January 1, 2019 Newsletter

Ask any of your gardening questions by e-mailing them to us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. We’ve also posted a link to this e-mail address on our home page 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. The Mad Gardener hopes to hear from you soon!

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.

Please note that our Mad Gardener is not only an expert gardener, but can answer all of your indoor plant questions as well.

Monday thru Friday : 8:00-6:00

Saturday: 9:00-5:00

Sunday: 10:00-4:00

January 1–New Year’s Day. HAPPY 2019!

January 12 & 13—Winter Wedding Show at the Alliant Energy Center. From start to finish, everything needed for that special day is at the show with over 200 vendors offering products and services catering to your needs. Make sure to get a seat for the daily fashion show at 2 pm. Open 11:00-4:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 in advance @ www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3666054 and $10 at the door. Visit www.wedplan.com for tickets and more information.

If a wedding is on your horizon, set up your free wedding consultation as early as possible. Our schedule fills up fairly quickly. Klein’s talented team of designers can make your wedding day a perfect one. Call Sue (sue@kleinsfloral.com) or Darcy at 608/244-5661 or floral@kleinsfloral.com.

Mid-January—Seeds begin arriving for retail sale. Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about spring planting. If starting your own seeds at home, some such as lisianthus, geraniums, pentas and bananas should be started now so they are ready for spring planting. Klein’s carries an extensive seed selection from Seed Savers, Botanical Interests, Livingston Seeds and Olds Seeds.

January 20—Blood Moon Eclipse

January 21–Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21–Full Moon

Throughout January—Have you ever thought about working at a garden center? Perhaps now’s the time to explore the possibility.

January is the perfect time to stop in and and pick up an application or fill it out online @ kleinsfloral.com/employment/. By the end of February we try to have most of our hiring in place.

We’re always in need of temporary, part-time counter help in the spring and greenhouse production swings into gear by mid-February. If you’re interested, ask for Sue or Kathryn for the retail area or Jamie or Rick for the greenhouses. 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.

February 8-10—Wisconsin Public Television’s Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center. Please join us. One, Two and Three Day Tickets are now available at Klein’s for a lesser price than at the door. Details available at www.wigardenexpo.com.

February 14–Valentine’s Day. Order early for guaranteed delivery. We deliver throughout Madison and most of Dane County

There’s no easier way to give gorgeous blooming plants or fresh flower arrangements, month after month. Each month a seasonal blooming plant or fresh arrangement will arrive on yours or a loved one’s doorstep. You choose the start date and we’ll make your special delivery the very same day each month.

For just $90, $170 or $330, respectively, we’ll send 3 month’s, 6 month’s or a year’s worth of seasonal blooming plants–perhaps a bulb garden or azalea in the spring, one of our famous large geraniums or a tropical hibiscus in the summer, a chrysanthemum or Thanksgiving cactus in the fall or one of our homegrown poinsettias or cyclamen for the holidays and winter months. Selection of the blooming plant will be based on availability.

And for just $120, $220 or $420, respectively, receive one of Klein’s lovely fresh floral arrangements. All arrangements will be seasonal and will contain only the freshest flowers. All arrangements are Designer’s Choice, but are sure to satisfy the most discerning lover of fresh flowers.

Prices include delivery within our delivery area. Enclosure cards will accompany all gift deliveries with your personal message as desired. For our delivery details visit kleinsfloral.com/delivery-information/. If your chosen delivery date happens to fall on a Sunday or holiday, we will deliver it on the next available delivery day. All regular delivery conditions apply.

Join our “Blooms of the Month” Club by calling Klein’s at 608/244-5661 or by stopping in. We request that payment be made in full before the first delivery and prices do not include sales tax.

Hi Brion,

Yellowing doesn’t always mean a fungal problem–especially when you’re seemingly doing everything right (and in hay bales!). The yellowing may mean other disease problems other than fungal (blight), i.e viral or bacterial. Fungal problems on tomatoes happen to be the most common and the most talked about.

The problem could also be environmental, aka too much fertilizer (too much fertilizer burns plants), too little water or maybe too much water (it rained nonstop last summer–2nd most ever in Madison). With just one season under your belt growing in hay bales, it’s too early to tell. Every year is different when gardening. Stay in there and give it a whirl next season and see what happens. Just make sure to follow the directions for hay bale gardening closely.

PS-Though you mention the problems, you don’t say how your production was, when the yellowing occurred, or what types of tomatoes you were growing. Different types of tomatoes (determinate vs. indeterminate) can look quite different from each other as the season progresses and some varieties are more prone to blight and fungal problems than some newer hybrids.

