Written by Alex | September 16, 2010 | 2010 NewslettersNewsletter Tags: , , , ,

Color Your Fall

Newsletter 27 – Thursday, September 16, 2010

In the garden, Autumn is,
indeed the crowning glory of the year,
…at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time,
do we get such superb colour – as from August to November.

Rose G. Kingsley

Imagine being a visitor to your home.  A rainbow of colorful mums greets you as you start up the sidewalk.  Halfway to the door a friendly scarecrow shouts a welcome from its perch atop a straw bale.  Jack-O-Lanterns smile from their sentry positions by the door.  And then so do you as you step inside onto a bright homespun welcome mat and see the wonderful display of seasonal decorations filling nooks and crannies everywhere.   What a delightful world you’ve entered.  A world apart from the hectic one you’ve left behind.  A world of beauty, color and whimsy.

This doesn’t have to be a dream.  America’s Best Flowers can help you make it a reality.  Our first ever “Art In the Garden”will allow you the opportunity to meet local artisans and crafters as they offer handmade items in a beautiful garden setting.  From 9 to 4 this Saturday, September 18, we will provide a one-of-a-kind shopping experience where you can choose from a selection of unique products created by members of your own community. 

At last count we had more than 20 vendors, providing a wide range of products, including seasonal decorations, stepping stones, jewelry, glasswork, photography, dried flowers, alpaca wool, hand-woven rugs, and much, much more.  What a perfect opportunity to personalize your home décor while you support your local economy. 

If you or someone you know is interested in participating as a vendor in this free-to-all event, give us a call at 608-222-2269 or email Jesse at abfjesse@yahoo.com.  We are looking forward to seeing all of you at what we hope will become an annual event.

St. Vincent de Paul Food Drive

St Vincent De Paul

When you come out for the art fair, dollar days and scarecrow days, please bring along a non-perishable food item donation for St. Vincent de Paul.  We are proud to support this organization whose emphasis is on providing for those in need within our own community.  With your help we can fill our barrel many times over this fall. 

Our linebacker is so strong he can pitch horseshoes while they’re still on the horse.

DOLLAR DAYS

There are four days left to redeem your orange bucks.  If you’re lucky enough to have some left, we have great ideas to help you spend them.  Imagine the possibilities – mums, pansies, flowering kale, mixed fall containers, houseplants, herbs, bulbs, trees, shrubs, and perennials.  Or maybe it’s time to get that gorgeous ceramic pot you’ve had your eye on all year?  Whatever you like, it’s all here and waiting for you.

Dollar Days will end Sunday, September 19.  Don’t miss out on your chance to save up to half on everything we have in stock. We will be open from 9 until 6 on weekends and 9 to 7during the week for this event.

We have so many players on the disabled list the team bus can park
in a handicapped space.

Color Your Fall

I’m out of fancy phrases to describe our perfect mums.  If you haven’t been here recently, you simply must drive on out and see them for yourself. Grown in deep nursery pots in our very own fields, these huge plants have unbelievable numbers of buds and blooms.  A wonderful value at our regular price, they become a tremendous one when you buy them in quantity.

Buy 1 or 2 Mums   Pay 11.99 each
Buy 3 to 9 Mums   Pay 9.99 each
Buy 10 or more   Pay 7.99 each

Sept 11 – 19 you can use your orange dollars and save even more!

We were in a really tough game. Our quarterback started praying, and we heard a distant voice say, "Please don’t include me in this.”

Color Your Spring, too

Mixed Spring Bulbs

Early next spring your garden will burst into brilliant color if you plant tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums and crocus now.  Though I love them all, it’s the bright blossoms of daffodils that convince me winter is finally over.  This year we have over 20 varieties to choose from including Jetfire, Lemon Beauty, Golden Ducat, Professor Einstein, Fortissimoand Ice King. Be sure to plant enough to cut for bouquets for home and the office. 

That linebacker has rung so many bells
he has a fan club consisting entirely of Avon ladies.

Four Days and Counting
’til Scarecrow Days

Scarecrow

September 20 through October 9 we will be helping you build unique scarecrows every day from 10 – 4. For a small fee, we provide a kit to get you started.  Add a great outfit (bring your own or buy one from us), and you’ll have a scarecrow that will be the envy of the neighborhood.  Set your creation on a strawbale, use a few corn stalks for background and surround the whole scene with brilliant mums, asters, fountain grass and pumpkins, and you’ll have a traffic-stopping fall display.  Free refreshments on weekends

Pro linemen are so huge that it takes just four of them to make a dozen.

