Newsletter 27 – September 18, 2008

Events  Recipe

Thieves who steaI corn from a garden could be charged with stalking. joke 1

Scarecrow Fun

We invite you to bring your whole family to our Make-A-Scarecrow Workshops, running from 10 – 4 daily through September 28.  Our kit provides everything you need to build your very own scarecrow.  You can either bring old clothes to dress them in, or buy some from us at garage sale prices.  We are having a hard time finding straw hats this year, so dig through your closets to find the perfect topper for your scarecrow.  If you have extra hats (or bib overalls), we gladly take donations.

On both Saturdays, September 20 and 27, from 10 – 2, we will have FREE children’s activities, including a scavenger hunt and digging activities. Pumpkin painting is FREE with pumpkin purchase.  While you’re here, you can pick up a bale or two of straw, pumpkins, corn shocks, and some of our fabulous home-grown mums to create a traffic-stopping fall display.

.Today’s lawn & garden tip:

If you haven’t found the hedge trimmer yet, forget it.

It’s almost time to lose the leaf rake.” joke 2

MUM’s the Word

If your landscape is looking a little tired, we have the perfect answer for you.  Our mums are spectacular! Available in numerous colors and grown in deep nursery pots in our very own mum fields, they are huge.  These beautiful, dome-shaped plants have unbelievable numbers of buds and flowers. A wonderful value at our regular price of $11.99, they become a tremendous one when you buy them in quantity.

Buy 1- 4 Mums     Pay 9.59 each

Buy 5- 9 Mums     Pay 7.99 each

Buy 10-19 Mums       Pay 6.99 each

Buy Over 20 Mums           Pay 5.99 each

At these prices they make unbeatable gifts!

Hurry Out Today for the Best Selection!

Our Indian corn, gourds, pumpkins (including white ones), broom corn, bagged straw bales, and netted corn shock bundles have arrived, just in time for fall decorating.  To make things really easy for you, we’ve put together autumn bundles, which include combinations of straw, corn shocks and mums at great savings.  Combine them with your very own scarecrow, and make a REALLY unique decorating statement!

I got tired of looking out the window at all the leaves in my yard,

So I got up off the couch and went into action.

I closed the curtain. joke 3

It’s TIME to Plant Your SPRING-BLOOMING BULBS

Every fall we remind our customers that September is the time to plant bulbs so that next spring your flower beds will be ablaze with brilliant color.  And without fail, every spring we have customer after customer wanting to buy the plants for the beautiful tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, allium and crocus they see blooming in their neighborhoods.  These bulbs must be planted in the fall, before the ground freezes, so they have the cold period necessary for root development and blossom formation.  Hurry out today to get started.  For a fabulous spring display, all you have to do is pick your favorite colors, choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, dig a hole three times as deep as the bulbs, add Bulb Booster and cover.  Next spring you’ll be so glad you did!

This autumn we can look forward to falling leaves and rising gas prices.

We’ll be raking it up while the oil companies are raking it in. joke 4

”A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”. joke 4

Plan to attend our Rose Workshop on Saturday, September 20 at 10 am.  If you love roses, this is the class for you. Learn how to winterize your roses to ensure they make it through our harsh Wisconsin winters in this FREE class. Different winterization methods will be discussed, and you can have your questions answered by our own Sharon Stickford, past Madison Rose Society president.  

This year, as something new, we’ll be handing out a list of rose varieties that we plan to have available next year. If everything goes well, “Cinco de Mayo,” the All-American Rose Selections Winner for 2009, will be among the varieties we will offer. http://www.weeksroses.com/CincoDeMayo.php This rose features petals in an incredible blend of smoked lavender and rusty red-orange. Long pointed buds spiral open to form abundant, fragrant, double blossoms.  We will be taking names of those interested in our upcoming selections, and call you in the spring when they arrive.

Many of you are enjoying our online games, here’s another.

Click here http://www.games.com/game/wheel-of-fortune-2

If you missed last week’s game click here Millionaire Game

2009 Garden Journal Available

The Madison Area Master Gardeners Association publishes an annual garden journal as a fundraiser.  For information visit their website at: http://www.madison.com/communities/mamga/library.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 15-28– Scarecrow Days Make your own scarecrow. 10-4. FREE popcorn on the weekends. On Saturdays we will also have FREE kids’ activities from 10-2.  Fun for the entire family. $12.99 includes everything except the clothes. You can bring your own or buy here at garage sale prices.

September 20 – How to Winterize Roses 10 am Roses are perennials!  Learn how to protect them against harsh Wisconsin winters.  Our own Sharon Stickford, past President of the Madison Rose Society, will lead this informal discussion.

“Autumn is a season for big decisions –

like whether or not it’s too late to start spring cleaning.” joke 6

BONNIE’S KITCHEN

Here’s a recipe I’m taking to the Sunday night PACKER game in Green Bay —GO PACK! These travel well and can be easily made ahead.

Italian Muffalettas

6 servings

3 T olive oil

2 T white wine vinegar

2 t fresh snipped oregano

1 t Dijon mustard

¼ t crushed red pepper

12 slices crusty sourdough bread

2 medium tomatoes, sliced

6 oz. thinly sliced Provolone or Fontina cheese

6 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto, or mortadella (available at good delis like Frabonis)

2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves

5 pepperoncini salad peppers (I use banana peppers), seeded and thinly sliced

In screw-top jar combine olive oil, vinegar, oregano, mustard, and crushed red pepper. Cover and shake well. Set aside.

On six of the bread slices, layer tomatoes, cheese, prosciutto, basil and peppers.

Shake oil mixture. Drizzle over peppers. Top with remaining six bread slices. Wrap tightly and place on flat surface. Weight with a shallow baking dish and chill for 2 hours before serving. From Better Homes and Gardens

We’ve already suggested what to make for the Packer game. But now we want to mention another GREAT Packer win opportunity! Dane County Humane Society is running an adoption opportunity for the Packer season this year. If the Packers win their weekly game, you can adopt a dog or cat of your choice at 50% off the normal fee through the next Tuesday of that same week. All you have to do is tell the DCHS person you are working with what the final score of the game was. How awesome is that? Go to www.giveshelter.org for details and click on the packer logo.

The autumn leaves are a lot like raising kids.

First they turn on you,

And then they fly away.

And next thing you know,

You look out the window

And they’re back!! joke 7

SEE YOU SOON!!!