Written by Alex | August 22, 2013 | 2013 NewslettersNewsletter Tags: flowers, Gardening, jokes, recipies, stories
Flea Market the Second
Newsletter 28 – Thursday, August 22, 2013
Current Hours
Monday Friday
9am-7pm
Saturday Sunday
9am-6pm
Featured Plant of the Week Echinacea, Coneflowers
Every flower garden cries out for a plant that attracts butterflies and birds, makes great cut flowers, and tolerates hot dry conditions. A perennial favorite that fills the bill is Echinacea, commonly called coneflower. They grow well in partial to full sun, in average soil, and require minimal attention. This perennial flower provides beautiful, colorful blooms and will re-bloom without deadheading. We have a wide selection of these beauties to choose from.
As always the featured plant of the week is 20% off while supplies last!
TEACHER: "Here is a math problem. If your dad earned $300 dollars a week and he gave your mother half, what would she have?"
STUDENT: "A heart attack."
Preparing Your Perennials and Shrubs for Fall
One of the most common questions we get this time of year is Should I keep fertilizing my perennial beds with Miracle Gro? There is a rather long scientific answer that has a lot to do with cell division and nutrient uptake and storage, but the short answer is, No. August is when plants begin the process of preparing for winter. Part of that process involves a slowdown in growth. When we apply standard fertilizers, we are telling them we want them to keep growing. The two messages dont work well together.
What we recommend instead are products that provide a slow release of nitrogen, while at the same time providing the phosphorus and potassium your plants need. Our favorite product for this is Coop Poop, an aerobically composted chicken manure. Please visit their website to learn more.
A teacher wrote home to a student’s parents:
"If you don’t believe half of what he says goes on in school,
then I won’t believe half of what he says goes on at home either."

America’s Best Flowers is having a Flea Market this Saturday!
Come on out to our Flea Market and shop for that whatever-you-are-not-looking-for-item on Saturday, August 24, from 8am-3pm!
There is still time to join us as a vendor! To participate we require a non-refundable registration fee of $20.00. After you arrive and have your space set up on that morning, Americas Best Flowers will present you with a $20.00 America’s Best Flowers gift card. Each vendor will be allowed two parking spaces, which equals one booth, to display their wares.
More vendor space is available for an additional $10.00 for each parking space. Additional space must be requested at the time of the initial registration. Each vendor is limited to only one $20.00 America’s Best Flowers gift card regardless of the number of parking spaces.
Rain or shine! Set up time is at 6:30am and the starting bell is at 8am. This event will end at 3pm. Vendors will need to bring their own furnishings, tables, awnings, chairs, etc.
We will have a specific area set up to test electrical items.
For safety purposes all vendor vehicles must be parked in a separate area and will not be allowed in the market area until after 3pm. Space is limited. Dont wait to register!
Its too late to mail us a check, but you can stop by the greenhouse with your check to register. In the memo section of your check please put Flea Market. For clarity include a short note stating how many booths you are registering for, a telephone number and/or email address for contact purposes.
We would be happy to make arrangements for vendors that are unable to make it to the greenhouse before Saturday to register. Please contact Shirley at abfscimino@yahoo.com or call the greenhouse at 608-222-2269.
There are a few restrictions on what may be brought to the flea market at our greenhouse. They are as follows:
- No firearms or ammunition,
- No live animals,
- No flowers and/or plants,
- No alcohol or tobacco is allowed on America’s Best Flowers property.
See you on Saturday!
"Son, I’m worried about your being at the bottom of the class."
"Pop, they teach the same stuff at both ends."
Art in the Garden
Featuring Local Artisans
Saturday, September 14, 9am-3pm
Our 4th Annual Art in the Garden event is right around the greenhouse corner.
Over 40 talented Wisconsin artists will be at our greenhouse displaying their unique creations. Some of the items available include: jewelry, paintings, weavings, carved gourds, pottery, woodworking, textiles, photography and much more!
Remember to mark your calendar for our 4th Annual Art in the Garden event on Saturday, September 14, from 9-3. What a great opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping!
For Art in the Garden Vendor Information please go to this link: www.americasbestflowers.com/newsletter/2013/26/index.html#article1326
How do you play hooky from correspondence school?
Send them an empty envelope.
Send Al your gardening questions!
Americas Best Flowers wants to help you succeed in your gardening efforts. If you have gardening questions send an email to Al Lunde, at abflunde@yahoo.com. Al will get back to you promptly.
Dog Wash Fundraiser Results!
We want to send out a great big howling thank you to the 91 dogs that came to our greenhouse last Saturday for our 3rd Annual Dog Wash Fundraiser for the Dane County Humane Society. Between Tabby and Jacks Mobile Grooming, Talbot Photography and America’s Best Flowers we raised just under $1700 for the Dane County Humane Society (DCHS)!