Upcoming Events

Sat, Sep 18
Art in the Garden

9 AM – 4 PM Local artisans and crafters will be displaying and selling their merchandise

The coach was marching on the field alongside the band.
A majorette threw her baton in the air and then dropped it.
A fan yelled, "Hey, I see you coach the band, too."

Find us on Facebook

Our fan club is growing. Please become a fan on Facebook, and invite your friends. Help us get one thousand fans and surprises will await you when you visit our page. We’re almost halfway there so please spread the word!

I gave up my hope of being a star halfback the second day of practice.
One tackle grabbed my left leg, another grabbed my right leg,
and the linebacker looked at me and said, "Make a wish!"

Bonnie’s Kitchen

Fall also means IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON! Can it get any better than this? The great Badgers, and my beloved Green Bay Packers have started their seasons. I’m so excited. A big part of game day is serving just the right football food, whether you are tailgating at the stadium or watching the game from the comfort of your own couch. The essentials usually include appetizers of cheese, summer sausage, crackers, chips and various dips. Common sides are potato and pasta salads, baked beans, and cole slaw. The main course will typically include the world-famous Wisconsin bratwurst, burgers, chili, steaks, pork chops or grilled chicken. These next 2 recipes come from the Junior League of Madison’s Mad About Food cookbook.

Rose Bowl Cheddar Dip

  • ¾ cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 oz. low-fat cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup plain non-fat or low-fat yogurt or sour cream
  • ¼ cup bottled roasted red peppers, diced
  • 2 t hot pepper sauce
  • salt to taste
  • 2 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 4 green onions, sliced
Directions

Blend cheeses, yogurt, red peppers, pepper sauce and salt in a food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in most of the bacon and green onions, but set aside some for garnish. Chill at least 1 hour for flavors to marry.

Garnish dip with extra green onions and bacon. Serve with breadsticks, veggies and/or chips.

Serves 8

Per serving: Calories 110, Fat 7 grams, Protein 6 grams

Can be made the night before and stored in an airtight container.

Sideline Beans

Green Bay Packers Helmet
  • 3 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ½ pounds lean pork, cut into 1” cubes
  • 1 (14 oz.) bottle ketchup
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 2 T prepared mustard
  • 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 large sweet onion, chopped
  • ½ t salt
Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine all ingredients, mixing gently, but well. Place in a bean pot or casserole.

Bake uncovered for 5-6 hours; cover during the last hour.

 

Serves 12

Don’t go tailgating without these!

Bucky Bars

Bucky Badger
    Oatmeal batter
    • 1 cup butter, softened
    • 2 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 t vanilla
    • 2 ½ cups flour
    • 1 t baking soda
    • 1 t salt
    • 3 cups oatmeal, quick or regular
    Filling
    • 12 oz chocolate chips
    • 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
    • 2 T butter
    • ½ t salt
    • 2 t vanilla
    • 1 cup walnuts
    Directions

    Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 15’x10’x1 pan

    Filling; Combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter and salt in a double boiler; melt (I use the microwave). When chocolate mixture is smooth, add vanilla and nuts.

    Spread 2/3 of the oatmeal batter in prepared pan. Cover with chocolate filling. Dot with remaining oatmeal mixture. 

     Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool, cut into bars. Makes 36 bars

    Wrap your hand with wax paper for neat and easy spreading.

    We’ve had recipes for some pretty good football food in past newsletters. You may want to look some of them up:

    When a football team loses, they should at least lose uniquely…

    The Packers have been boxed up.

    The Steelers were smelted.

    The Redskins were thrown off the reservation.

    The Cowboys got scalped.

    The Jaguars were poached.

    The Seahawks got plucked.

    The Broncos were sent to the glue factory.

    The Giants fell off the beanstalk.

    The Dolphins got caught in the tuna net.

    and finally…

    The Jets crashed.

    Author Unknown

    SEE YOU SOON!!!
    Carol and Ed Knapton, owners of Americas's Best Flowers You’ll Love Your Garden … It’s Our Promise! May the Holy Spirit Guide You! God Bless
    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