Newsletter 13 – May 28, 2009

Events       Recipe       4 FREE Classes      

Al's Pick of the Week       Those Rascawwy' Wabbits! 

“To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure*

is the most perfect refreshment.” Jane Austen

(*the greenness of growing vegetation)

FREE For the Taking

What a whirlwind of activities we’ve had so far this month at America’s Best.  So many well attended FREE classes and workshops, in addition to the normal flurry of business that the wonderful spring weather always generates.  On May 2 our Salsa Saturday started the fun.  Followed by Mother’s Day and Container Workshops, with their FREE soil and assistance, where so many beautiful containers were created!  Last Saturday’s “Vegetable Gardening, Tomatoes and More” was such a success!  Brian Emerson answered your questions and offered super ideas to make your veggie gardening so much easier!   Brian works for the West Madison Trial and Garden (Ag Research) Station. If you’d like more information about their work, go to: http://www.cals.wisc.edu/westmad/garden/index.html

This week, the fun continues with FOUR, count ‘em’, FOUR “Ask-the-Expert” Classes.  It is our hope that all of our FREE classes will help provide you with the necessary information for unlimited gardening success.  Please show your appreciation to these experts by attending.

Do you want to hear the story about the broken pencil?

No? Oh Well.

There’s no point to it anyway. Joke 1

Kick Off Herb Fest

On Saturday, May 30, at 10 am we will host an Herb Class with Mari Lynn Haugh of the Olbrich Herb Society. The class is intended to be an overview of planting, growing, and harvesting herbs. Mari Lynn will discuss herb garden planning and design, as well as how to use herbs in your food, around your home and as gifts.

After the class, from 11-2PM, we invite everyone to sample a variety of herb breads and herb-infused dipping oil.  This annual event is so fun because it gives us the opportunity to show you how easy it is to add variety to your meals, just by snipping a few herbs right from your own garden.  Complimentary recipes will be available.

What did the German watch repairer say to his watch

that would only go tick, tick, tick?

“Ve have vays of making you tock!” Joke 2

Fabulous Hosta

On Sunday, May 31 at 1:00 pm there will be a Hosta Workshop presented by Ed Schulz, president of the Madison Hosta Society.  Ed will discuss the basics of hostas, including growing requirements, selection, and care.  Always willing to share with others what he has learned from years of gardening, Ed always allows plenty of time for answering all your questions. Plan to attend this FREE workshop.

A guy comes blasting into the doctor’s office and exclaims, excitedly,

“Doctor, I think I’m shrinking! I think I’m shrinking!”

“Ok, just settle down sir,” the doctor says,

“You’re just going to have to be a little patient.” Joke 3

Made In the Shade Gardening

However wonderful they are, there’s much more to shade gardening than hostas.  Tuesday evening, June 2 at 6:30 pm our own Ilene Isenberg will lead a discussion of how to combine the many plants that thrive in the shade.  You will learn how to add dimension, variety, and interest to shady areas.  These fabulous plants make great borders, and can be used very effectively to create a crazy quilt of textures and hues throughout your gardens.

A young lady who had just been dumped by her boyfriend

seemed unusually cheerful. Someone asked her why,

and she replied that, sooner or later, time wounds all heels. Joke 4

Right Plant, Right Place

On Thursday evening, June 4, at 6:30 pm, we are honored to have Rhonda Weber, from W. & E. Radtke, Inc. of Germantown, Wisconsin, speak to us on The Full Sun Perennial Garden.  Rhonda firmly believes there is a right place for every plant, and will present tips on designing and maintaining your own sunny perennial gardens.  Please plan to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from the real expert.  We know you’ll be glad you did.

What do you call a cute little animal you keep in your automobile?

A carpet. Joke 5

Al’s Pick of the Week

Many of you were out earlier this month and asked us why our petunia and calibrichoa (million bell) baskets were not blooming.  The simple explanation was the cool, cloudy weather.  We told you that as soon as the sun started to shine and the temps climbed up a bit, they would be beautiful.  That has turned out to be a tremendous understatement.  What a show they are making now!  Row upon row of absolutely brilliant masses of color line our back houses.  Because they grew while it was cool, the plants are dense and literally covered with blossoms.  The bloom/bud count is extremely high, producing the most fabulous baskets we have ever had.  Come on out today and see for yourself what baskets should look like.  You’ll be so glad you did.

“A man walks into a greenhouse and finds a Boston fern growing in a mixed planter.

As he admires the plant, he says, “With fronds like these, who needs anemones?” Joke 6

Pesky Critters

Early on we learned to love em.  Those sweet stuffed bunnies we cuddled in our childhood were such a comfort to us.  And how precious were the tiny rabbits sitting in the lawn chewing a dandelion.  Not to mention Bugs Bunny himself.  How we loved to watch him!  How we laughed at his antics!

