost. Secondly, it’s easy to remember to apply it at about the same time from year to year.
The Bonide systemic we sell at Klein’s comes in two sizes (the smaller size packaged for houseplants and the larger for garden plants though the exact same product in both). The systemic needs to be reapplied about every 5 weeks throughout the winter to prevent insect infestations. When one brings plants indoors, we not only bring in the adults, but also their unhatched eggs. Reapplying also prevents plant-to-plant infestations. The most common indoor plant pests controlled by the systemic include aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, spider mites and thrips. Though mentioned on the label, we’ve found the systemic a little too mild to rid plants of scale and it seems relatively ineffective against the fungus gnats that live in the soil.
Carefully use the product according to package instructions; usually a few teaspoons stirred into the surface soil of your average sized potted plant. Dosage is based on pot size and soil volume, not plant size. For application, use a disposable plastic teaspoon and not a dinner spoon. Apply the systemic when the plants need to be watered and once applied, water them thoroughly. It’s not recommended to use the systemic in rooms where small children or pets have access to the treated plants.
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL
ENTRY: AUGUST 6, 2026 (Mid-summer Petunia Care)
I’m often asked how my many petunia containers and hanging baskets can look so good this late in the season.
My answer? In addition to regular watering and bi-weekly fertilizing, one quick ‘haircut’ just after the Fourth of July is the simple solution.
Usually by the Fourth of July most petunias are beginning to look a little leggy and tired. The center of the pots begin to yellow and lose leaves and the stems become thick and woody. That’s about the time I begin pruning my 20 plus petunia pots and baskets back to about 4-6″. I trim baskets back to the rim of the pot and leave a little longer growth and a few flowers and some foliage on the top. It may seem drastic to cut off all the flowers and cut back the foliage to mere twigs. But doing so now ensures oodles of new blooms in just two short weeks. The centers begin filling out with all new foliage as the plants start branching. The hot weather of July encourages speedy new growth. Two weeks later my pots look like they looked in mid-June…loaded with blooms!
I try to stagger the pruning process over a week’s time as not to have all of my petunias cut off at once for better effect in the garden.
Now that it’s mid-August and the days are shortening and the nights are cooler, my now robust and revived petunias are thriving. And with the cooler days of fall, my petunias are oftentimes the last of my container plants to succumb to fall frosts; usually looking great and blooming well into October…all because of that simple ‘haircut’ in July.
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ENTRY: AUGUST 23, 2026 (An Old Window Screen Is a Fountain Pump Savior)
For the first time in a few years, I haven’t had to replace any of my three fountain pumps so far this season. It’s not that they are particularly new. The reason is that I simply take pretty darn good care of them. I never let my fountains run dry (I fill them each morning when watering my containers) and I make sure that the intake opening remains debris-free and unobstructed. A clean and well-performing fountain or water feature adds beauty to the garden and brings in an abundance of wildlife.
In general, I give all of my three fountains a somewhat thorough cleaning about once a week. I replace all or most of the water and scrub the surfaces to remove any algae buildup.
To ensure that my pumps remain clog-free I’ve encased them in a roomy pocket of crumpled up old vinyl window screen. Many websites suggest using other materials (i.e. old nylons), but I’ve found that the further the any debris stays away the from the intake, the longer the fountain performs unhindered. The crumpled screen (secured with a large rubber band used for produce around the electrical cord) keeps any and all debris far from the intake. In fact, I haven’t found the need to remove the pumps from the fountains to clean them this entire summer.
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ENTRY: AUGUST 25, 2026 (Love Is Like a Butterfly)
The legendary Dolly Parton passed away today. Always a favorite of mine, just last year ago I posted the lyrics to her song ‘Wildflowers’ in our monthly newsletter. Dolly, along with Johnny, Charlie, Kenny, Tammy and so many others were staples on the radio in our house and car during my childhood. Now I share the lyrics to one of my very favorite childhood songs. Miss you Dolly!!🦋
Love is Like a Butterfly
Lyrics by Dolly Parton. Released August 1974.
