Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Newsletter 4 – Thursday, March 12, 2015
Current Hours
Cottage Grove location open
9am – 5pm, Monday through Saturday
We are currently closed on Sundays.
Edgerton location open
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm, Sat 8:30am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm
Lucys Story – Chapter 82
"A roll in the mud, a nice warm bath, and a nap on the couch. It’s been a good day."
Click for Larger Image
Snippet from Lucys April 2012 journal
I cant believe it! Is this for real? I see grass! Its brown grass, but its still grass. And mud, oh, that precious mud! Its magical, I tell ya! It holds all kinds of wonderful secrets. The tangy smells of varmints that passed through the yard are embedded in each and every one of their muddy tracks. Squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and opossums its like a smorgasbord out there.
This is what my nose thrives on. I gotta go! Im headed outside to do some investigating and if I have to do a little rolling in the stuff to clearly identify the source, well, so be it, I say!
One hour later
Ahhh, yeah, well, it turns out that what I call fragrant, my mom calls stink.
My dad is filling the bathtub.
Till next time!
~Lucy
Some of our greatest historical and artistic treasures we place in museums;
others, we take for walks.
Roger Caras
We have seeds…lots and lots of seeds!
Its never too early to start planning for this seasons garden. If you are planning a vegetable, herb or flower garden, bring your seed list out to either our Cottage Grove or Edgerton location. We have a huge selection of Livingston seeds for you to choose from.
We make seed planting easy!
To help with your seed planting project, we have two types of seed starting trays available from Hsu, a Wisconsin based company.
The Flower and Vegetable Seed Starter Kit is filled with Hsu Professional Potting Soil. The Organic Seed Starter Kit filled with Organic Rice hull Potting Soil.
Both are a 32 cell insert and watering tray. Just lightly moisten the soil, pop in 1-2 seeds in each cell, in the depth directed by the seed package, and cover with soil. Place in sunny, warm area. Mist with water to keep soil moist. Stand back and watch them grow. Then transplant when and where appropriate.
While supply lasts, take advantage of our $1.50 off coupon, on the purchase of two seed starter kits. This coupon is good through March 31, 2015 and is valid at both of our locations.
Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.
Yogi Berra
New Products Corner
Many of you have asked how we make our compost tea. And while we brew our tea in large batches you can now brew your own compost tea in convenient 1 gallon amounts. Introducing our newest product from Purple Cow Organics, Purple Cow Compost Tea Bags. Purple Cow now makes it even easier to get beneficial biology for your plants and soil. They have taken Purple Cow Activated compost and turned it into a liquid form for easy home gardening. Purple Cow is trusted by farmers and gardeners alike.
Purple Cow liquid compost tea has many uses, including; hanging baskets, potted plants, and raised garden beds. Use on flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruits and as a foliar. It can also be used when planting seeds. Compost tea provides the organic alternative you’ve been looking for and is safe for humans, pets and the environment.
We recommend using every other week when watering, however, more frequent use will not damage your plants. The Purple Cow Compost Tea Bagsare all natural and easy to use. No manure or synthetic chemicals and is allowable for use in organic production. Conveniently packaged with 12-2oz. tea bags and it’s made right here in Wisconsin. Purple Cow Organics, "Good Soil, Good Life".
Say Happy St Patricks Day with a Shamrock
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way-
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
Our Shamrocks are in full bloom, colorful and ready for you to take home or give as a gift. What a wonderful way to celebrate St. Patricks Day!
If you’re Irish, it doesn’t matter where you go – you’ll find family.
Victoria Smurfit
Americas Best Flowers Fundraising Program
Spring 2015 is right around the corner! People are beginning to think about vegetable gardens, shade trees, flowering shrubs and glorious flowers.
What perfect timing for your non-profit organization to participate in Americas Best Flowers fundraiser program. Non-profit organizations earn 25% of the proceeds from each gift card they sell. For example, if your organization sells $500 of our gift cards, which are available in any denomination over $10, your organization would earn $125.
Please contact us if your non-profit organization is in need of funds for things such as (but by no means limited to):
- local charities, (i.e. food pantry)
- church mission trips,
- new equipment or uniforms for your school sports program, or school band or orchestra.
Americas Best Flowers gift cards may be used at both our Cottage Grove and Edgerton locations.
If you are interested or have questions regarding our easy and profitable program, please contact Shirley at abfscimino@yahoo.com.
My folks came to U.S. as immigrants, aliens, and became citizens.
I was born in Boston, a citizen, went to Hollywood and became an alien.