Thanks for your question,

Klein’s Mad Gardener

A few month’s back, Klein’s Mad Gardener answered a question about a problem ‘perennial’ shasta daisy. Though many perennials are extremely long-lived and will oftentimes outlive their owners (i.e. peonies), our reader wasn’t aware that that some ‘perennials‘ last just a few seasons (usually 3-5 years) in the garden before they start deteriorating. Shasta daisies are among those perennials. These ‘short-lived‘ perennials must be allowed to self-sow or be replaced for greatest success. We recommend planting a few new plants each season for a constant display.

Short-lived perennials should not be confused with biennials. Biennials put out foliage the first season, flower in their second season and then die after setting seed. They must be allowed to self-sow (meaning no deadheading) for plants to thrive in the garden. The best examples of biennials include hollyhocks, Canterbury bells, forget-me-nots, Sweet Williams and most foxgloves.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)*

Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora)*

Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)

Pinks (Dianthus spp.)

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora)*

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)

Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.)

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum spp.)

Perennial Flax (Linum perenne)*

Lupine (Lupinus hybrids)

Maltese Cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)

Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)

Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa spp.)

Painted Daisy (Tanacetum coccineum)

Hybrid Tulips (Tulipa spp.)

(*Freely reseeds)

Monkshood (Aconitum spp.)

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

False Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Gas Plant (Dictamnus albus)

Ferns (various species)

Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbills)

Ornamental Grasses (various species)

Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

Hosta (Hosta spp.)

Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)

Peony (Paeonia spp.)

Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Gold

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)

Carolina Lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana)

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.

For a number of years now, Klein’s has carried an impressive number of seed choices for spring planting; the first of which are set to arrive in store within a few weeks. Among the seed choices we offer are those from Livingston Seeds, Olds Seeds, Botanical Interests and Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org).

If you’ve never been to Seed Savers, it makes for a lovely day trip at just three hours west of Madison. Set just a few miles north of beautiful and historic Decorah in the Driftless Area of northeastern Iowa, the visitor center, farm and facilities are nestled in a lovely side stream valley of the Upper Iowa River and on top of the surrounding ridges. The property is riddled with lovely hiking trails rivaling any in the state parks of southwestern Wisconsin.

Seed Savers Exchange was founded in Missouri in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy. Diane’s grandfather entrusted to them the seeds of two garden plants, ‘Grandpa Ott’s’ morning glory and ‘German Pink’ tomato. These seeds, brought by Grandpa Ott’s parents from Bavaria when they immigrated to Iowa in the 1870s, became the first two varieties in the collection. Diane and Kent went on to form a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds. Today, with 13,000 members and 20,000 plant varieties, Seed Savers Exchange makes its home on 890 scenic acres in Winneshiek County, Iowa, at Heritage Farm.

Seed Savers Exchange conserves biodiversity by maintaining a collection of over 20,000 different varieties of heirloom and open-pollinated plants, varieties with the ability to regenerate themselves year after year. These seeds (and tissue cultures or other plant materials, depending on how a plant reproduces) have the power to withstand unforeseen pestilence and plant disease, climate change, and limited habitat, and to stop dinnertime boredom forever.

In the last century or so, the world has lost 75% of its edible plant varieties. That might be hard to perceive when many of us have enough food on our plates, but consider this: According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, only five cereal grains make up 60% of our calories. A system that depends so heavily on so few crops is quite fragile. Think of the Irish Potato Famine – the use of only one variety of potato led to a catastrophe. In 1845, the introduction of a new fungus wiped out the primary source of food in Ireland, leading to the death or emigration of some one and a half million people.

Industrial agriculture and the chemicals and machines that it employs have required that farmers and, more often, scientists breed for uniformity in plants and animals. In the United States in particular, genetically engineered plant varieties have had a devastating impact on biodiversity. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, since their commercial introduction in 1996, use of genetically engineered (GE) crops by US farmers has increased steadily. In fact, in 2013, 170 million acres of GE crops were planted in the US, seeds that are patented and cannot be saved and planted again next year. That’s roughly half of all American cropland.

It’s no wonder, then, that stewards of seed and heritage varieties are scarce. With no one to teach his or her neighbors and children about the importance of these plants, the art of saving seed dies out, and with it, we lose the precious varieties these mentors safeguarded.