Love is like a butterfly
As soft and gentle as a sigh
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
I feel it when you’re with me
It happens when you kiss me
That rare and gentle feeling that I feel inside
Your touch is soft and gentle
Your kiss is warm and tender
Whenever I am with you, I think of butterflies
Love is like a butterfly (soft and gentle as a sigh)
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
Your laughter brings me sunshine
Every day is springtime
And I am only happy when you are by my side
How precious is this love we share
How very precious, sweet and rare
Together, we belong like daffodils and butterflies
Love is like a butterfly
As soft and gentle as a sigh
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing
(Love is like a butterfly)
KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!
Ah, the wonders of outdoor grilling! The sun, the fresh air, the smell of meat working up a nice char, friends and family relaxing around the grill. Who wants to be stuck inside cooking the rest of the meal? You can round out your grilled steaks, burgers or chicken with a healthy dose of veggies cooked in a grilling basket (or grill wok). The grill basket will cook your vegetables quickly and evenly with just an occasional tossing. In about 10 minutes, your vegetables will be ready to enjoy.
It’s not hard to use a grill basket for vegetables. You just need to know a few simple tricks to ensure your veggies cook evenly and don’t dry out. A vegetable grill basket lets you cook your entire meal on the grill, allowing you more time and opportunity to enjoy your friends, family and the great outdoors.
TIPS FOR GRILLING VEGGIES
1-Cut up vegetables with similar density and moisture content into same-sized chunks for even cooking. Onions and peppers take just a few minutes to cook, while potatoes can take longer. If you want all of the vegetables to be done at the same time, everything in the basket should be similar density.
2-Marinate your vegetables just a little bit of oil to keep the vegetables from drying out. You can season the oil with a bit of salt and/or garlic powder or your favorite herbs for additional flavor.
3-Preheat your grill and the grill basket with the cover closed for about 10 minutes. This will help to keep the vegetables from sticking to the basket.
4-Grill the vegetables in the basket over the heat. Toss the vegetables every three or four minutes or turn them over after five minutes. You can add more seasoned oil with a brush.
If you do not have a grill wok or basket, use a disposable foil pan. Poke holes in the bottom of the pan with a meat fork to allow liquid to drain.
Source: www.charbroil.com
PERFECT GRILLED VEGGIES–Bright asparagus, yellow summer squash and other vegetables get flame-broiled treatment in this must-try side dish. The grilled specialty gets a flavor boost from red wine vinegar, basil and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Source: Taste of Home
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium sweet onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup quartered fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, salt and pepper. Add the asparagus, squash, red pepper, onion and mushrooms; seal bag and turn to coat.Transfer the vegetables to a grill wok or basket. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 8-12 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently.Place vegetables in a serving bowl. Add vinegar and basil; toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve warm. Serves 6.
BBQ VEGETABLE MEDLEY—An easy go-to recipe from the Food Network.
1/4 cup olive oil
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
10 small tomatoes, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 crookneck squash, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Salt
Black pepper
Pour the oil in a large bowl and add the peppers, tomatoes, onion, squash, zucchini, and basil in a bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let vegetables stand for 10 minutes before placing them into a BBQ wok basket.
Heat the grill to medium. Place vegetables (in the wok basket) on the grill and cook, stirring occasionally. Remove the vegetables from the grill and serve immediately. Serves 4-6.
EASY GRILLED VEGETABLES—A 5 ingredient recipe from the Pillsbury website!
12 pattypan squash, about 1 inch in diameter
2 medium red or green bell peppers, each cut into 6 pieces
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/3 cup reduced-fat Italian dressing
Freshly ground pepper, if desired
Place squash, bell peppers and onion in rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Pour dressing over vegetables. Cover and let stand 1 hour to blend flavors. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Remove vegetables from marinade; reserve marinade. Place vegetables in grill basket (grill “wok”) or directly on grill rack. Cover and grill vegetables over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, shaking basket or turning vegetables and brushing with marinade 2 or 3 times, until crisp-tender. Sprinkle with pepper. Serves 6.
