Newsletter 6 – April 9, 2009

Events             Recipe        Free Flower Bouquet        Dane Buy Local 

“Flowers are God’s way of smiling.”

Click here to receive a Flower Bouquet http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf

You will get a blank page, click your mouse anywhere & everywhere on the page and see what happens! Better yet, click, hold down and drag your mouse over the page.  

ENJOY!

Community Egg Hunt this Saturday at ABF

Spring is truly in the air at America’s Best Flowers.  Finally!  If the beautiful blossoms of Easter Lilies, daffodils, tulips and pansies aren’t proof enough, this Saturday, April 11, at 10 am we will host a community egg hunt for children six and under.  Our famous pink Easter Bunny will be here, so bring your cameras.  This rain or shine event is always great fun for the children so please plan to join us.  While you are here you can pick up pots of spring flowers and an Easter Lily to decorate your Holiday table.

How does the Easter Bunny stay in shape?

He eggercises by doing hareobics! Joke 1

Let Your Lilies Bloom Forever

Nothing says Easter like the purity and grace of a regal white lily.  Gracing millions of homes and churches, the flowers symbolize joy, hope and life. Whether given as a gift or enjoyed in your own home, the Easter lily serves as a beautiful reminder that Easter is a time for rejoicing and celebrating.  To learn more about the history of the lily as a symbol for Easter, visit http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/justask/EasterLily.html

Once the holiday has past, Easter lilies can be planted outside to bloom for years to come in your summer garden.  The following website tells you how. http://gardening.about.com/od/springinthegarden/a/EasterLily.htm

How many hairs are in a rabbit’s tail?

None, they’re all on the outside. Joke 2

Open House Next Weekend

Next weekend, April 18 & 19 is our annual Open House.  This is always a great opportunity to come out and see what the season has to offer, including ready-to-plant pansies, and our first shipment of perennials, shrubs and trees.  We will be serving hot dogs and popcorn to all of our loyalty customers from 11-3, so we invite you to join us for lunch.  If you haven’t received your invitation in the mail, please contact Bev at 222-2269 so we can get your address updated in our computer.

What did the bunny say when he only had thistles to eat?

Thistle have to do!joke 3

More on Dane Buy Local

While visiting with one of the founders of the Dane Buy Local organization this week, I discovered something a bit unusual about America’s Best Flowers.  We are what they refer to as Buy Local/Buy Local or Buy Local squared. This special group of businesses is not only locally owned, but they also locally produce the products they sell.  This approach has a double positive impact on the community by providing additional jobs, which results in a boost to the local economy.

America’s Best Flowers has long been known for the beautiful flowers we grow right here in Cottage Grove.  Please keep in mind that they are grown by a wonderful group of your neighbors, people of all ages who count on you to appreciate their efforts.  We ask that you support them, as well as your local economy by buying your plants from us.  You’ll be so glad you did.   For more information about Dane Buy Local visit http://danebuylocal.com

What do you call a rabbit with fleas?

Bugs Bunny. joke 4

“A Taste of Italy” – Arugula

A new line of seeds has just arrived from Thompson & Morgan that you’re sure to love. Especially 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. We will be featuring one variety each week, beginning in last week’s newsletter with the Pomodoro tomato.

If you’ve never tasted the peppery bite of an arugula salad, have we got the seeds for you. From our “The Taste of Italy” seed collection, we encourage you to try Rucola Coltivata/Cultivated Rocket lettuce. Here’s just one taste-tempting idea.

Rocket and Fennel Salad: Place washed rocket leaves in a salad bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and cover with thinly sliced fennel. Pour on lime juice, drizzle with olive oil and grate parmagiano over the top. YUM!

What do you get when you cross a bunny with a spider?

A harenet.  joke 5

UPCOMING EVENTS

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!

‘What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?

Two points just like everybody.’  joke 6

Bonnie’s Kitchen

Looking for a yummy dessert to make for Easter? Here you go! This recipe comes from a co-worker, Jesse Steinke. It is sooooo good, and you're sure to get kudos for making it!

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (If you don't have chocolate wafer crumbs, which I usually don't, use graham cracker crumbs and add 1 or 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder.)

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

Filling

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup whipping cream

3 8 oz. packages cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup baking cocoa

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and sugar, stir in butter.  Press onto the bottom and 1 1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9 in. spring form pan.  Bake at 350 deg. for 10 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.  Reduce heat to 325 deg.  In a saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat, add cream and mix well.  Set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add cocoa and beat well.  Add eggs, beat on low just until combined.  Stir in vanilla and reserved chocolate mixture just until blended.  Pour over crust and bake for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set.  For topping, melt chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat.  Stir in cream and vanilla and mix well.  Spread over filling after cheesecake has cooled enough for any cracks to close (there may still be a few small cracks).  Refrigerate overnight.  Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Just before serving, garnish with whipped cream and miniature kisses if desired.  (I have never done that step.) Yield 12servings.

‘What’s the best way to catch a unique rabbit?

You ‘nique up on him.

How do you catch a tame rabbit?

Tame way, unique up on it. joke 7

SEE YOU SOON!!!