To become a Seed Savers Member; to receive their catalog and mailings and to become a part of their large seed exchange: www.seedsavers.org/join

Instead of throwing our your poinsettia after the holidays, perhaps consider using it as a focal point in your garden next summer and then getting it to rebloom next year and for years to come. Though not easy to do, diligence will pay off with a gorgeous conversation piece for your home, office, school or church.

During the current Christmas season, I used my last year’s poinsettia(s) as a stunning display piece just inside the main entrance at Klein’s. Not only has my 4 foot specimen prompted oodles of questions and conversations, but has increased the sales of that particular variety. For many years now I’ve purchased 6 or more misshapen ‘Tapestry’ poinsettias after the holidays, plant them three to a 14” pot and then place them in my perennial beds come summer where their gorgeous foliage, variegated in cream and gold, is an eye-popper. Visitors are stunned when they learn that these beautiful ‘shrubs’ are actually last Christmas’ poinsettias.

When the poinsettia’s bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, there’s no reason to throw it out. With proper care, dedication and a certain amount of luck, you too can re-bloom your poinsettia!

By late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to about 8″ in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. By the end of May, you should see vigorous new growth.

Place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the warmth of spring and summer, after all chance of frost has passed and night temperatures average 55° F or above. Continue regular watering during the growth period, and fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks.

Pruning may be required during the summer to keep plants bushy and compact. Late June or early July is a good time for this step, but be sure not to prune your plant later than September 1. Keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly.

Around June 1, you may transplant your poinsettia into a larger pot. Select a pot no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. A soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as peat moss or leaf mold, is highly recommended. In milder climates, you may transplant the plant into a well-prepared garden bed. Be sure the planting bed is rich in organic material and has good drainage.

The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant, meaning that it sets bud and produces flowers as the autumn nights lengthen. Poinsettias will naturally come into bloom during November or December, depending on the flowering response time of the individual cultivar. Timing to produce blooms for the Christmas holiday can be difficult outside of the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Stray light of any kind, such as from a street light or household lamps, could delay or entirely halt the re-flowering process.

Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Accomplish this by moving the plants to a totally dark room (or by keeping them in an unused room that gets natural daylight but no evening or nighttime light), or by covering them overnight with a large box. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 – 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 – 70° F. Temperatures outside of this range could also delay flowering.

Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program. Carefully following this regime for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful display of blooms for the holiday season!

Source: 2009 Paul Ecke Ranch website (Paul Ecke Ranch, a premier source for poinsettias, was sold to Dummen Orange in 2015)

* * * * *

With Christmas over, it’s time to think about disposing of the family Christmas tree. The city of Madison and many of the surrounding communities offer curbside pick up. In Madison, round one for pick up begins Wednesday, January 2, 2019 and the second and final round begins January 22.

To avoid damage to their equipment, the city asks that you follow these guidelines:

—Place trees at the street edge only.

—Remove and discard tree bags.

—Remove all tree stands, ornaments, lights and other metal objects.

—Trees that are not properly prepared will NOT be collected.

As an alternative to having your tannenbaum sent to the landfill, consider the following:

Source: www.thisoldhouse.com

Having said the above regarding creative recycling, I’ve just learned about the newest invasive insect to be concerned about. The following is especially important to read for those who purchased their trees, wreaths and winter greens from national chain stores.

By Chris Aadland for the Wisconsin State Journal

State inspectors are warning residents to burn their wreaths and other evergreen holiday decorations after an invasive insect was found in many of the items purchased at large Wisconsin chain stores.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said Wednesday that wreaths and other evergreen decorations from this holiday season should be burned or put into a bag before dumping them into the trash.

The holiday decorations shouldn’t be composted or set aside for brush collection to prevent spreading the invasive species.

The warning comes after state inspectors found elongate hemlock scale — invasive insects native to Asia that steal nutrients from conifers when they feed on the underside of their needles — on many decorations like wreaths, swags, boughs, evergreen bough arrangements, hanging baskets, porch pots, mugs and sleighs in chain stores across Wisconsin, according to the department.

“It’s fine to keep your decorations up for the holiday season, but when it’s time to dispose of them … burn them if you can. If you can’t do that, bag them and send them to the landfill,” said Brian Kuhn, director of DATCP’s Plant Industry Bureau. “If you compost this material, the insects may well attack conifers in your yard or neighborhood, and spread from there.”

Winter weather won’t kill the pests, he said.

After hatching, elongate hemlock scale, or EHS, sap their hosts of nutrients as they feed on the undersides of the needles of more than 40 conifer species. The pests secrete a hard, waxy cover around themselves as they grow, creating brown spots or “scale” that can be seen on the needles.