MIXED VEGETABLE GRILL–Enhance the grilled flavor of vegetables with this lightly sweet and spicy blend of seasonings. If using, precook the sweet potato in the microwave in that it needs just a few minutes of grilling to brown. From the McCormick spices website.
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 asparagus, spears, ends trimmed
1 medium red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 6 strips
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium yellow squash, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 small sweet potato
Mix brown sugar, basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper in small bowl. Drizzle oil over vegetables in large bowl; toss to coat well. Add seasoning mixture; toss to coat well.
Place vegetables in a hot grill basket, grill rack or thread onto skewers. Grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender, turning occasionally. Serves 6.
NATURAL NEWS–
“The love of gardening Is a seed once sown that never dies”– Gertrude Jekyll
Getting Kids Interested in Gardening–A Primer
Introducing children to plants and gardening can never start too early. How many of us gardeners began our own gardening experiences hand in hand with our own parents and grandparents and at a very early age. Stories from Klein’s own staff members demonstrates this quite clearly. Nearly all of us who work at Klein’s got the gardening bug very early in life; whether planting, weeding, harvesting or working on our family farms or simply enjoying nature. We all have fond memories (or selective memories) of how much fun it was to be in the garden as children and it’s very important to each of us to pass our love of nature on to our own children. We as parents and teachers are instrumental in shaping our world’s future. The following questions and answers come to us from the wonderful website at www.kidsgardening.org. Though specifically aimed at teachers, the answers are poignant to any adult who wants the children in their lives to become involved in gardening.
Question: How do I get the children interested in the garden?
Answer: There are many ways to interest children in the garden. A successful children’s garden allows whimsy and welcomes the discovery of a variety of “treasures.” The quickest way to engage children in the garden is to give them a part in its design. You can design a garden around a literature theme such a “Peter Rabbit” or “Planting a Rainbow” garden. Or you can design a garden to be a particular type of habitat, such as a butterfly garden or a bird garden. Another concept for the garden is to focus on a food product, as in a Pizza Garden, a Stone Soup Garden, or a Stir-Fry Garden. The design of the garden involves: deciding on a design concept, deciding on what you will plant and how the plantings will be arranged, and then planting the garden. You can also decorate the garden with child-made objects and signs. Another way to sustain interest in the garden is to plan for your school’s harvest and feast days, and to have daily garden “reporters” who investigate the plants’ progress and then report to the class. You can also include garden reports in the school newsletter.
Question: How do I get Grade K-2 children interested in the garden beyond the seed-planting day?
Answer: With young children, the daily structure of observation will keep their interest, provided you have planted some seeds that sprout very quickly. Others can sprout slower, and this becomes an opportunity for discussion about how different plants, just like people, grow at different rates (math concept) and look different as they sprout (diversity is a good thing). Once the seedlings are growing, focus your efforts on plotting their growth once a week and keeping a chart. You could make a wall height chart that shows the mature height of what you are growing and measure the kids against the plants. Then you could measure the baby plants against the mature plant pictures. Promises of good things to eat and pretty flowers are very inspirational to children of this age. Once the seedlings are planted out, use the garden as a reason to go outside for learning activities. Encourage each child to feel ownership of his or her plant(s). This allows each one to take on a nurturing role with the plants. It is best if each has more than one plant so that if a plant is killed with devotion, there are backups.
Question: How do I get Grade 3-5 children interested in the garden beyond the seed-planting day?
Answer: This is an age of some independence. It is helpful if the garden is close to the classroom so that the more motivated students can easily check on the garden. Understanding what motivates the kids to work in the garden is very important at this age. For some, it is a way to “avoid schoolwork”; for others, it is a way to be outside more than they would otherwise be allowed. For others, it is an opportunity to explore, observe, and learn to ask interesting questions. Children of this age are very capable of planting but need to have clear visual clues as to where to stand and where the plants are. Having the children make labels for plants allows children to personalize the garden and “mark their territory.” The more the students believe that their involvement makes a difference, the greater the likelihood of their sustained interest. Subdividing the garden into team areas or even personal “square feet” is one way to give individuals feelings of being needed. They develop a personal nurturing relationship with the plants and take pride in their growth. It is best if each has more than one plant so that if a plant is killed with devotion, there are backups.
