Newsletter 13 (6 /13/2007 )

  Recipe Bookmark

Father’s Day 2007

A Father means so many things

An understanding heart,

A source of strength and of support

Right from the very start.

A constant readiness to help

In a kind and thoughtful way.

With encouragement and forgiveness

No matter what comes your way.

A special generosity and always affection, too

A Father means so many things

When he’s a man like you!

Author unknown

Show your Dad how much he means to you.  Create a special place in your outdoor living area just for him.  Start with a bubbling fountain next to a confortable piece of deck furniture.  Add planted flowering containers and you’ve created an oasis where Dad can rest and reflect on what great kids (and wife) he has.  Come on out today and let us help you make this Father’s Day the best one yet for all the special men in your life.

One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is.  Later that night, the Father prayed: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.

All little boys want to grow up and be just like their Daddy – to fill his shoes.  America’s Best Flowers has a great opportunity to make a symbol of this simple truth.  This Sunday, June 17, from 10 until noon we invite your children to bring in one of Dad’s old shoes or work boots and we will help him or her plant it especially for Dad with whatever plants they like.  The only charge is the cost of the plants.  We provide free soil and assistance.  It’s our way of helping your children make their dad’s Father’s Day really special.

Make ‘Someday’ Today.

America’s Best Flowers would like to help you make those projects you’ve been promising yourself you would get to someday, become a reality today.  Whether it’s planting a special tree, creating a gorgeous, hardy rose garden, redoing your perennial beds so that you have continual bloom, or filling every corner of your deck or patio with living color; we have the products and the knowledge to help you succeed.  Don’t put it off any longer.  Come on out today, you’ll be so glad you did.

To become a father is not difficult, but to be a father is.

In honor of June as National Perennial Gardening Month, America’s Best Flowers features a different perennial each week.  This week our selection is the perennial geranium Rozanne.  Large, deep violet blue flowers with white center cover the 18-24 inch plant in early summer.  After this initial flush, you can expect sporadic spikes of color until frost.  In the fall Rozanne leaves will change to a bright red, creating garden interest right up to the first hard freeze.  Rozanne is easy to grow in either sun or partial shade, and prefers a moist soil.  If you have never tried perennial geraniums in your garden, now’s the perfect time.  Although their appearance is quite unlike the annual geraniums we all know, the perennial version is also a great addition to your flower beds.

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.  Harry S. Truman

For those of you who were lucky enough to attend Jan’s water gardening container workshop on Thursday, May 31, you may recall him talking about the ground orchid, a beautiful water plant which we were unfortunately out of.  I have great news for you, we just received another shipment, and were able to get some of these great plants.  If you are interested in this unique orchid for your water garden, hurry out.  We were only able to get one tray of ten.

Did you know there are more collect calls on Father’s Day than on any other day of the year?

There are many ways to explore the world of gardening here at Americas Best Flowers. One of them is with our classes and workshops.  We try to offer a large choice of FREE courses, which we hope are of interest to you.  We get ideas for classes from our customers, so if there is a topic you would like to learn more about, or a speaker you would like to hear, let us know.  We will try our hardest to make it work.   

A Man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, June 19^th at 6 PM – NOTE DATE AND TIME CHANGE

MAKE A SUMMER WREATH

We’ll help you make a beautiful grapevine and silk summer wreath for indoor or outdoor use-perhaps a red, white and blue one for the upcoming Fourth of July, or one filled simply with beautiful blooms and greens. Pre-registration required at 222-2269. Cost of workshop is $35.

Sunday, June 17 from 10AM til noon

PLANT DAD’S OLD SHOE WORKSHOP

Join us to plant Dad’s old shoe or work book.  Picture gaily blooming impatiens, trailing snapdragons, perennial sedums or coleus spilling from Pop’s sneaker.  This makes a GREAT Father’s Day gift, and one that your child will enjoy making.  Also, a super gift for that “Dad-to-Be.”

Thursday, June 21 at 6:30PM

HOSTA WORKSHOP Another FREE Ask the Expert Class by Ed Schulz,

President of the Madison Hosta Society. Join us as Ed discusses What Makes Hostas Different?  He will cover basic requirements, selection and care, as well as answer your questions.  Take this tremendous opportunity to learn more, from a true expert, about the hosta, the king of all shade gardening plants.

Tuesday, July 10 at 6:30PM

NATIVE PLANT WORKSHOP Another FREE Ask the Expert Class by Joe and Diane Powelka.  Joe is the National President of Wild Ones Natural Landscapes and will discuss prairie and woodland plants. Learn how to restore native plants and natural landscapes.

Future Events

Last fall we began a series of Divide and Swap Saturdays. We featured iris, daylilies and Asiatic and Oriental lilies. Gardeners can come out and learn how to properly divide clumps of bulbs. Then you can exchange your variety with other gardeners to add new and exciting color to your garden!  Watch future newsletters for times.

When your Dad is mad and asks you, “Do I look stupid?”  Don’t answer. From Kid Wisdom

Bonnie’s Kitchen

Potato Salad With Crispy Fresh Vegetables

1/2 c chopped broccoli florets

1/2 c snow peas, sliced on the diagonal

4 med potatoes, peeled, cubed and cooked

2 sliced green onions

1/2 c chopped sweet red, yellow or green pepper

1 diced celery stalk

1/2 c finely chopped onions

1 sliced medium carrot

1 T chopped fresh parsley

Dressing

4 t red wine vinegar

2 T low fat yogurt

3 T light mayonnaise

3 T lemon juice

1 1/2 t dijon mustard

1 t crushed garlic

1 T veg oil

1. in saucepan, blanch broccoli and snow peas in boiling water for 1 minute or just until color brightens.  Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well and place in large salad bowl.

2. Add potatoes, green onions, red pepper, celery, chopped onions, carrot and dill.

3. Dressing: In small bowl, mix together vinegar, yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, mustard, garlic and oil; pour over salad and mix gently. Garnish with paprika and parsley.

You can make this ahead by tossing salad with dressing early in the day and refrigerating.  Stir just before serving.

Don’t be afraid to vary the veggies.  Just make SURE they are crispy!

When our son was four months old, I caught my husband in another room, holding the baby on his lap, talking to him and pointing.  I was touched by this father-son bonding and went into the room to eavesdrop.

“Football,” he said slowly, pointing to the television.  “This is football.”