The insects are hard to kill with pesticides because they produce multiple generations throughout the year, the department said.

Hemlock, spruce and fir trees are the most prone to infestations, DATCP said.

The insect has been found in Michigan and many in states in the eastern U.S., according to the department.

But state inspectors have also been finding isolated cases of EHS in Christmas tree lots and other places selling wreaths and trees over the last five years.

Stores, all part of major chains, that had infected products received them from suppliers in North Carolina, the department said.

Inspectors also intercepted infested shipments from Virginia before they reached stores in Wisconsin.

Stores have cooperated and destroyed any affected products, according to DATCP. It’s unclear if other chain or independent stores have sold or received infested products, the department said.

For more information on elongate hemlock scale: Go to go.madison.com/holiday-pests.

KLEIN’S RECIPES OF THE MONTH—These are a selection of relatively simple recipes chosen by our staff. New recipes appear monthly. Enjoy!!

Just a few weeks ago several of our local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms sent out their last shipments of vegetables from the 2018 gardening season. These storage share shipments most commonly include potatoes, carrots, beets, daikon radish, celeriac, leeks, rutabaga, cabbage, garlic and, of course, onions. Following are some of Klein’s tried and true favorites that all onion lovers will enjoy. These recipes are a great way to use up any overstock quickly.

ONION CROSTINI–A new favorite from Rachel Ray . A fragrant and belly warming appetizer that will compliment any meal.

1/4 cup + 2 TBS. extra virgin olive oil

6 yellow onions (2 lbs.), thin sliced

1 tsp. dried thyme

salt and pepper to taste

24 baguette slices

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

In a large kettle, warm the 1/4 cup olive oil on medium-low. Add the onions and thyme and cook, stirring every 10 minutes for 1 1/2 hours, adding a splash of water if they start to stick. Season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350º. Arrange the bread on a cookie sheet, brushing both sides with the remaining oil. Season if desired with salt and pepper. Bake until crisp, 10-15 minutes. Place 1 TBS. cheese on each toast and bake 5 minutes or until melted. Top each toast with the caramelized onions and serve warm.

ONION TART (Zwiebelkuchen)–A very easy old family recipe from one of our staff from the south of Germany. Serve with a sweet German Auslese, Mosel or Franken wine. Flavors of this tart are very mellow and sweet.

1/2 cup + 1 TBS. butter

1 3/4 cup flour

1 egg, lightly beaten

3-5 TBS. half and half

salt to taste

3 large or 4 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced

4 slices bacon, diced

1/2 cup whipping cream

2 more eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400º. Lightly grease a standard, sided cookie sheet or jelly roll pan (10” x 15” or similar). Mix together the flour and the butter with a pastry blender or fork. Stir in the 1 egg, the half and half and some salt to make a dough. Allow to stand in a cold place for a few minutes. Fry the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until golden but not crisp. Add the onions and sauté until tender, stirring often. Drain any fat.

In a bowl, beat together the cream, 2 eggs and salt and pepper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry. Line the bottom of the prepared pan with the pastry. Prick the pastry with a fork. Spread the onion mix over the pastry. Pour the cream mixture over all. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes, until set and lightly golden. Cut into squares and serve warm.

RICK’S FAVORITE ONION SOUP–This delicious French Onion Soup is super-easy and to-die-for with homemade garlic croutons (recipe follows). Flavors are sweet and intense. The sherry adds both flavor and character. The source is unknown.

5 cups thinly sliced white or yellow onions

6 TBS. butter

1 quart beef, chicken or vegetable broth

1 TBS. tamari (Japanese soy sauce) or any soy sauce

3 TBS. dry sherry or white wine

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

a dash of dried thyme

1-2 tsp. salt to taste

fresh black pepper

2 cloves minced garlic

1-2 tsp. honey

shredded mozzarella, provolone or Swiss cheese

Cook the onions in the butter with the garlic, the thyme and a little salt in a large kettle over medium-low heat until tender and starting to brown. Cook gradually and thoroughly. This maintains the sweetness. It’ll take about 45 minutes. Add the mustard and mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook, covered over medium-low for at least 30 minutes. Serve with croutons and topped with cheese.

The croutons: Sauté 1” bread cubes (rye or herbed are especially nummy) in some butter and minced garlic. Spread onto a cookie sheet and bake at 325º for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice.

ONION AND GARLIC BEER SOUP–This absolutely delicious recipe appeared in the Willy Street Co-op newsletter sometime in the late 1990’s and remains a favorite.