Question: How can I get kids in Grades 6-12 involved in the garden?
Answer: At this age it is even more important than at the younger ages that the kids feel ownership of the garden. If the garden becomes “cool,” it will be easier to get kids to stay with the project. A good sense of humor will help the squeamish “you don’t want me to touch that dirt” child get into the mode of gardening. The quickest route to that ownership is in daily involvement in the design, installation, maintenance, and harvest of the garden. The garden should be configured in such a way that it appears understandable to the students. Raised beds minimize trampling and opportunities for children to feel clumsy or embarrassed. If it is a habitat, then the primary qualities of that habitat should be incorporated into classroom lesson plans. If it is a vegetable garden, you should be growing crops that interest the kids. Add flowers if that is what is necessary to hold the interest of the non-vegetable eaters. If the garden is close to the classroom and can be easily accessed, it will be used more. If the garden reflects the personality of the gardeners, it is bound to hold their interest longer. This may mean allowing “funky” kid objects to personalize the space, appointing various “crew chiefs” for garden time, and giving extra recognition for good work in the garden.
Question: I don’t have room or time — or maybe even skills — to plant a new garden, but I’d like my first grader to have his own little garden place. Do you have suggestions?
Answer: If planting a garden seems too daunting, adopt an existing spot. Instead of a new plot, stake a claim in an existing planting or wild space in your yard. It can be as small or big as your son wants. Mark it off with stakes and twine, tell him it is his garden, and start spending time there together. Pay utmost attention. You could add a plant or two, or not. Set out some seeds or nuts to see if any creatures pay a call. Take photos. Draw pictures. Write poems. Collect and press a few leaves, flowers, or other finds. Keep a scrapbook throughout the season. Kids who try this usually grow very attached to their places.
Turning Kids Into Gardeners
by Cheryl Dorschner
Most adults who garden began this hobby as children. And more than one old-timer has sworn off gardening because he hated it as a kid. Here’s the secret to the difference.
If you want your child to love gardening, the best things you can do, in order of importance, are the following.
1. Show them how much you love gardening just by reveling in your own garden every day.
2. Surround them with great gardens. That doesn’t mean a show place. It may mean a messy, riotously colored cottage garden; decorative little getaway; or profuse potsful. (Remember that everything is bigger through kids’ eyes.)
3. Give them good gardening experiences. These will be great memories in years to come.
Kids have so much competing for their attention: television, computers, sports, and a bazillion “planned” activities from library hours to birthday parties, from sleepovers to dances — at as young an age as the fifth grade. So gardening has to stand on its own. Rooting cuttings in water doesn’t cut it. But what does?
Experts disagree on whether to include gardening among children’s required chores or to take advantage of their interest on planting and harvest days and do the work yourself the other 120 days.
I’m somewhere in the middle. I’d never say, “an hour of weeding and you can go swimming.” But I’d enlist kids of all ages to weed as much as their capabilities and attention span will allow. Then I’d finish the job alone. Some kids love being the super hero who wrestles burdock’s three-foot taproot out of the ground and onto the heap.
The balance is to teach respect and enjoyment of the family gardens and make sure there’s a garden a kid can call his or her own. Here dirt and water are the stuff of magic, and surprises lurk between rows. Anyone can succeed under the sun. “I did it myself” is a powerful thing.
•Recognize that kids’ gardening priorities are different, well, practically opposite of adults’.
•Let kids choose what to plant. Offer guidance and make sure there are some sure-success plants among their picks. But if they want beets, roses, and petunias, why not?
•Relax your standards. Crooked rows or weeds as pets are fine.
•Transplanting is fun, even if your child plays with plants the way they move action figures or Barbies about. But remind them that plants’ roots need some time to grow in one place.
•Leave room for good old-fashioned digging. Holes are a highly popular landscape feature. Look for worms. Add water, and frogs appear.
•Model the message that some insects are beneficial, and even destructive bugs are highly interesting.
