Written by Alex | July 9, 2015 | 2015 NewslettersNewsletter Tags: flowers, Gardening, jokes, recipies, stories
A Garden of Savings
Newsletter 21 – Thursday, July 9, 2015
Current Hours
Cottage Grove location open
Mon-Fri 9-7
Sat and Sun 9-5
Edgerton location open
Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30
Sat 8:30-5:00
Sun 9-4
Buy 2 Hanging Baskets – Get One Free
Freshen up your patio, deck and yard with color, lots and lots of color! (And save money while youre at it!)
Purchase two hanging baskets and get one of equal or lesser value free. There is no limit. This offer is valid Thursday, July 9 through Wednesday, July 16 at the Cottage Grove location only. This offer is good while supplies last and is not valid on previous purchases.
A family took a trip to Disney World. After three exhausting days, they headed home.
As they drove away, the son waved and said, Goodbye, Mickey.
The daughter waved and said, Goodbye, Minnie.
The dad waved, rather weakly, and said, Goodbye, Money.
Perennial of the Week Echinacea
Echinacea, also commonly known as coneflowers, are a great addition to any garden. This week the Hot Summer and Magnus coneflowers are our featured perennials.
The Hot Summer coneflower is quite an amazing flower. The flowers first bloom yellow, then turn orange and then turn a vibrant red. And this all happens within a few days. What a talented flower!
The purple petals of the Magnus coneflower will stand out in any garden. In hot weather, light shade will enhance the rich purple color of the petals.
The coneflower is a low maintenance and versatile flower to have in your garden. They add an eye catching display of color and are excellent for your fresh cut bouquet.
An added bonus is the neighborhood butterflies and hummingbirds will visit your garden often!
Stop on out and choose from a selection of our specially priced Coneflowers and receive 20% off.
103 Years Old
A reporter was interviewing a 103 year-old great grandma:
"And what do you think is the best thing about being 103" the reporter asked.
She simply replied,
"No peer pressure."
Ivory Silk’ Lilac Trees Back in Stock
Every spring when the Ivory Silk lilac trees along the streets of Cottage Grove and Madison bloom, we are inundated with calls from gardeners wanting one. Because they put on such a beautiful show this spring, we ran out early. But, we have good news for you. One of our northern suppliers has been able to provide us with a limited supply. These trees are quite tall, by far some of the largest we have ever had. They are also a tremendous value at just $99.99. Similar size Ivory Silk often sells for well over $200.
The Japanese tree lilac "Ivory Silk" is related to the fragrant, old-fashioned flowering lilac shrubs. However it grows into a strong, elegant tree with a distinctive scent. Hardy to zone 4, this beautiful ornamental tree reaches 20-30 feet at maturity with a pyramidal form.
Easy to grow, Ivory Silk tolerates conditions that other trees find inhospitable. Poor soil, mild drought conditions, salt spray and urban pollution don’t seem to bother it, making it a perfect boulevard tree. It rarely needs pruning to maintain its shape. When located in a sunny area, Ivory Silk is a stunning specimen tree that has minimal disease or pest problems.
Our supply is very limited, so hurry out today before theyre gone.
Religious Cowboy
The devout cowboy lost his favorite Bible while he was mending fences out on the range.
Three weeks later, an Alpaca walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The cowboy couldn’t believe his eyes.
He took the precious book out of the Alpacas mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It’s a miracle!"
"Not really," said the Alpaca. "Your name is written inside the cover."
40% Off Furniture & Rustic Wood Planters
Add some pizzazz to your outdoor entertainment area with a few of these charming pieces of lawn furniture and rustic wood planters. All benches, tables and chairs and rustic wood planters are 40% their original price. Each piece of the furniture is treated with a baked-on powder coated finish. The cushions are made with an indoor / outdoor material. To ensure years of enjoyment bring the cushions indoors in the off season.
This offer is valid at the Cottage Grove location only and is only good while supplies last and is not valid on previous purchases.
More Savings
Purchase two 4 or 5 perennials and get one of equal or lesser value free. There is no limit to this fantastic opportunity! Dont miss out on a chance to economically expand your perennial garden.
Buy 2 1 free
Buy 4 2 free
Buy 6 3 free
and so on…
This offer is good at both locations.
Little Emma returned from the birthday party and her mother asked:
Did you say thank you?
Well, no, replied the little girl. Ysee, the girl ahead of me thanked her and she said, Dont mention it! so I didnt.
Save Big On LittleThings
Whether you have a fairy garden or have been thinking about creating one, this week is a great time to take advantage of our 40% off sale on select metal fairy garden accessories.
Exit Ramp Closed
The road construction on Cottage Grove Rd and Stoughton Rd (Hwy 51) may change the route some of you will take to get to the greenhouse this year. See this article for information.