4 lbs. sweet onions, thin sliced (about 10 medium)

4 large cloves garlic, minced

2 TBS. olive oil

1 x 12 oz. bottle of beer (not dark)

5 1/4 cups beef broth (3 x 14.5 oz. cans)

2 TBS. sugar

2 TBS. butter

4 slices of day old bread, cut into 1/2” cubes

fresh parmesan cheese

In a large kettle, cook the onion and garlic in the oil over medium heat, until lightly browned, stirring occasionally (about 30-40 minutes). Stir in the beer and broth and simmer, covered, 45 minutes. Stir in the sugar and season with salt and pepper to taste. While the soup simmers, melt the butter in a skillet on medium heat. Add the bread and cook, stirring, until the croutons are golden. Serve the soup, topped with croutons and sprinkled with parmesan.

Master Gardeners are volunteers typically trained through universities or university extensions throughout the United States and Canada Once they complete their training, Master Gardeners help the Extension better serve the home gardening public by answering questions, speaking to groups, working with 4-H horticultural projects, participating in civic beautification, maintaining demonstration gardens, teaching plant sciences and horticulture, maintaining their web site, and in many other ways. Master Gardeners are willing and able to educate individuals and groups in gardening topics such as plant selection, composting, soil improvement, pest control, vegetable and flower gardening, pruning, and more.

The Madison Area Master Gardeners Association, located in Dane County, Wisconsin, is one of about 50 local Wisconsin Master Gardener Associations (MGAs) whose members are students or alumni of University of Wisconsin-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer training. MAMGA (Madison Area Master Gardeners Association) was founded in 1986 as a forum for Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) in south-central Wisconsin to continue professional improvement and provide service to the community.

MAMGA, the Madison Area Master Gardeners Association, is a local non-profit organization of persons who have completed the basic Master Gardener training course, or are current students. MAMGA members may or may not also be currently certified Master Gardener Volunteers. MAMGA exists to provide education, service, and fellowship opportunities for its members. Membership costs $15 per year, or $25 for two years renewed at the same time. MAMGA members receive discounts at many local nurseries, participate in educational programs and garden tours throughout the year, and are invited to social events.

WIMGA, the Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association, is a state-wide non-profit organization of persons who have completed the basic Master Gardener course, or are current students. Most MAMGA members also choose to join WIMGA, but doing so is not required. WIMGA membership costs $5 per year. WIMGA members receive periodic newsletters and other informational communications from the state master gardener office. WIMGA also hosts a statewide Master Gardener conference each year.

Certified Master Gardener Volunteers have completed the basic Master Gardener training course and have satisfied annual volunteer service and continuing education requirements. Most Certified Master Gardener Volunteers choose to join MAMGA and/or WIMGA, but are not required to do so. There is no cost to be certified as a Master Gardener Volunteer. Certified Master Gardener Volunteers assist gardeners through the local UW-Extension Office by serving as plant health advisors, answering hotline calls, tending the Teaching Garden, and performing various other activities that support the UW-Extension Horticulture Program and reach out into the community. Certified Master Gardener Volunteers also perform lots of other gardening outreach and service at places like University Display Gardens, Allen Centennial Garden, Olbrich Gardens, the UW Arboretum, churches, community gardens, and many other venues.

—Attend a Master Gardener Volunteer interview session for acceptance into the program.

—Sign the UWEX Master Volunteer Agreement and consent to the state background check.

—Attend the 16 session Master Gardener Volunteer course which runs from late Feb to the end of August. Classes are held approximately every other Wednesday morning.

—Pass the open-book take-home exam with a score of 70% or better.

—Perform the 24 hours of volunteer service by the end of the six-month course.

—Attend one MAGMA educational session, social event or garden tour during the course.

—Discounts at area nurseries and retailers including Klein’s!

—Free admission to MAMGA sponsored programs and events

—Educational programs

—Garden tours

—Service and community education opportunities

—Fellowship and social events

Sources: dane.uwex.edu and www.mamgawi.org

Also known as Snake Plant, this very adaptable succulent is perfect for the beginner and for people with a brown thumb. For the experienced, sanseveria’s dramatic presentation and ease in care make it a must have in every home.

Being tolerant of very low light, sanseveria is one of few choices for the workplace, office and shopping centers, where good light is often a rarity. Their preference though is a bright indirect light and are tolerant of even high light locations.

