Newsletter 1 – Feb 5, 2008                       Events

The wise gardener anticipates June in January. – anonymous

 The GARDEN EXPO

Although it might be pushing it just a bit to think of the Garden Expo as a holiday, almost 20,000 area gardeners faithfully attend this annual event.  This weekend, February 8–10, the 15^th Annual Wisconsin Public Television Garden Expo will be held at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall.  Starting Friday evening at 4:00, and running through Sunday, the Garden Expo has become the promise of spring to those who attend.  America’s Best Flowers will be there, and hope you will be, too.  For more information visit www.wpt.org/gardenexpo

Memory is the power to gather roses in winter. – Anonymous

 We need your Help

We have been asked to provide a few customer contacts.  There is an article coming out in a local magazine and newspaper and they would like to contact a few of you to ask about us and our loyalty program.  We value your privacy and need your permission to release enough information for them to contact you.  If you would be willing to help us out, please send me an e-mail giving us permission ed@americasbestflowers.com.

 POST-HOLIDAY ‘DE-STRESS’ ACTIVITY

Now that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are behind us (do I hear a “Yeh?”), it’s a good time to tackle that pile of catalogs and magazines you’ve been too busy to read.  As you work your way through the stack, keep your scissors handy.  If you cut out pictures of plants and garden accessories you like, and put them in a folder, next spring when you are shopping, it will be much easier for you to show us a picture of what you want, rather than try to describe it from memory.

Another benefit of having this folder, is that you can take it with you to the library some snowy Saturday afternoon and do research.  There are wonderful gardening books available which contain mountains of useful information, like zone hardiness, light & moisture requirements, bloom period, etc.  My only caution about gardening books – be sure it wasn’t published for a warmer climate, many of the most beautiful are from England (zone 7).

O! The level lake and the long glories of the winter moon! – Tennyson

Madison is a wonderful place. Wherever you are in the city, it’s only a short drive to one of the many lakes surrounding it.  Some cold, clear night, when the moon is full, make it a point to visit one.  The brilliant light, reflecting off the ice or snow, will affirm the glory Tennyson saw. 

Today, it takes more brains and effort to make out the income-tax form than it does to make the income

NEW RETAIL HOURS & UPCOMING EVENTS

The countdown has started – T-minus 10 weeks and counting – until we see you again.  Within the next two weeks, tiny plants will start arriving at America’s Best Flowers.  These miniatures will grow into the gorgeous plants that will beautify your landscape this summer.

Our SNEAK PEEK Weekend in mid-April will be a special opportunity for our Loyalty Customers.  In addition to introducing you to Gardening 2008, we will have FREE workshops in our Ask-the-Expert Series of Classes.

Later in the month, our Spring Open House will feature FREE kid’s activities, hot dogs and popcorn.  Other spring events will include our annual Herb Fest, a special Earth Day Celebration, Mulch Madness and Container Workshops.  

The first Sunday in May is our annual “SALSA SUNDAY,” when we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Latin music, free samples of  chips and salsa, and a Salsa Container Planting workshop. We will give away a $50 gift certificate for the best salsa recipe.

Special Mother’s Day activities and free classes on vegetable and perennial gardening will continue throughout the season, along with our Make and Take Workshops and children’s activities.  We also promise you many exciting surprises, including our Independence Day Celebration, when we have FREE ice cream for all.

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 222-2269.

Looking through the want ads last week, I came across a job that required a college degree or the equivalent.  Finally, I thought, my eight years of high school are paying off.”  Buzz Nutley

Bonnie’s Kitchen

I love Chicken Marsala, and rotate between my four favorite recipes when I make it. Here’s one from the Madison Junior League!

Chicken Marsala

½ cup flour

1 t salt

½ t freshly ground pepper

½ t dried thyme

½ t dried rosemary

1 t dried basil

½ t dried sage

½ t dried oregano

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 t olive oil

2 T butter

2 cloves crushed garlic

½ lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

2/3 cup marsala wine

¼ c heavy cream

Mix together flour with salt, pepper and dried herbs in a small bowl; set aside.  Pound chicken breasts between 2 pieces of wax paper until ½ inch thick. Dredge chicken in the flour mixture.

Heat oil and butter in a large skillet until hot; add garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer meat to a warm serving platter and cover to keep warm.

Add mushrooms to the skillet and cook 5 minutes. Add the wine and heat to boiling, scraping up browned bits. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes; add cream and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Pour sauce over warmed chicken on platter and serve with rice, pasta or roasted red potatoes.

4 servings

345 calories per serving

“Record Store”

A woman meant to call a record store, but dialed the wrong number and got a private home instead.  “Do you have ‘Eyes of Blue’ and ‘A Love Supreme?’ she asked.

“Well, no,” answered the puzzled homeowner.  “But I have a wife and eleven children.”

“Is that a record?” she inquired, puzzled.

“I don’t think so,” replied the man, “but it’s as close as I want to get.”

SEE YOU IN THE SPRING!!!

May the Holy Spirit Guide You!  God Bless
Edward Knapton says Keep on Smiling!
President 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
ed@americasbestflowers.com
https://www.americasbestflowers.com/home.htmlAlso President of The Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin  http://www.cfgw.org/ an Organization that is a division of the six group Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF) a 3 Billion dollar industry with over 4700 businesses and over 43,000 employees in Wisconsin
http://www.wgif.net/
Senator Representing Wisconsin members of the American Nursery and Landscape Association – ANLA
http://www.anla.org/
Also Board member of Garden’s Beautiful Garden Centers
Also member of legislative of Committee of WGIF Also Board Member of (WGIF) Wisconsin Green Industry Federation