But we’re not laughing now.  Those tiny, weed-eating bunnies have grown up, and so has their palate.  While one dandelion blossom was more than enough to fill their tiny tummy a few weeks ago, it now takes an entire row of bean seedlings just for an appetizer.  But still they are kinda cute and a gun or a trap does seem a bit extreme.

Now there is a better way to fight back.  Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent is the environmentally safe solution that is so effective the Liquid Fence company backs it up with a written 100% money-back guarantee.  This easy to use product is safe for your family, pets and plants, while providing a hassle-free answer for deer and rabbit damage.  Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit is available in two formulations and sizes.  Personally I suggest the economical ready-to-use gallon size.   Come on out today, pick up a bottle and prove for yourself that you really can have your plants and bunnies, too.

“Extra Extra” – “Read all about it!”

Energizer Bunny arrested.

Charged with battery.“  Joke 7

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, May 30      10AM FREE Herb Class with Mari Lynn Haugh. She’ll cover planting, growing and harvesting herbs, including planning and designing an herb garden and how to use herbs in your food, home & for gifts

Saturday, May 30        Celebrate Herb Fest with us from 11 – 2, and you can sample herb breads and herb-infused dipping oil.

Sunday, May 31          1PM  Hosta Workshop with Ed Schulz, president of the Madison Hosta Society.  There’s nothing like hosta to add dimension, variety and interest to your shade garden. Learn from the expert how to incorporate them to your best advantage

Tuesday, June 2           6:30 PM  FREE Made in the Shade Class.  Expand on what you learned at the Hosta Workshop on Sunday.  Ilene Isenberg will show how to use a variety of shade perennials to achieve beautiful results

Thursday, June 4    6:30 PM  FREE Right Plant, Right Place Rhonda Weber, from W. E Radtke, Inc, will show you how to choose and care for the perfect perennial plants for your sunny garden.

We’ll be scheduling the How To Winterize your Roses in Wisconsin for this fall and will announce in an upcoming newsletter.

We will have free classes continuing throughout the season, along with more Make and Take Workshops.  Our goal is to hold events that are interesting and helpful to our customers. Please give us your input.  We’re listening!

“As I rowed my little boat

Toward the river shore,

A small black bird kept me from landing.

Quoth the raven, ‘never moor’.”

Author mostly Unknown Joke 8

Weddings Galore

There is no question that June is the season.  If you have one or more weddings on your calendar, we want to remind you that a gift certificate from America’s Best Flowers is the perfect gift.  There is no faster way to help beautify their new home than to fill it with flowers.  If the newlyweds haven’t yet been hit by the gardening bug, you may be introducing them to a lifelong love of gardening. Make it easy on yourself, stop out today and pick up a gift certificate for all the young lovers on your list.  They’ll be so glad you did.

Most people know the legend of William Tell

and his unique method of making applesauce,

but not many know that he and his family were championship bowlers.

Highly skilled, their team was sponsored eagerly by local merchants.

To have “Tell’s Terrors” represent your firm was a great honor.

Even now, to be able to claim that the Tells once represented your family business

Would be of great advertising value.

Unfortunately, the old records have been lost,

And today we can’t be sure for whom the Tells bowl. Joke 9

Bonnie’s Kitchen

This is a very good Weight Watchers recipe. It’s low-cal and healthy!

Pan-Seared Mahi-mahi with Tropical Salsa

1 cup diced peeled fresh papaya (about ½ medium papaya)

2/3 cup chopped fresh pineapple

1 kiwifruit, peeled and chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

3 T finely chopped red onion

2 T chopped fresh cilantro

2 T fresh pineapple juice

4 (4 ounce) mahi-mahi or other firm white fish fillets

¼ t salt

¼ t pepper

Cooking spray

Combine first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently Cover and chill.  Sprinkle fish with s and p.  Heat a large non-stick skillet over high heat until hot.  Coat fish with cooking spray; add fish to skillet.  Cook fish 1 minute on each side or just until lightly browned.  Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, 7 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Place fish on individual serving plates, and spoon salsa over fish.

Two men contracted to paint a small community church.

Being very frugal (cheap), they pinched and scraped

to spend the absolute minimum on materials

Then, when they were only part way through the job,

they determined that they did not, after all, have enough paint to complete the job

 Not wishing to spend any more money if they didn’t absolutely have to,

they decided they would just dilute the water-based paint they were using

so that it would last longer.

They did this a couple more times before they finished,

which caused striping on the church

as the paint got lighter each time it was thinned.

The painters had just about gotten to the top of the steeple,

When, all of a sudden, the sky darkened and the rain started to pour down.

As the paint streamed down the sides of the church,

 a voice boomed from the heavens:

“Repaint, you thinners!  Repaint and thin no more! Joke 10

SEE YOU SOON!!!