Mother-in-laws tongues thrive on neglect. In fact, their greatest downfall is their lack of tolerance for “wet feet”. Kept too moist, or allowed to stand in water, the plant will surely rot. During the summer months, plants should be watered thoroughly when dry to the touch. But during the winter, they can remain nearly bone dry, increasing watering as the days lengthen in late February.

Sanseveria attracts few pests. Mealy bugs can be their biggest enemy, but are easily controlled. Dust is easily removed from the leathery leaves with a damp cloth.

Varieties range in height from 4” to up to 4’. Foliage is generally a rich green marked with grays or yellows. Tall, deep green varieties with bright yellow margins are especially eye-catching.

Plants are extremely long-lived and often times outlive their owner and are passed down amongst family members.

Sanseverias are easily propagated in the spring by splitting up and repotting crowded plants. Leaf sections can also be readily rooted. Flowering is sporadic and appears most often on mature and overcrowded plants. This member of the agave family heralds from Africa east to Southeast Asia.

Sunday, January 6, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Aldo Leopold and his graduate students kept journals to record the timing of natural events (phenology). Start the new year learning to track life cycle events. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Tuesday, January 8, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Class

Rain gardens help absorb stormwater, recharge ground water, improve pollinator and bird habitat, and provide year-round interest. Learn about rain garden design and plantings. Bring yard plan for discussion. Indoor class. Instructor: Gail Epping Overholt, Arboretum outreach and education coordinator. Fee: $25.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Saturday, January 12, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

University of Wisconsin Horticulture Department,

1575 Linden Dr, Madison, WI

With 20 years of experience and 10 years working and now operating Paradigm Gardens, a progressive garden center in Madison, WI, Dennis Anderson has been growing food crops hydroponically indoors with a focus on nutritional density.

Free for FACG members and $10 for general public

Class is held in the Horticulture Building (1575 Linden Drive) in room 108. Please follow signs on the corner of Babcock and Linden that will direct to the entrance.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-food-indoors-a-conversation-about-plant-lighting-and-hydroponic-gardening-tickets-50962510240

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr. on the University of WI campus, Madison

608/576-2501 or allencentennialgarden.org for details.

Sunday, January 20, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Even when the ground is frozen and the air is cold, beauty and activity abound in the natural world. Springs remain ice-free and support year-round wildlife. Discover winter’s liveliness on this naturalist-led walk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Sunday, January 20, 9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

We will partner with UW Space Place for this special night walk. From 9 to 9:30 p.m., learn about the total lunar eclipse and supermoon, look through telescopes, and pick up tips to enjoy the night sky. At 9:30, we will walk under the night sky as the partial eclipse begins. This moon is named for the reddish hue of the fully eclipsed moon. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Thursday, January 31, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Keynote: Laura Jackson, director, Tallgrass Prairie Center. Discussion panel: Amy Alstad, land protection associate, Driftless Area Land Conservancy; Corrine Daniels, director, Nursery Operations, Taylor Creek Restoration Nursery; Rich Henderson, board member, The Prairie Enthusiasts; and Kevin Kawula, owner, Lone Rock Nursery. Fee: $10. Register by Jan 28.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

1207 Seminole Highway

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu for details.

Saturday, February 2, 10:00-4:00

Sunday, February 3, 10:00-3:00

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

In the middle of winter it is so delightful to be surrounded by the colorful and exotic fragrance of the world at a handy and comfortable location—new this year at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. It will be the 31st year for the Madison Orchid Growers Guild to host Orchid Quest.

You will be able to find everything you need to take care of your new orchid plants including literature, growing media, fertilizer, orchid pots, and more. Come see this multidimensional show. Visit www.orchidguild.org for more details. Admission and parking free.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

608/246-4550 or www.olbrich.org for details.

Friday, February 8, 12:00-8:00

Saturday, February 9, 9:00-6:00

Sunday, February 10, 10:00-4:00

Garden Expo is a midwinter oasis for people ready to venture out and dig their hands in the dirt. Now in it’s 26th year, this three-day event celebrates the latest trends in gardening and landscaping. Join other gardening enthusiasts to share ideas, gain inspiration and create something new. All proceeds support Wisconsin Public Television.

Things to do at the Garden Expo;

-Learn something new at one of the more than 150 free educational seminars and stage demonstrations.

-Visit with hundreds of businesses, independent contractors, nonprofits and artists to share ideas and learn about the newest in gardening, landscaping and local foods.

-Discuss innovative gardening techniques with UW-Extension horticulture experts.

-Relax with a casual walk through the central garden—courtesy of Wisconsin Nursery & Landscape Association

-Purchase seeds, tools and everything else you need to be ready when the trees bud and the ground thaws.

