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| Issue No. 26 | September 2010 |
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| Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Well, the kids are back in school. Life is back to organized chaos at our house. I don't know about you, but I somehow seemed to have forgotten about my gardens and the yard over the past few weeks. But, that is okay! The weather turned cooler (I really hate to say it is fall, yet) and I am ready to get back out in the yard! It's time to rip out the tired summer annuals out of my pots and plant some beautiful mums, pansies and other great fall annuals. I also need to do some overseeding in a few spots in the lawn, and of course, I will be planting more perennials and spring flowering bulbs in my gardens. (By the way, spring blooming bulbs have just arrived at the garden center. Sorry, just had to interrupt with that small commercial plug for tulips and daffodils!) I know that there are many weeks of great fall weather ahead and I really want to be able to take advantage of them. No, I won't be working the entire time on the lawn! There will be lots of fun and family time planned, too. Trust me, there will be fires in the fire pit with friends gathered round roasting s'mores yet to come this September. September is an all around great gardening month! It's a great time to plant, a great time to get a jump on spring chores, a great time to enjoy your yard. Happy September! |
An Apple a Day...
 Apple season is starting a bit earlier this year. I bet at least one trip to an orchard is in your plans for this fall. But, just think, what if you could have an orchard in your own backyard? Haralson, Honeycrisp, Regent, Snow Sweet, and State Fair, all your favorite apples could be growing just outside your back door.
Those trees and many other varieties were developed by the University of Minnesota, along with numerous other fruit trees and small fruits. Being born and 'bred' in Minnesota makes these trees able to withstand our harsh winters and still produce wonderfully tasty fruit.
Today's apple trees are more disease resistant, shorter in stature (easier to pick the apples) and simple to grow. Which means home orchards, or just a couple of apple trees, in your backyard are relatively easy to start and maintain.
Why not plant an apple tree or two today? In just a couple of years you will be able to enjoy the 'fruits' of your labor and harvest your own crop of sweet juicy apples.
Otten Bros. carries 13 varieties of apples trees introduced by the University of Minnesota. (GO GOPHER Horticultural Department - RAH!) Did you also know that next spring Otten Bros. will again have an espalier apple tree that has 3 (count 'em 3) varieties U of MN apples all on the SAME TREE? We sold out this year, so make sure you get your 'Hat Trick' Apple Tree before we run out, again! (Only in Minnesota would a hockey reference be used to name an apple tree - fun!) |
Speaking of Apples
 My neighbor growing up, Cheryl Barickman, made the BEST apple bars. Just imagine a delicious apple pie in the form of a bar. My mom would have to limit the number of bars I could eat when we went to visit - otherwise, between my brother and me, we might have eaten the entire pan! Since apple season is just starting, I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes with you. I hope that it isn't a Barickman family secret. I didn't ask Cheryl if I could share her recipe with all of you. Shhhhhhh, I won't tell her if you don't. Cheryl's Apple Slice Bars
2 ½ cups flour
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup shortening or lard
Mix together as if for a pie crust. Separate 1 egg. Add milk to the yolk to make 2/3 cup. Hold white in reserve for later in recipe. Add yolk/milk mixture to dough. When completely mixed, divide dough into 2 equal parts. Roll out half the dough to cover bottom of a jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides). Lay in bottom. Sprinkle 2/3 cup crushed corn flakes over dough in bottom of pan. 5 cups peeled/cored apples - sliced thinly
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Use your choice of baking apple. I think Cheryl always used Haralson's from the tree in her front yard. Mix together and spread over dough in pan. Roll out other half of dough and cover apple mixture. Beat egg white thoroughly and brush over the top of dough. Preheat oven to 400. Bake apple bars for 10 minutes at 400. Reduce heat to 350. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes. Do not allow bars to get overly brown. 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
2 TBS soft butter
1 TBS milk
1 tsp vanilla Mix and drizzle over top of bars that have just been removed from the oven. These bars are super-duper yummy. No apple season should go by without making at least one pan of Cheryl's Apple Slice Bars. Thanks Cheryl! |
Otten Bros. REAL DEAL
 Only a few days left to get a jump on your fall fruit harvest. A Fruit Picker makes picking apples or any other fruit off a tree easy and fun. You can even get your kids and grandkids into the act. The 8ft handle brings the juicy fruit within easy reach and the cushioned basket prevents bruising. No home orchard should be without at least one or two of these handy-dandy fruit pickers!
GRO Member Special $10.99 reg. price $21.99 - offer good 9/1/10-9/15/10 Limited quantity available
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September To-Do List
 Back-to-School means a Back-to-Gardening to-do list! Time to take advantage of the cooler weather to fine tune your garden for winter or to get a head start on spring. Click here to get Otten Bros. September Gardening To-Do List. Of course, this is a general list. If you have specific questions or needs, don't hesitate to send us an email, call (952-473-5425) or stop in to speak to our expert staff. We are here to help you be a successful gardener! |
U$ele$$ Trivia Que$tion
 Congratulations Ron E. - you are last month's trivia winner. Name the author and the novel that the 1958 movie The Long, Hot Summer, starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, is based on? Answer: Several stories by William Faulkner, primarily 'The Hamlet'.
I have been scouring trivia to come up with this month's question. Should it be about apples, or fall or something completely crazy and off the wall? Of course, I decided to go with the latter. Can you tell me the year, in what city and the name of the creator of the original pink plastic flamingo?
Good luck! Email us your answers and for a chance to win a $50 Otten Bros gift card! |
Places to GO...Things to SEE
 James J. Hill Parade - Look for us Sunday September 12 at 1:00pm in the parade. Click here to learn more about the 36th annual James J. Hill Days in Wayzata! Art, Craft, Food Vendors and Chili Cook off Contestants Wanted
Do you have a great Chili recipe? Do want to show off your unique arts and crafts? Is your business looking for more local exposure? Email or call Jean Kopp (763-972-6756) at the Delano Chamber of Commerce now for a FREE booth at the 2010 Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday October 9th at Central Park in Delano! Harvest Moon Co-op Open House - Join Harvest Moon Co-op for a howlin' good party and celebrate the harvest together. Sunday, September 12, 2010 from noon - 5pm. Click here for more details. Walk in or bike over and enjoy the afternoon. They are located in the west side of Otten Bros.
Park once - shop twice!
Take advantage of Otten Bros. good neighbor deal with Harvest Moon Co-op. Through the month of September all Otten Bros. GRO Members receive a 10% discount on their purchases at Harvest Moon Co-op. Just present your GRO Member key tag to their cashier to receive your discount.
On the flip side...all Harvest Moon Members can present their membership card at Otten Bros. and receive 10% off their garden center purchases. The discount only applies to regular priced merchandise and cannot be used on delivery, labor or landscaping services.
Park once, shop twice and save at Otten Bros. and Harvest Moon this September.
Otten Bros. After Hours Ladies Night - September 21st from 6:00-8:30pm. Pre-paid registration fee is $25. Click here for more info. Space is limited - please RSVP to 952-473-5425 or email us! |
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Let Otten Bros. know if there is anything we can help you with to get your yard ready for fall. Big or small projects we are here to help.
Enjoy the fall and all your barbecues, backyard games of flag football, patio parties and roasting hot dogs and s'mores over the fire.
See you around the Garden Center soon!
Cheers! Otten Bros. & Flower Farm Staff |
2350 West Wayzata Boulevard
Long Lake, Minnesota 55356
952-473-5425
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