•Do behind-the-scenes maintenance of kids’ gardens, keeping them edged and weeded. Don’t expect kids to do all the watering and pest patrol.
•You decide: when it comes to impending doom (no pumpkins appeared on vines; the daisy is uprooted and sunning on the deck) do you add a pumpkin from the farm stand? Replace the daisy? Some parents use loss as a lesson; others smooth things over for success.
•Remember: One of the best things you ever grow may be a gardener!
SEPTEMBER’S PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Globe Allium (Onions)
Because ornamental globe onions (the alliums) bloom in summer, they are oftentimes forgotten when planting spring bulbs during the fall. While crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are long finished blooming before gardens begin with their summer perennial show, the alliums, on the other hand, are perfectly suited for the perennial border.
There are short ones for the edge, mid-sized for the middle of the border and tall ones for interspersing throughout for added height. Most notable are the huge purple spheres that punctuate Madison area gardens throughout the month of June. The most famous of these are ‘Globemaster’ , ‘Giganteum’ and ‘Gladiator’. It’s difficult not to stop and take note when these giant alliums are in full bloom.
Traditionally, the alliums are found at garden centers among the spring bulb selection beginning in late August or early September and are best planted in mid- to late October along with their more familiar spring bulb counterparts. Bulbs for the largest varieties are themselves quite large and sold individually. The mid-sized varieties like ‘Purple Sensation’ or ‘Star of Persia’ are sold 5 or more to a bag. The species and shorter types are sold 10 or more to a package. Though prices have come down in recent years, the giant alliums are still an investment–but a reliable investment in that they are truly hardy perennials that are never bothered by deer or rodents. Because the large alliums are so impressive, one need add only a few each fall for an impressive display in a few short years. Alliums make lovely cut flowers and some are especially attractive in bouquets once the flower heads have dried.
Klein’s carries an excellent assortment of all types of allium bulbs–in fact, too many to mention here. But because they’re so popular, make sure to shop early for best selection.
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.
GLEAM, Art in a New Light @ Olbrich Gardens
September 2 thru October 24
Wednesdays thru Saturdays in September from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in October, rain or shine
In the gardens @ Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Creatures, creatures all around…imagination runs wild when you hear a sound.
From the tall and looming to the small and unassuming, creatures of every shape and size coexist, each playing a role in a global ecosystem. Typically unseen, those that prowl beneath the moonlight, colonies that tunnel deep under foot, or sea dwellers that pulse and glow in the depths of the blue emerge in the twilight. But beyond the familiar lies a realm of imagination—fantastical creatures born of legend and lore: mythical beasts, and monsters – tiny insects that present superhero feats. In this world, plants grow larger than life and communicate in symphony.
As night falls, the Gardens come alive—illuminated in vibrant color patterns, curious movements, and the calls of the wild and the weird—casting light on the rich presence of creatures all around us, whether real or make-believe. Light artists from around the world inspire this world of illuminated enchantment, expanding your imagination beyond what is known.
Ticket sales begin August 4! Advanced timed-tickets are required.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 6, 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
Rotary Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale
Thursday, September 10 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Members-only)
Friday, September 11 from 9 AM to 4 PM
Saturday, September 12 from 9 AM to 4 PM
At the Horticulture Center, 825 Sharon Rd., Janesville
Big mums are back and this year we’ve got more of them! Fill out your fall containers and beds with huge, healthy mums in a range of colors, then round out your garden with perennials our own horticulture team helped select this season. Looking for something extra special? Check out our “Take the Garden Home with You” table, featuring plants harvested straight from RBG’s gardens, including daylilies, hostas, coneflowers, alliums, and brown-eyed Susans, while supplies last.
New this year: we’re selling Skelly’s donuts at the sale. Grab a coffee and a donut while you shop.
This is a walk-in sale: no tickets or registration required. Plants and refreshments are purchased on-site; cash and card accepted.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/ for details.
