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EdgertonOverPot ClearStockery the Second
Newsletter 19 - Thursday, July 28, 2011
You’ll love your garden ... It’s our promise!
2nd Annual
OverPot ClearStockery Event
Last year we introduced our OverPot ClearStockery Event. The term actually started out as a joke – just messing around trying to find a title for the newsletter, but it kinda stuck with us and you all responded so well to it, that I think we are kinda stuck with it, too. But we’re good with that. After all, it’s so much more interesting than simply saying Pottery Overstock Clearance Sale.
The clearance pottery has been moved into the area in front of House 8 – straight in front of you when you come up the drive. There’s quite a selection of sizes and colors with savings up to 50% off. These often overlooked odd pieces make great additions to patios and landscaping, and at these prices, will be gone soon.
My spouse is really in to making pottery
but to me it's just kil'n time.
Re'Color' Your Gardens
Normal summer weather has returned and with it the opportunity to get back into our gardens. Whenever we have extended periods of heat, the landscape takes a hit. The fastest way to bring color back is to pick up a few pots of annuals and set them in the empty spots of your flower beds. Hanging baskets work really great this way, just remove the hangers and tuck them in. Viola! Instant Beauty! And since our summer annuals are now Buy One Get One FREE, the timing couldn’t be better. Stop out today and pick up pots of Gerbera daisies, Pentas (a butterfly magnet) or Begonias, just to name a few.
We also want to be sure you don’t miss the 20% savings on our perennials, trees and shrubs. Landscaping is the fastest way you can add value to your property, with a 109% return on every dollar spent, far greater than most home improvement projects.
Even better, we have additional savings available on all rudbeckia (black-eyed susans). These sun loving, hardy plants are backbones of the perennial landscape, providing bright color for many years to come. They also make tremendous cut flowers. At 40% off, this is the perfect time to plant several.
40% off savings is also available on Viburnum. This attractive shrub works well in the border and in woodland gardens. The bright berries attract wildlife to your garden and the structure of the bush provides a safe nesting place for birds. Viburnum grow well in full sun to partial shade.
To a worm, digging in the hard ground is more relaxing than going fishing.
Customer Appreciation Day
Saturday, August 6
Thank you to our Loyal Customers
We, the America's Best Flowers family, would like to show our appreciation by serving you, our Loyal Customers, FREE pizza on August 6th! What a fun day it will be. Brett Buchanan from Flying Cow Pizza, will be our pizza man between 11:00 – 3:00. Flying Cow Pizza is a portable brick oven on wheels. Please come join us for some really yummy pizza.
Remember to mark your calendar. Gather up the family and head on out to the country for lunch.
While you’re here, take a tour of our greenhouses and grounds. The tremendous colors of the summer garden are everywhere. Butterflies and hummingbirds abound. What a great way to spend a Saturday. Please join us for food, flowers and fun!
What do kids do when it rains cats and dogs?
They run outside and jump in the poodles!
Watch for Dog Days of Summer
Stay tuned for more exciting (tail wagging) details regarding our upcoming Dog Days of Summer Event the week of August 20-28.
Hint...Got a dirty dog? We can help! Proceeds benefit the Dane County Humane Society.
What did the earwig say as it fell down the stairs?
Ear we go!
Earwig Story Contest
We are looking for Earwig stories. The winning entry will receive a free bag of Diatomaceous Earth, the toughest weapon in our arsenal of earwig fighters. To enter, visit us on Facebook and share your grossest encounter. Or send an email to ed@americasbestflowers.com.
An alarming number of people suffer from seriousness.
Upcoming Events
| Sat, Aug 6 |
Customer Appreciation Day
11am - 3pm Free Pizza for our loyalty customers
|
| Sat, Aug 20 - Sat, Aug 27 |
Dog Days of Summer
Kicks off with a dog wash on the 20th, then continues with dog-themed giveaways the rest of the week. Donations go to Dane County Humane Society
|
| Sat, Aug 27 |
Autumn Container Workshop
10am - 4pm Free soil and assistance. Create a beautiful container in our potting shed and we'll clean up the mess. Bring your own pots or buy one of ours.
|
| Sat, Sep 10 - Sun, Sep 18 |
Fall Dollar Days
Redeem your collected orange ABF dollars for up to 50% off your total purchase.
|
Our fan club is growing. Please become a fan on Facebook, and invite your friends.
Our Kitchen
Seared Baby Eggplant with Mozzarella and Basil Oil
Basil oil is easy to make and will keep for 1 month in the fridge, so you might want to double the recipe to have some on hand for salads and roasted vegetables.
Basil Oil
- 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Eggplant
- 3 baby eggplants (1 lb.), sliced into 30 ½-inch-thick rounds
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 leek, halved, white and light green parts cut into half-moons
- 4 Tbs. white wine vinegar, divided
- 1 6-oz. ball fresh mozzarella, sliced into 6 rounds
- 2 Tbs. capers
Directions
Basil Oil: Blanch basil 5 seconds in 4 cups boiling, salted water. Drain, and plunge into ice water. Pat basil dry, then purée in blender with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Strain oil with mesh strainer, and discard basil.
Eggplant: Generously salt eggplant slices, and set in colander placed over bowl. Let stand 45 minutes to release liquid.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add leek, season with salt, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to bowl.
Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Add half of eggplant slices, and season with salt. Cook 5 minutes, or until browned and caramelized, using spatula to move slices often to prevent sticking. Flip eggplant with spatula, add 2 Tbs. vinegar, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover. Cook 5 to 7 minutes more, or until vinegar has evaporated and second side of eggplant is caramelized. Remove eggplant slices to covered bowl to keep warm. Repeat with remaining eggplant slices.
To serve: Place mozzarella slices on serving plates. Top each cheese slice with 5 slices eggplant, 1 Tbs. leek, 1 Tbs. Basil Oil, and sprinkling of capers. Season with salt and pepper.
Serves 6 Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 236, Protein: 6g, Total fat: 20g, Saturated fat: 5.5g, Carbs: 9g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 402mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 3g.
More Eggplant Ideas
Eggplants
A grocer put up a sign that read "Eggplants, 25¢ each -- three for a dollar."
All day long, customers came in exclaiming: "Don't be ridiculous! I should get four for a dollar!"
Meekly the grocer capitulated and packaged four eggplants.
The tailor next door had been watching these antics and finally asked the grocer, "Aren't you going to fix the mistake on your sign?"
"What mistake?" the grocer asked. "Before I put up that sign no one ever bought more than one eggplant."