Newsletter 26 – September 11, 2008

2009 Master Gardener Journal      Rose Workshop      Fall Container Workshop      Make Your Own Scarecrow      Bonnies Kitchen

Computers are not intelligent.  They only think they are. joke 1

DOLLAR DAYS

Now through Sunday, September 14^th

We had a packed house last Saturday morning for the start of Dollar Days. Favorite items included our gorgeous mums, spring-flowering bulbs, trees, shrubs, perennials, houseplants and pottery, as well as a wide assortment of garden supplies.  Dollar Days ends this Sunday, September 14. Don’t miss out on your chance to save up to half on everything we have in stock.

MUMS GALORE

If you haven’t been here recently, you simply must visit the greenhouse ASAP! Our mums are spectacular! 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. While we normally don’t mention prices in our newsletter, we are making an exception because this is information you’ll want to know.

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!

Last weekend many of you had fun at our Fall Container Workshops, potting up great containers to withstand the cooler fall temperatures. While you were here, you also scooped up pre-planted containers designed by our potting shed staff!  Combined with our fall decorating items, you now have everything you need to give your home an exciting autumn facelift.  If you didn’t make it out last weekend, you have another opportunity this Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14.  Scroll down for more information.

Our Indian corn, gourds, pie pumpkins, bagged straw bales, and netted corn shock bundles have just arrived. The bags and netting makes getting your straw & corn shocks home a snap! No fuss, no mess. This coming week we expect to receive the rest of our pumpkins, including white ones, and broom corn. Also, starting Monday, September 15, you can come out and make your own scarecrow, – what a REALLY unique decorating statement!  Everyone at America’s Best promises to help you make your home the envy of your neighbors.  Read more about scarecrows and kids’ activities below.

Johnny: “Hey, Mom, I got a hundred in school today.”

Mom: “That’s wonderful! What did you get a hundred in?”

Johnny:  “In two things, I got forty in reading and sixty in spelling.”  joke 2

PLANT YOUR SPRING BLOOMING BULBS NOW!!!

Just imagine your flower beds next spring ablaze with the brilliant color of spring bulbs.  Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, allium and crocus are planted in the fall, before the ground freezes, so they have the cold period necessary for root development and blossom formation.  For a fabulous spring display, all you have to do is choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, dig a hole three times as deep as the bulb, add Bulb Booster and cover.  Viola – the transformation has begun, and next spring you will see the reward.  Just be sure to mark the area with a permanent plant stake to prevent accidentally damaging your bulbs.  A new shipment of bulbs has just arrived and you can use your orange dollars to save up to 50% on them, through Sunday, September 14.

Master Gardener’s 2009 Garden Journal Available Now

The Madison Area Master Gardeners Association publishes an annual garden journal.  For information visit www.madison.com/communities/mamga/index.  For the order form  www.madison.com/communities/mamga/library/files/2009 Garden Journal.

What is green and goes to summer camp?   A Brussels’ scout joke 3

Upcoming Workshops

This weekend, September 13 & 14, from 10 – 4, will be the last of our Container Workshops for 2008.  At these workshops, we provide FREE soil and assistance to help you create the container of your dreams.  You either bring your own pots or use ours.  Then we help you choose plants from our selection of mums, grasses, heucheras, sedums, pansies, nasturtium, asters, kale, and Bright Lights Swiss chard, just to name a few. You can also plant fall containers up in liners, and drop them into your favorite large containers.  There is no faster way to decorate your landscape for fall.

”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.  Roses are perennials too! Learn how to winterize your roses and 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 will be available next year here at ABF.  If everything goes as planned, “Cinco de Mayo,”  the All-American Rose Selections Winner for 2009, will be among the varieties we will offer.  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.  If you love roses, too, this is the class for you.

Many of you enjoyed last week’s game, so here’s another.

Click here Millionaire Game

Scarecrow Fun

Bring the whole family to our Make-A-Scarecrow Workshops, September 15-28, from 10 – 4, and create one-of-a-kind scarecrows.  We provide a kit, which contains your scarecrow’s head, frame and stuffing, along with assistance to help you create your unique scarecrow.  You can either bring old clothes to dress them in, or buy some from us at garage sale prices.  We are having a really 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 bibs), 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, a few pumpkins, corn shocks, and some of our fabulous home-grown mums and create a traffic-stopping fall display.

It was a typically busy day at the bank.  After a glance at the line of waiting customers, a harried-looking man came up to the side counter and demanded.

“What do I have to do to change the address on my account?”

Without missing a beat, the clerk replied, “Move.”Joke 5

UPCOMING EVENTS

thru September 14– ABF Dollar Days Use your ABF orange bucks.

September 13-14– Fall Container Workshop FREE soil & assistance 10-4pm

September 15-28– Scarecrow Days Make your own scarecrow. Free popcorn on the weekends. Fun for the entire family. $12.99 includes everything you need but the clothes, bring your own or purchase at garage sale prices.

September 20 – How to Winterize Roses 10 am Roses are perennials!  Learn how to protect them against harsh Wisconsin winters.  Sharon Stickford

“A distraught dog owner called his vet pleading for an immediate appointment.  He explained that his dog had a large growth near the corner of his mouth.

 The vet told him to bring the animal right over.

When the man arrived, the vet examined the dog as the man stood anxiously by.

At last the vet turned to him and asked, “Do you have any children?”

“Oh, good grief, is it contagious?” the man gasped.

“No.” the doctor answered.  “It’s bubble gum.” joke 6

BONNIE’S KITCHEN

Here’s another twist on salmon. I just read the other day that quite a few Americans try to incorporate salmon into their diet at least once a week. I know I do. BTW, try the frozen salmon burgers available at Trader Joes. They are soooo good, and there are no additives. This is wonderful served with coleslaw and fingerling sweet potatoes, available at Monona Farmer’s Market on Sundays, or regular fingerling potatoes.

Coleen’s Sesame Salmon Fillet

1 salmon fillet (1 1/2 -2 lbs.)

2 T cider vinegar

2 T soy sauce

1 T honey

1 t vegetable oil

1 t spicy brown mustard

1/8- ¼  t ground ginger

2 T sesame seeds, toasted

3 green onions, sliced

Place salmon in shallow dish. Combine vinegar, soy sauce, honey, oil, mustard, and ginger—pour over salmon. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, turning once. Drain and discard marinade. Broil the salmon, or grill it covered over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and onions.

DON’T MESS WITH SENIORS!

My wife and I went to breakfast at a restaurant where the ‘senior special’ was

Two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.

“Sounds good,” my wife said. “But I don’t want the eggs.”

“I’ll have to charge you $2.49 if you’ order a la carte,” the waitress said.

“You mean I’d have to pay for NOT taking the eggs?” my wife asked incredulously.

“That’s right,” stated the waitress.

“Then, I’ll take the special,” my wife replied.

“How do you want your eggs?” the waitress asked.

“Raw and in the shell,” my wife answered.

She took the two eggs home. joke 7

SEE YOU SOON!!!