Newsletter 5 – April 2, 2009

Events             Recipe        "A Taste of Italy"

“An open mind, an open hand and an open heart

Will find everywhere an open door.”

OPEN DOORS

Yesterday morning the sign at our entrance was officially turned for the first time in 2009.  What a feeling of exuberance for us!  We have worked so hard getting ready.  Weeks of planting, watering, cleaning, organizing, stocking, planning and waiting have finally passed, bringing us to our favorite time of the year.  Coming in with cool temperatures and brisk winds, April is here, and with it the beginning of the gardening season.  Hallelujah!

We invite you to come out this weekend, April 4 and 5, for our annual SNEAK PEEK weekend.  It’s a great time to come out and take a look at what this season has to offer.  We guarantee you will be greeted by smiling faces, thousands of them.  Pansy blossoms are popping open everywhere.  And with names like Blueberry Thrill, Bright Tapestry mix, Lavender Blue shades, along with the traditional blues, yellows, whites, and mixes, you will be sure to find the perfect colors for your gardens and containers.

While you’re here, you can pick up blooming plants for your spring celebrations.  Easter lilies, daffodils, tulips, hydrangeas, and violets will bring spring to life. Stop out this weekend for the best selection.

He who plants a garden plants happiness. Joke 1

Dane Buy Local

America’s Best Flowers is a proud member of Dane Buy Local, a coalition of locally owned and independent businesses, community groups, and citizens working together to support a healthy community economy. By supporting locally owned businesses, you are helping to keep jobs in your community, insuring employment for generations of kids and grandkids to come.   Locally owned businesses are the highest paying group of employers in Dane County. Other benefits of buying locally include fewer environmental impacts associated with transportation of goods, and enrichment of local tax base which helps support schools, parks, police and fire services.  When a dollar is spent at a locally owned business, it circulates within the community as many as three times. Additionally, buying locally feels good, building a sense of community with every purchase. For more information visit http://danebuylocal.com

A good year is determined by the spring. joke 2

“A Taste of Italy”

A new line of seeds has just arrived from Thompson & Morgan that you’re sure to love, called “The Taste of Italy.”  Specially chosen to grow well in North America, the varieties offer something ‘new under the sun’ for you to try. Be sure to take the time to read the back of the packages for some excellent recipe ideas for each variety.

The Pomodoro is a typical Italian variety of tomato with large, flattened round, ribbed fruits. When ready to eat, the ripe red fruits show a greener unripe crown. Flavor is superb sliced in a mixed salad, or in cooking.

Serving suggestion: Fried tomato fritters with bacon. Fry bacon till crisp, break into pieces. Blend with sliced tomatoes, flour, cornflakes, cider vinegar and corn oil. Shape into rounds and fry until golden brown.

An open door invites callers.  joke 3

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 4-5        Sneak Peek Weekend – Take a look at the new season’s offerings and pick up a lovely blooming plant for your Easter table.

April 11           Community Egg Hunt 10 AM Join the Easter Bunny and our staff for this ‘Sweet’ event! Rain or Shine! -  Children 6 and under, please

April 12           Easter Sunday we will be closed to allow our associates to spend time with their families.

April 18-19      Open House – We invite our loyalty members for FREE hot dogs and popcorn from 11-3.

April 25            Earth Day Celebration – FREE CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES 10-2 PM. Bring a white T-shirt to paint, make seed balls and more!

April 24-26      Arbor Day - Receive a FREE Black Hills Spruce with purchase.  While supplies last.  Limit 1 per family.

Watch for other spring events, including Container Workshops.

The first Saturday in May is our annual “SALSA SATURDAY,” when we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Latin music, free samples of chips and salsa, and you can even plant a salsa container that weekend at our workshop. Win a $50 gift certificate for the best salsa in our Salsa Recipe Contest.

Special Mother’s Day activities, on Tuesday and Thursday, May 5 & 7 at 6:30 pm.  You can plant up a beautiful ceramic herb or flowering pot or a Topsy Turvy tomato planter for mom.  We will have free classes on vegetable and perennial gardening continuing throughout the season, along with our Make and Take Workshops.  We also promise many exciting surprises. Our goal is to hold events that are interesting and helpful to our customers. Remember to give us your input. We’re listening!

‘Let the beauty we love be what we do.’ Rami joke 4

Let Your Lilies Bloom Forever

We are often asked if Easter lilies can be planted outside after they are done blooming.  I found really good information on how to do this at the following website. http://gardening.about.com/od/springinthegarden/a/EasterLily.htm

Gardeners know the best dirt.joke 5

Bonnie’s Kitchen

Thinking about your Easter, Passover, or Spring celebration? Here are some easy recipes from a cookbook I love, Wisconsin Country Gourmet ,Seasonal Recipes, Ethnic and Holiday Menus by Marge Snyder & Suzanne Breckenridge

Tuscan Spring Salad

A super accompaniment to ham.

10-12 small red potatoes, halved, unpeeled

1 pound fresh asparagus, sliced in 1 ½”- 2” lengths

5-6 carrots, thinly sliced

¾ cup oil

6 T red wine vinegar

1 T sugar

¼ cup minced fresh parsley

1 t dried basil (I use 1 T fresh)

2 cloves garlic, minced

salt and freshly ground pepper

2 T minced shallots or scallions

Cook potatoes in salted water 15-20 minutes or until just tender: drain and set aside. Steam asparagus until barely tender, 1-2 minutes. Cook carrots 5 minutes, until just tender, drain and set aside. Place all vegetables in a large bowl and chill.

In a blender, combine oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, basil and garlic; whirl until smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Cover and chill. Serve cold or at room temperature on a bed of lettuce. Serves 4-6

Baked Ham with Ginger-Brandy Sauce

1 fully cooked semi-boneless smoked ham (about 6 pounds)

whole cloves

grated zest of 1 orange

½ cup fresh orange juice

½ cup brandy

3 T currant jelly

1/3 cup honey

2 T dry mustard

1 t ground ginger

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Remove rind from ham; score fat on top of ham in diamond pattern; insert cloves in center of each diamond. Sprinkle ham with orange zest and pour orange juice into pan. Bake in center of oven for 45 minutes, basting frequently, Combine brandy, currant jelly, honey, dry mustard and ginger in blender. Blend at low speed until mixture is smooth. Spoon glaze over ham and continue baking until ham is deep brown, basting frequently, about 45 minutes. Let ham stand 10 minutes before carving. Serve with assorted mustards. Serves 10-12

If a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing.

Either the car is new or the wife. joke 6

SEE YOU SOON!!!