Leonard Nimoy
Online auctions are fun and exciting!
The Wisconsin Green Industry Federation is Getting Ready to Launch an Online Auction! Beginning March 17th through March 31st, 2015, this organization will be auctioning off, from many different companies, a number of useful, fun and unique items to bid on.
Americas Best Flowers will also have a number of great items for you to bid on. Check out their website at http://www.biddingforgood.com/wgif.
Has your email address changed?
If you are a Loyalty Customer and have submitted your email address to us you will receive our newsletter by noon, every Thursday.
If your email address has changed please remember to let us know by either calling us at 608-222-2269, sending us an email at abfbev@yahoo.com or just let us know the next time you are at the greenhouse.
Our newsletter can also be found on our website www.americasbestflowers.com.
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Officer asks a young engineer fresh out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "And what starting salary are you looking for?"
The engineer replies, "In the region of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."
The interviewer inquires, "Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?"
The engineer sits up straight and says, "Wow! Are you kidding?"
The interviewer replies, "Yeah, but you started it."
Upcoming Events
| Sat, Apr 4 | Community Egg Hunt 10am-2pm Indoor – Rain or shine! FREE candy! For children 6 and under. Bring your camera and have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Accepting items for the Cottage Grove Food Pantry. |
| Sat, Apr 11 – Sun, Apr 12 | Terrarium & Miniature Garden Container Workshop 10am-3pm FREE soil and assistance. Create your own terrarium or miniature garden. Customers may bring in their own EMPTY containers, but all accessories must be purchased from Americas Best Flowers. |
| Sat, Apr 18 – Sun, Apr 19 | Spring Flower Show 9am-6pm We have your all-time favorite plants plus a few new ones for the season and a HUGE selection of new pottery. |
| Sat, Apr 18 | Herb Container Workshop 10am-3pm FREE soil and assistance. Create your own herb garden. Bring in your own EMPTY containers or buy some of ours. |
| Sat, Apr 18 – Sun, Apr 19 | Universal Saw & Tool Sharpening 9am-3pm Get your tools ready for easier gardening. |
| Sat, Apr 25 | Earth Day Celebration 10am-2pm Free childrens activities. Bring a white T-shirt to paint, make seed balls, plant flower seeds and more. |
Our Kitchen
Cabbage rolls without the work! Try a change from the traditional corned beef and cabbage for St. Patricks Day. This quick and easy recipe still uses cabbage, which is plentiful and inexpensive this time of year, but the flavor of ground beef makes it very family friendly. Enjoy!
No-Fuss Cabbage Rolls
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small head cabbage, chopped in 2 pieces
- 1 cup rice, white*
- 1 (28 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup water
- 2 T fresh parsley, minced (2 t dried)
- 2 t fresh dill, minced (3/4 t dried), optional
- 1 t freshly ground black pepper
- 1 t sea salt
Directions
Brown beef and onions in a large skillet with a lid. Drain.
Add garlic, cook an additional minute.
Add remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer about 25 minutes or until the cabbage is tender. 6 8 Servings
*If you prefer brown rice, use ¾ c, increase water to 1 c and double cooking time.
This week, I’m throwing in a little something for you to make for St. Patties. These brownies are so good. I havent had one since Bonnie made them for us 5 years ago. I feel the urge to bake coming on hope you do, too.
Bonnies St. Patricks Irish Coffee Brownies
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ c butter, softened
- ½ c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 ½ c all-purpose flour
- 1 t baking powder
- ¾ c milk
- ¼ c Irish whiskey
- 2 T instant coffee crystals
- 1 c chopped walnuts
- 2 ½ c sifted powdered sugar
- 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 T Irish whiskey
- 1 ¼ t vanilla
- 3-4 T brewed coffee
- chopped walnuts, optional
Directions
Heat granulated sugar, butter, and ½ c cocoa powder in a large saucepan over medium heat until butter or margarine melts, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add eggs and 1 t vanilla; beat lightly just until combined.
Stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl; set aside. Stir together milk and 1/4 c whiskey; stir in coffee crystals. Add flour mixture and milk mixture alternately to the chocolate mixture, beating by hand after each addition. Stir in nuts. Pour into a greased 15X10X1 baking pan.
Bake at 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, for the Irish Coffee Glaze, stir together sifted powdered sugar, 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 T Irish whiskey, and 1 ¼ t vanilla. Stir in 3-4 T brewed coffee until of drizzling consistency.
If desired, sprinkle with additional chopped nuts. Makes 36 brownies.
Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
Today the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there?
L. H. Bailey
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