Since Southbound entrance and exit ramps onto 51 will be closed, those coming from the north will need to get off Hwy 51 at the Milwaukee Street exit. Go left (east) at the bottom of the exit ramp and stay on Milwaukee St. until you get to Sprecher Rd. Turn right (south) go to the first stop light, which is Cottage Grove Rd. Turn left (east) go 1 mile and then take a right (south) on Vilas Hope Rd. We are down one half mile on the right. Hope to see you soon!!
Click here for a live version of the pictured alternate route.
50th Anniversary
A couple goes out to dinner to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
On the way home, she notices a tear in his eye and asks if he’s getting sentimental because they’re celebrating 50 wonderful years together.
He replies, "No, I was thinking about the time before we got married. Your father threatened me with a shotgun and said he’d have me thrown in jail for 50 years if I didn’t marry you. Tomorrow I would’ve been a free man!"
Send Irene your gardening questions!
Q: A short time after I plant the marigolds, the plants do not look healthy and the leaves are lacy, looking like they have been eaten. Is this slugs or some bug? What can I do about it? What product would you recommend for my hostas? Last summer I had problems with slugs eating holes in the leaves.
A: It could be slugs, or even more likely on marigolds, earwigs. Earwigs love marigolds. Both are active in the evening and hang out in moist conditions, like under mulch, especially during the day. Removing debris and thinning out mulch helps reduce habitat. Some folks set out rolled-up newspapers, then discard the earwigs that congregate there overnight. This would also reveal the culprit, which is important because treatment is different for a bug than for a slug. If earwigs are indeed the guilty party, you can spray Captain Jack’s, a.k.a. spinosad, a naturally occurring bacteria. You could also opt to sprinkle Sevin (carbaryl) dust or to spray Eight (permethrin). Make sure to treat both the plant and the area around it. Follow label directions and reapply as needed; it may take multiple treatments to knock back the population.
For slugs, you can sprinkle Earth-tone Slug & Snail Control around plants about every two weeks. Slugs eat the bait & die a few days later. The active ingredient is iron phosphate, a natural control. You can even apply before you see any holes, as soon as we have a stretch of warm, wet weather.
Good luck!
~Irene
Americas Best Flowers wants to help you succeed in your gardening efforts. If you have gardening questions send an email to Irene, at abfirene@gmail.com. Irene will get back to you promptly. Let America’s Best Flowers be your go-to greenhouse for answers.
Upcoming Events
Sat, Jul 25 | 5th Annual Dog Wash 11am-3pm Bring your wonderful dirty dogs out to our garden spa for a bath and nail trim. Benefits the Dane County Humane Society. |
Sat, Jul 25 | 2nd Annual Fund Raiser for Cottage Grove Police Dog "Larz" Cancelled Larz is unfortunately not available for a visit this year. The rest of the festivities continue unimpeded. |
Sat, Aug 8 | Customer Appreciation Day at the greenhouse! 11am-2pm Enjoy a FREE brat/hot dog & corn-on-the-cob served by the Cottage Grove Historical Society. Cottage Grove location only. |
Sat, Aug 22 | Flea Market 9am-3pm Rain or Shine |
Sat, Sep 12 | Art in the Garden Craft Fair 9am-3pm Talented artists display and sell their unique items. |
Sat, Sep 19 | Flea Market 9am-3pm Rain or Shine |
Q: Why do potatoes make good detectives?
A: Because they keep their eyes peeled.
Our Kitchen
Here is something a little different for your next cookout or potluck. Its loaded with all the flavors of a baked potato bar. Feel free to add or subtract to please your own tastes. You might want to add some sliced black olives or green onions; or if you want to spice it up, sub hot pepper jack cheese for part of the cheddar. I think a few halved cherry tomatoes would make a nice addition to the top garnish.
Baked Potato Salad
- 5 # bag russet potatoes
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 t salt, or more to taste
- ½ t pepper
- ¼ c chopped chives
- 1 med red or yellow onion, diced small
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 12 oz pkg bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
Directions
Wash the potatoes and prick with fork. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until fork tender.
Cool and cut the potatoes into bite sized chunks. Place in large mixing bowl and set aside to cool completely.
Mix the mayo, sour cream, salt, pepper and chives together in a small bowl. Pour over potatoes and mix well. Add the 1½ c cheese and half of the bacon, toss well. You can serve immediately or refrigerate for a few hours. Just before serving, top with remaining cheese and bacon. Enjoy!

Edward Knapton says Keep on Smiling!
Sec – Treasurer Berry Hill Farms, Inc.
DBA Americas Best Flowers Garden Center
4311 Vilas Hope Road
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
608-222-2269 Fax 608-222-1234 Cell 608-698-5627