-Attend the Sunday farmers’ market, featuring farmers, food artisans and local food retailers.

Tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Two and three-day passes are available for added savings. Advance tickets are available at Klein’s. Visit www.wigardenexpo.com for more information.

Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall

1919 Alliant Energy Center Way

Madison, WI 53713

608/267-3976 or www.alliantenergycenter.com

Thursdays, February 21 thru April 18, 6:30-9:00

Dane County UW-Extension Office, 5201 Fen Oak Dr, Suite 138

The 2019 Green Thumb Gardening Series will give you the practical knowledge to keep your home garden thriving! University of Wisconsin Extension educators, specialists, and local horticulture experts will provide in depth and accessible information for everyone from the novice to the experienced gardener.

Register for the complete class series at a discounted price ($90.00) or individual classes ($12.00) according to your interests @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-green-thumb-gardening-classes-tickets-50406424974?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

February 21: Seed Starting and Saving. Learn different techniques to collect and preserve seeds from the garden, germinate seeds at home, and care for your seedlings as they emerge.

February 28: Vegetable Garden Planning & Techniques. Dane County UW-Extension Small-Scale and Organic Produce Educator Claire Strader will cover organic techniques for growing vegetables, with an emphasis on practical strategies for a successful harvest.

March 7: Garden Landscape Design. Ben Futa, Director at Allen Centennial Garden, will cover fundamentals and elements of landscape design for your annual or perennial garden.

March 14: Hot Composting & Vermiculture. This class covers various techniques including worm composting (vermiculture) and hot composting. Taught by Joe Muellenberg, Dane County UW-Extension Horticulture Program.

March 21: Native Plants for Gardens & Pollinators. Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension Horticulture Educator will discuss native prairie plants for gardens and some of the best plants to choose to attract butterflies and other pollinators.

March 28: Managing Vegetable Garden Pests, Diseases, Insects, & More. Learn how to prevent and manage diseases and insects that afflict a variety of plants in the home garden. Taught by Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension Horticulture Educator.

April 4: Backyard Chickens. Learn from Ron Kean, UW-Extension Poultry Specialist, on how to best care for your small flock of egg-layers in a backyard setting.

April 11: Flower Gardening. Learn general techniques for selecting, planting, and caring for annuals and perennials. The session will also highlight new and recommended varieties. Taught by Lisa Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension Horticulture Program.

April 18: Lawn Care. Learn from Doug Soldat, UW-Extension Turf Specialist, on how to best select, start, and maintain a lawn of turfgrass best suited to your needs.

Dane County University of Wisconsin-Extension

5201 Fen Oak Dr, Suite 138

608/224-3700 or dane.uwex.edu

Saturdays, January 5 thru April 6, 8:00-noon

Madison Senior Center

330 W. Mifflin

For details visit www.dcfm.org

JANUARY IN THE GARDEN—A checklist of things to do this month.

___Place your used Christmas tree in the garden for added wildlife protection.

___Inspect stored summer bulbs like dahlias, cannas and glads for rotting.

___Check for and treat for pests on plants brought in from the garden.

___Begin forcing stored elephant’s ears at the end of January.

___Keep birdfeeders full. Clean periodically with soap and water.

___Inventory last year’s leftover seeds before ordering new ones.

___Order your seeds. By ordering early, there are usually freebies & discounts.

___Start certain slow-growers like lisianthus, geraniums, pentas and bananas.

___Shop for summer bulbs like begonias, caladium, calla and elephant’s ears.

___Use the winter days to plan next summer’s garden.

___Check your garden for any plant damage from weather or rodents.

___Have trees trimmed–it’s often times cheaper and easier to schedule.

___Visit Klein’s—it’s green, it’s warm, it’s colorful—it’s always spring.

Some of our very favorite seed and plant sources include:

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

Thompson & Morgan @ www.thompson-morgan.com or 800/274-7333

Brent & Becky’s Bulbs @ www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com or 877/661-2852

Colorblends @ www.colorblends.com or 888/847-8637

John Scheeper’s @ www.johnscheepers.com or 860/567-0838

McClure & Zimmerman @ www.mzbulb.com or 800/883-6998

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

Note: To receive every possible seed, plant or garden supply catalog imaginable, check out Cyndi’s Catalog of Garden Catalogs @ www.gardenlist.com. Most catalogs are free and make for great winter reading!