Thanks to Nick Pelzer, from the DCHS, and all the volunteers for all their hard work bathing mans best friend. The volunteers came to the greenhouse dry and left soaking wet…and they didnt seem to mind a bit.
A special thanks to Tabby & Jack’s Grooming and Talbot Photography for joining with us for the third consecutive year.
One kid was so bad, his parents went to PTA meetings under an assumed name.
Lucys Story Chapter 19
We are not alone! Hubby and I didnt realize that we had so much in common with other dog owners!
Following are several roundabout definitions from readers;
Pat In our house "roundabout" means you have to go round about the dogs. We have one dog in particular who lies in our kitchen doorway. You not
only have to go around him, but sometimes over him as well.
(Pat, does Lucys picture remind you of anyone in your household?)
Peggy – The 180 degree turning she does prior to lying down?
(Peggy, after reading your response Hubby and I looked at each other and said, Yep, there are multiple right answers!)
Linda – You probably have to walk around about her to get where you want to go. (Linda, right again!)
Step over and/or step around…arent we lucky that Lucy provides us with so many opportunities for exercise?
That Lucy must really love us!
`til next time,
~ Shirley
If any of you other dog people want to share a dog story send it to abfscimino@yahoo.com.
Teacher: "What is the purpose of having school?"
Student: Without school there wouldn’t be a reason for
holidays and summer vacation.
Upcoming Events
Sat, Aug 24 | Flea Market 8am 3pm Rain or Shine |
Sat, Aug 24 | Tomato Tasting 11am – 2pm – Taste the difference between varieties. |
Sat, Aug 24 | Contest for Kids 10am – 2pm Bring your colored chalk & color our parking lot! A prize winner for each age group (2-5) (6-10) (11-15) A PAPA JIMMYS $20.00 GIFT CARD for the Grand Prize winner. |
Sat, Sep 7 | Autumn Container Workshop 10am -4pm FREE soil and assistance. Create a beautiful container in our greenhouse and well clean up the mess. Bring in your own pots or buy some of ours. |
Sat, Sep 14 | Art in the Garden 9am – 3pm Talented artists display and sell their unique items. |
Sat, Sep 21 – Sun, Oct 13 | Scarecrow Days M-F 10-5PM / Sat Sun 10-4PM |
Our Kitchen
Last Monday in our weekly meeting Barb passed on a request from two separate customers asking if we would please share some of Bonnies recipes once in a while.
For new readers, Bonnie Marshall was the writer of the kitchen segment of this newsletter for five wonderful years. Our dear friend and co-worker passed away two years ago. Not a single week goes by at our greenhouse that either a customer or a co-worker doesnt mention her. Then the fond and fun memories would be shared of this small in stature person with a big heart, fiery red hair and the twinkling eyes.
It is with honor that we go back through Bonnies time capsule of recipes!
Bonnie always tried to incorporate whatever fresh vegetables were available in the garden into her weekly recipes. This one first appeared August 26, 2010. We hope you all enjoy it again!
Bonnies recipes are available by visiting www.americasbestflowers.com click on newsletters and then the year she started writing the column March 31, 2006. Formatting on some of the recipes may be a bit funky. You may find hieroglyphics before fractions and where apostrophes should be. It has to do with computer geek stuff I dont understand, but if you ignore the extra characters, the pertinent information is all there.
Bonnie’s Kitchen Remembered
Zucchini time is here once again! Its healthy and low calorie. 1 cup of zucchini, chopped with skin, has 17 calories, 1.4 g protein, total fat of 0.17 g and 1.5 g of fiber. Its also a good source of Vitamin C.
Zucchini, Corn, Black-Bean, and Jack-Cheese Quesadillas
- 1 small zucchini, grated and drained (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup defrosted frozen corn, drained
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 2 jalapeno peppers, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
- 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ t salt
- ¼ t freshly ground black pepper
- 1 t chili powder
- ¾ lb. Monterey Jack, grated
- 8 large (burrito-size) flour tortillas
- 2 T cooking oil
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, corn, onion, jalapeños, beans, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Toss gently to distribute the seasonings and then stir in the cheese.
Heat the oven to 200°. Set the tortillas on a work surface. Put about 1/3 cup of the filling on one half of each tortilla. Spread the filling to the edge and then fold the tortilla over the filling.
In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Add two of the quesadillas to the pan and cook, turning once, until the cheese melts, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and keep warm on a baking sheet in the oven. Repeat in batches with the remaining oil and quesadillas. Cut the quesadillas in wedges and serve.

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