Newsletter 6 – April 23, 2008     Events      Recipe

“Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize:

 a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves”-Thich Nhat Nanh

JOIN US FOR OPEN HOUSE

Our spring Open House is this weekend, April 25 – 27 at the Cottage Grove location.  This three-day event features a FREE Black Hill Spruce tree with purchase, while supplies last, in honor of Earth/Arbor Day. Saturday, April 26, at 10 we have FREE kid’s activities, including t-shirt painting (bring your own white t-shirt) and seed ball making. 

Our first-ever Open House Manager’s Special is Proven Winner Shrubs at $14.99 each.  These smaller #5 plants are perfect for spring planting, requiring less work and quick growth. 

We will be serving hotdogs and popcorn from 11-3 on Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27, and invite you to come on out for lunch.  We are open 9 am to 8 pm Mon – Fri and 9-6 on Sat & Sun.  Hope to see you soon!!

Old accountants never die, they just lose their balance.joke 1

WHY WE GARDEN

A big-time horticulture industry supplier recently surveyed folks on why they garden.  The results clarify what most of you probably already know. 

Gardening is relaxing.  Planning, planting and caring for our gardens doesn’t require much deep thought.  It also is a great departure from our often stressful workday.

Gardening is therapy for both mind and body.  To dig in the soil, watch plants grow and enjoy the outdoors connects us to pleasant times and memories.

Gardening is gratifying, resulting in beautiful plants, flowers and vegetables that give us pride and satisfaction.  A garden is our chance to express ourselves.  Our gardens reflect our personal taste and style sense.

The best thing about working here at America’s Best Flowers is our customers.  You shop here because you want to, not because you have to.  Not so surprisingly, this makes it all the better for our employees as well.  If you haven’t seen our new look; wider aisles, refreshed display gardens, redesigned container garden aisle, revamped retail department and new bathrooms, please plan a visit and enjoy it with us.  (The thousands of plants, baskets and containers we’ve been planting just for you look great, too!)

Old musicians never die, they just get played out.joke 2

Salsa Recipe Contest

HURRY !!! Enter our Salsa Recipe Contest by April 30 and you could win the first prize of a $50 gift card or one of two honorable mention winners of a $10 gift card to Americas Best Flowers.  Email your favorite salsa recipe to ed@americasbestflowers.com.  Please put ‘Recipe for Bonnie’ in the subject line. You can also drop it off at our main greenhouse in Cottage Grove.  All entries must be submitted by April 30.  Our staff will judge the finalist recipes and we will notify the winner on May 2.  Winning recipes will be available to our customers on Salsa Sunday, May 4.

Old yachtsmen never die, they just keel over.joke 3

Mark Your Calendars

On May 3 and 4 we will have our first container workshop of the season.  If you have never attended one of these fun events, you’ve missed lots of fun.  These ongoing workshops run from 10 until 4 each day in our new container potting area.  Knowledgeable staff is available to help you design unique containers for your patio, deck or entryway.  Select your favorites from our beautiful collection of pottery, or bring your own, and we will provide FREE soil and assistance to help you create gorgeous pots your neighbors will envy.  These workshops are very well-attended, so come on out and enjoy the fun.

At 10 o’clock on Saturday, May 3, plan to check out our Water, Water Everywhere workshop.  Learn from an expert how to properly water your plants.

Salsa Sunday, May 4 is one of our favorite events of the year.  FREE Salsa and chips from 11-2 (including our winning recipe), Latin music, and planting salsa containers makes for a really fun day.

Old gardeners never die, they just spade away.joke 4

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 25 – 27, Spring Open House.  In celebration of Earth/Arbor Day, we will be giving away FREE Black Hills Spruce seedlings with any purchase, while supplies last.  FREE hot dogs and popcorn will be served Saturday and Sunday from 11-3.

Saturday at 10 am, FREE children’s activities.  Bring a white t-shirt to paint, make seed balls and more.

May 3 & 4 from 10 to 4.  Our first Container Workshop of the year.  Buy a pot, or bring your own, select plants from our wide selection and receive FREE soil and assistance.  We’ll clean up the mess.

May 3, Saturday at 10 am, FREE ‘Ask-the-Expert’ workshop, ‘Water, Water, Everywhere!”, learn how to properly water your plants with Howard Zimmerman, our representative from the Dramm Corporation.

May 4 is “SALSA SUNDAY,” celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Latin music.  Plant a ‘salsa container’ at our container workshop. Watch newsletters to enter our salsa recipe contest and win a $50 gift certificate for the best salsa recipe. We’ll have FREE salsa recipes, including the winning entry, for you to take home and FREE samples of chips and salsa from 11-2

May 6 & 8 at 6:30 pm, Make a Mother’s Day Basket.  A ‘Make and Take’ Event, call for details.

May 9 – 12 – Celebrating Mother’s Day, Mom gets a FREE geranium.

May 16 – 18, Tomato Days

May 17, Saturday at 10 am FREE ‘Ask-the-Expert’ class on vegetable gardening, led by Brian Emerson of the Agricultural Research Station.

May 17, Saturday 10 – 2, Herb Fest, with FREE samples of herb breads and dipping oil.

May 17 & 18, 10-4 Container Workshop

May 20 at 6:30 pm, FREE ‘Ask-the-Expert’ How to Select & Care For Your Roses with Sharon Stickford.

May 22 at 6 pm, FREE ‘Ask-the-Expert’ Pond and Container Water Gardening seminar by Jan Vergeer.  Check out many new varieties.

As the year progresses we promise you many more exciting surprises, including our July 4th Celebration, when we have FREE ice cream for everyone.

Our goal is to hold events that are interesting and helpful to our customers. If you have ideas for events, please let us know.  You can email us at ed@americasbestflowers.com or call 608-222-2269.

Old steelmakers never die, they just lose their temperjoke 5

Check out ‘Illusion’ Vinca

A newer introduction of Vinca major is ‘Illusion’.  It features bi-colored yellow and green leaves with small blue flowers.  Like all vinca vines, it provides a great trailing touch for containers and baskets.  Illusion is not winter hardy in Wisconsin.  While we’ve got a decent supply of this great plant, this versatile beauty is bound to sell out fast, so hurry on out.

Old milkmaids never die, they just lose their wheyjoke 6

BONNIE’S KITCHEN

.I love grilled pizza, and play around with different veggie and cheese toppings.  Here is a simple and delicious cheese version from Betty Crocker. I substitute the individual Boboli crusts for the pitas.

Two Cheese Grilled Pizza

1 package (3 ½ oz.) fresh chevre (goat) cheese

4 pita breads (6” in diameter)

4 Roma tomatoes, sliced

16 Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

1 ½ c shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.)

1T chopped fresh basil leaves

Heat grill. Spread cheese evenly over each pita. Top with remaining ingredients except basil.

Cover and grill pizzas 4-6” from medium heat 5-10 minutes, or until crusts re crisp and vegetables are hot. If crusts brown too quickly, place on a sheet of foil. When done, sprinkle with basil.  4 servings

Old watchmakers never die they just run out of time Joke 7

Old foresters never die, they just pine away Joke 87

Old golfers never die, they just lose their drive Joke 97

Old owls never die, they just don’t give a hoot Joke 107

Old quilters never die, they just go under cover Joke 11

Old trombonists never die, they just slide away Joke 127

For more never die jokes, visit www.ahajokes.com

SEE YOU SOON!!!