BEHIND THE SCENES AT KLEIN’S—This is a sneak peek of what is going on each month behind the scenes in our greenhouses. Many people are unaware that our facility operates year round or that we have 10 more greenhouses on the property in addition to the 6 open for retail. At any given moment we already have a jump on the upcoming season–be it poinsettias in July, geraniums in December or fall mums in May.

—This is the quietest month at the greenhouse. All 10 greenhouses in our back range are usually shut down to save on energy and prep them for all the spring plants that start arriving in February.

—Thousands of geranium cuttings arrive for our 5” pots and we begin planting up our geranium hanging baskets and flower pouches.

—We begin stepping our tropicals into larger pots for spring sale. This early jump gives you larger and more vigorous plants than many of our competitors.

—We spend much of our time ordering product for next summer, from plants to pottery to garden ornaments and sundries.

—We begin to access our needs for spring staffing and try to have the new people in place and trained by March 1. March and April are the busiest months behind the scenes in the greenhouse and we rely on a dedicated, hardworking team to have everything ready for the customer come May 1 and the spring onslaught.

—Hundreds of herbs for windowsill culture are thriving in the sunny, warm greenhouses . We have chosen only the best assortment for indoor growing and winter harvest. Choose from rosemary, lavender, parsley, thyme and more.

—We continue to plan and prepare for Wisconsin Public Television’s Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center in February by sprucing up display pieces and potting up thousands of violas, primrose, cineraria, etc. for sale at the show. This is Klein’s biggest annual event and our most important advertising.

Have our monthly newsletter e-mailed to you automatically by signing up on the right side of our home page. 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.

Ask us your gardening questions by e-mailing us at madgardener@kleinsfloral.com. Klein’s in-house Mad Gardener will e-mail you with an answer as promptly as we can. The link is posted on our home page and in all newsletters.

We can only answer those questions pertaining to gardening in Southern Wisconsin and we reserve the right to leave correspondence unanswered at our discretion. Please allow 2-3 days for a response.

Follow Klein’s on Facebook where we post updates and photos on a regular basis.

Join Klein’s on Twitter where we post company updates and photos on a regular basis.

We offer a 10% 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.

Plastic flower pots and garden edging can now be recycled as part of the City of Madison’s rigid plastic program. Flowerpots and edging must be free of dirt and can be placed in your green recycling bin. For more information call 267-2626 or visit www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/plastic.cfm

Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses delivers daily, except Sundays, throughout all of Madison and much of Dane County including: Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, Maple Bluff, Marshall, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and Windsor. We do not deliver to Cambridge, Columbus, Deerfield or Stoughton.

Current delivery rate on 1-4 items is $7.95 for Madison, Maple Bluff, Monona and Shorewood Hills; $8.95 for Cottage Grove, DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Windsor; and $9.95 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, 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 or 888/244-5661

Horticulturalist & General Manager–Jamie VandenWymelenberg jamie@kleinsfloral.com

Accounts, Billing and Purchasing—Kathryn Derauf kathryn@kleinsfloral.com

Delivery Supervisor & Newsletter Coordinator—Rick Halbach rick@kleinsfloral.com

Owner, Floral Designer & Purchasing—Sue Klein sue@kleinsfloral.com

University of Wisconsin Extension

1 Fen Oak Ct. #138

Madison, WI 53718

608/224-3700

Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic

Dept. of Plant Pathology

1630 Linden Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

Insect Diagnostic Lab

240 Russell Labs

1630 Linden Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

U.W. Soil and Plant Analysis Lab

8452 Mineral Point Rd.

Verona, WI 53593

608/262-4364

American Horticultural Society

Garden Catalogs (an extensive list with links)

also http://www.mailordergardening.com/

Invasive Species

Community Groundworks

3601 Memorial Dr., Ste. 4

Madison, WI 53704

608/240-0409

Madison Area Master Gardeners (MAMGA)

Wisconsin Master Gardeners Program

Department of Horticulture

1575 Linden Drive

University of Wisconsin – Madison

Madison, WI 53706

608/265-4504

The Wisconsin Gardener

Allen Centennial Gardens

620 Babcock Dr.

Madison, WI 53706

608/262-8406

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

3330 Atwood Ave.

Madison, WI 53704

608/246-4550

Rotary Gardens

1455 Palmer Dr.

Janesville, WI 53545

608/752-3885

University of WI Arboretum

1207 Seminole Hwy.

Madison, WI 53711

608/263-7888

University of Wisconsin-West Madison

Agricultural Research Center

8502 Mineral Point Rd.

Verona, WI 53593

608/262-2257

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

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