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Don’t Forget, Mother’s Day is Almost
Here!
Newsletter 11 – Thursday, April 30, 2015
Lucy’s Story – Chapter 89
More Fun This Weekend At Our Greenhouse!
For a Hands-on Mother’s Day Gift
St. Vincent de Paul’s Pick-a-Pack Weekend!
New Products Corner
You Can’t Get Here from There
Associate of the Week: Mary
Send Irene your gardening questions!
Recipe: Judy’s Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
Current Hours
Cottage Grove location open
9 – 8 Monday through Friday
9 – 6 Saturday and Sunday
Edgerton location open
Mon-Sat 8:30-6:00
Sun 9-4
Lucy’s Story – Chapter 89
Snippet from Lucy’s journal…
My mom and dad were talking flowers again! I should say my mom was talking
and my dad was listening. I heard him say, at least 4 times, ‘We don’t need to
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move anything. Everything looks great right where it is!’
"You are feeling very generous…"
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It was like my mom had lost her hearing. On and on she went. ‘It’s too bad we
planted that one lilac where we did. It would be perfect if we could move it over
about 3 feet. And while we’re at it, let’s transplant some hostas about 3 feet
closer to the left side of the house along with some ferns. Which, now that I
think about it we could move a few heucheras over 3 feet and the…’
My dad shook his head, put his head in his hands and said to me, very, very
quietly, ‘Maybe, Lucy girl, we should just dig up the house and move IT over 3
feet?’
It was a miracle! My mom got her hearing back! She stopped talking and gave
my dad her ‘ESP’ look. Very slowly my dad got up and motioned to me.
‘Come on, Lucy, let’s go get the shovel.’
Shhh, I wonder if that ESP stuff would work for me. I’d sure enjoy some extra
treats every now and then!
Till next time!
~Lucy
To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
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where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.
Milan Kundera
More Fun This Weekend At Our Greenhouse!
We are having another Container Workshop this Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.
The workshop starts at 10 and is ongoing throughout the day till 4. Come in
anytime between those hours. After you have shopped for your plants, flowers,
and containers pick your spot in our designated workshop area and let the fun
begin!
It’s a hands-on experience, so be sure to bring your garden gloves. If you
forget them, don’t worry, we have a wide variety of reasonably priced
gardening gloves to choose from. Our knowledgeable and friendly associates
will be happy to assist you while you do the planting and will help with any and
all plant or design questions.
We do ask that if you are bringing in containers from home, please EMPTY all
soil from them before bringing them to our greenhouse. To participate in our
container workshops and receive FREE POTTING SOIL AND ASSISTANCE, a
minimum purchase of $10.00 is required and you must use plants purchased at
America’s Best Flowers.
If you are bringing in large containers please bring in packing peanuts, chunks
of Styrofoam or Styrofoam egg cartons to help fill the bottom of your container.
In addition to providing great drainage, it makes the container a whole lot
lighter for you to transport back home and also, easier to rearrange in your
garden if you want to change your outside decor.
Some cause happiness wherever they go;
Others, whenever they go.
Oscar Wilde
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May 10 Is Right Around The Corner!
Plan ahead for Mother’s Day this year by sending your mom, grandma, aunt or
special lady an America’s Best Flowers gift card! It’s as easy as calling us at
608-222-2269. We can take your gift card order over the phone, add your
personal message to the card and we will even put it in the mail for you.
For a Hands-on Mother’s Day Gift
Come on out and create a special Mother’s Day gift at our Make & Take
Workshop. On Tuesday afternoon, May 5 and Thursday afternoon, May 7, from
5-7 pm, our container workshop area will be devoted to Mother’s Day creations.
Plant a special gift for Mom, Grandma, a favorite aunt or a special friend.
America’s Best Flowers has a wonderful selection of beautiful plants, flowers
and herbs for you to choose from along with a wide variety of potteries. You
are welcome to register by calling 222-2269 or just stop on out.
Or How about a Hanging Flower Basket?
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There’s so many baskets, it can
be hard to get a good picture!
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We have a wide and gorgeous selection of hanging baskets at the greenhouse.
Stop in and grab some for all those special ladies in your life. To make it even
better, we offer a price break when you purchase five or more.
While you’re here grab a Dramm watering wand (24” or 30” lengths available)
to help water those hard-to-reach places.
Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?
A. He sleeps at night.
St. Vincent de Paul’s Pick-a-Pack Weekend!
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This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1-3, you have the opportunity to help
the St. Vincent de Paul’s community garden. By donating a $1.99 pack of
tomatoes or Lady Bell peppers for their gardens the food pantry will be able to
offer fresh vegetables to many families this season.
For every pack of
vegetables you donate, America’s Best Flowers will give an additional $.50
towards the SVDP gardens.
Q. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
A. Concrete floors are very hard to crack!
New Products Corner
By Marty Robbins
Our greenhouse is going to the dogs (and cats!) This life-like menagerie will
induce both smiles and ‘ahhhs’ from your family and friends. Our realistic
critters are maintenance free and are made of durable lightweight poly-resin.