Crackle @ Olbrich Gardens
Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
CRACKLE is back – gather your friends and family for this fun, fall tradition at the Gardens! This year we’ll be cracklin’ with collards on menu as part of Collard Fest part II! For the past three years Olbrich Botanical Gardens has partnered with local black farmers and chef to create programming and opportunities that focus on the collard plant, a highly nutritious leafy green vegetable that carries historical significance in the black community. For CRACKLIN” Collard Fest the music and cuisine will highlight black culture, a collective spirit built on a foundation of community bonds, spiritual traditions, deep pride, and creative expression celebrated through food and music.
Friday, September 11— Emmitt James 5-piece and Biscuit
Emmitt James is a Hip Hop-Jazz artist based in Milwaukee, WI. After spending 8 years in Los Angeles, James returned to the region that loved him first. James is known for bridging the gap between jazz and rap with a live band.
Saturday, September 12—The Stephen Hull Experience
The Stephen Hull Experience gives the blues community exciting evidence that the future of music is in good hands. Born in 1999, a native of Racine, Wisconsin, Stephen Hull started playing blues at age 14 and never stopped, taking cues from Albert King and B.B. King as he developed his sweet, soulful guitar sound. Balancing that with his absolutely stellar lead vocals and infectiously buoyant personality, Stephen has been rising fast in the blues clubs of Chicago and venues across southeastern Wisconsin.
Must be 21 to attend. General admission $40/Olbrich members $35.
For tickets visit https://olbrichbotanicalgardens.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/calendar/
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Ave., Madison
608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.
Nature Hike @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 13, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Rotary Garden’s What’s in Bloom? Tour
Wednesday, September 16, 10:00-2:00
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
Step into the heart of nature with our What’s in Bloom Garden Tours! This exclusive series invites you to explore the beauty and wonder of the garden through the changing seasons.
Every month from May to September, you’ll discover what’s currently in bloom, learn insider gardening tips, and get a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the gardens’ vibrant landscapes.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or a curious newcomer, these tours offer an unforgettable experience to connect with nature and expand your horticultural knowledge.
What’s in Bloom Tours are on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, May-September. Free for RBG members (remember to bring your membership card!) or $10 for non-members.
Reserve your spot for each month @ https://www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/event-details/whats-in-bloom-garden-tours-2026-09-16-10-00Spaces are limited.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI
608/752-3885 or www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org/
Community Hummingbird Garden Tours
Saturday, September 19, 1:00-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 23, 1:00-5:30 p.m.
5118 Buffalo Trail, Madison, 53705 (near Hilldale & Oscar Rennebohm Park)
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 [email protected] or call 608-233-7397.
Visit sites.google.com/view/hummingbirdgardening/home for more information.
Community Mycoblitz @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 20, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Join a community mycoblitz in collaboration with the Madison Mycological Society, UW–Madison Forest Ecology students, and UW Teaching Professor George Meindl. Participants will attend guided walks to identify and collect data about mushrooms and fungal diversity at the Arboretum. Event capacity is limited. Free, register through Eventbrite by September 16: 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: Fun with Fungi @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 20, 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
Fall in the Native Plant Garden @ the Arboretum
Saturday, September 26, 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
Full Moon Night Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, September 26, 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 (full moon September 26). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by September 22: 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
Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, September 27, 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
Family Nature Walk @ the Arboretum
Sunday, October 4, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe weather or trail conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu
Dane County Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, April 11 thru November 14, 6:15-1:45
On the Capitol Square
Wednesdays, April 22 thru November 4, 8:30-1:15
In the 200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
For details visit www.dcfm.org
Northside Farmers Market
Sundays, May 3 through October 25, 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. 10, 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 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 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 2027 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 [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, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and Windsor. We do not deliver to Cambridge or Columbus.
Current delivery rate on 1-4 items is $11.95 for Madison, Maple Bluff, Monona and Shorewood Hills; $12.95 for Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor; $14.95 for Middleton, Oregon and Verona; $17.95 for Marshall; $19.95 for Stoughton and Cross Plains. An additional $8.00 will be added for deliveries of 4-10 items and $10.00 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 $50.00 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 $11.95. 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.
Our normal rates apply for funeral deliveries. 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 Department—Sarah Somson [email protected]
Houseplant Buyer, Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach [email protected]
Purchasing—Megan Buchholz [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