As with ‘real’ pets these indoor or outdoor pets need special protection from
the elements. Ice and snow will damage them and direct sunlight will cause
weathering and fading.
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Image
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You Can’t Get Here from There
By Bev Wilson
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See text for a live link to this map
Click for Larger Image
The road construction on Cottage Grove Rd and Stoughton Rd (Hwy 51) may
change the route some of you will take to get to the greenhouse this year.
See this article for information.
Since Southbound entrance and exit ramps onto 51 will be closed, those coming
from the north will need to get off Hwy 51 at the Milwaukee Street exit. Go left
(east) at the bottom of the exit ramp and stay on Milwaukee St. until you get to
Sprecher Rd. Turn right (south) go to the first stop light, which is Cottage Grove
Rd. Turn left (east) go 1 mile and then take a right (south) on Vilas Hope Rd.
We are down one half mile on the right. Hope to see you soon!!
Click here for a live version of the pictured alternate route.
Associate of the Week: Mary
By Judy
Mary has worked part time for the last 7 years in our retail area. Mary loves
working in retail where she can help customers with their questions, sharing her
knowledge of the products that we have available and knowing that she has a
satisfied customer when they leave. She has on occasion helped with our
workshops and in our customer service area.
Mary states there are many reasons she enjoys working for America’s Best
Flowers. She has given her top three reasons as follows: “Spring comes early
in the greenhouse!” “I love watching the rapid plant progression from the
planting stage to a greenhouse laden with blooming hanging baskets.” Last but
not least “the smiling faces on both the pansies and her co-workers”.
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She indicates that her favorite plant is our begonias and the many varieties we
have. “The begonias bloom profusely and I just love them”.
Mary has a huge vegetable garden every year and so she does lots of canning
and freezing of her fresh produce. She also enjoys sewing and quilting in her
spare time.
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness.
You have to catch it yourself.
Benjamin Franklin
Send Irene your gardening questions!
America’s Best Flowers wants to help you succeed in your gardening efforts. If
you have gardening questions send an email to Irene, at abfi[email protected].
Irene will get back to you promptly. Let America’s Best Flowers be your go-to
greenhouse for answers.
Upcoming Events
Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3
St. Vincent de Paul’s ‘Pick-A-Pack’ Event
Come out and donate a $1.99 pack of tomatoes or Lady Bell
peppers for their gardens. The veggies will be used for their
Community Food Pantry. For every 4 pack sold, America’s
Best Flowers will donate $.50 towards the SVDP gardens.
Container Workshop
10am-4pm – FREE soil and assistance. Create a beautiful
Sat, May 2 – Sun, May 3
container garden in our greenhouse and we’ll clean up the
mess. Bring in your own EMPTY pots or buy some of ours.
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Tue, May 5
Mother’s Day – Make & Take Workshop
5pm-7pm Plant a beautiful ceramic planter with an herb or
pansy to give Mom, Grandma, or a favorite aunt. Reservations
are accepted 608-222-2269.
Thu, May 7
Mother’s Day – Make & Take Workshop
5pm-7pm Plant a beautiful ceramic planter with an herb or
pansy to give Mom, Grandma, or a favorite aunt. Reservations
are accepted 608-222-2269.
Sun, May 10
Celebrate Mother’s Day w/flowers!
Sat, May 16 – Sun, May
17
Container Workshop
10am-4pm – FREE soil and assistance. Create a beautiful
container garden in our greenhouse and we’ll clean up the
mess. Bring in your own EMPTY pots or buy some of ours.
Butter vs. Margarine?
I trust cows over scientists.
Our Kitchen
By Bev Wilson
We have been treated like royalty around here this week. Judy has been trying
out a recipe we found on Facebook. She first made it just like it says, and then,
because she can’t leave recipes alone either, she made a modified version for
us to try today. Both were good but today’s is totally yummy. The combination
of peanut butter and caramel is absolutely delicious. These bars are thick and
gooey, absolutely sinful. Enjoy!!
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Judy’s Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
Bars
2 ¼ c whole grain white flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 c butter, softened
¾ c sugar
¾ c packed brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ c roasted, unsalted peanuts, finely chopped
Caramel Sauce
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 11 oz package caramel bits
½ c creamy peanut butter
Directions
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine dry ingredients in small bowl. Beat butter, sugars and vanilla in a
large mixing bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after
each addition. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and
peanuts. Reserve 1½ c for topping. Spread remaining crust mixture in sprayed
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9×13 pan.
For sauce, combine condensed milk and caramel bits in medium sauce pan.
Cook over low heat until caramel is melted, stirring constantly. Add peanut
butter. Melt completely, remove from heat.
Quickly spread sauce over crust mixture, covering completely to edge of pan.
Drop reserved mixture by teaspoonfuls over caramel mixture. Spread slightly.
Bake 40 to 45 min or until golden brown and center is set. Cool and cut into 1
½” squares. Makes 48 bars.
SEE YOU SOON!!!
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
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