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Greetings!
Happy spring, everyone! It was so fun last week to get emails from our friends after the long winter. You're poking your heads up like tulip shoots, looking around for gardening ideas and sharing your stories. Thanks so much! With so many great gardeners in our area, we'd like to hear what you have to say. Write a short article on ANY gardening topic (up to 1000 words) and email it to us. If your article is published in our email newsletter, you'll receive a $10 gift certificate from Beier's Greenhouse. Scroll down or click here to read details of our coupon offerings for this season. Keep opening these emails... These offers are EXCLUSIVELY for our email newsletter subscribers. |
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Announcements
Upcoming Class Schedule (click here)
Master Gardener's Spring Fling: Next Saturday, March 27
The Spring Fling is at ICC next Saturday, March 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A full day packed with seminars, workshops, and vendor booths. Workshops include "Extending the Growing Season in Cold Climates," "Minimum Maintenance Container Gardening," "Square Foot Gardening," and "Blueberries for Home Landscapes" among many others. Bonnie will be there, too! More details are in our "5th Dimension" column, so scroll down or click here read all about it.
Grand Re-Opening Celebration: Sunday, April 25
We're
getting geared up for Sunday, April 25, and we already have a few
plants blooming! Mark this day on your calendars--we're looking forward
to seeing you.
Get Your Gift Certificates Early Beier's Greenhouse sells gift certificates all year through our website! Get your gift certificates the quick and easy way by clicking here. (Scroll down a little when you get there.) We'll drop your gift cards in the mail right away so you're all ready for opening day. Order Your Native Plants and Trees Now: Deadline is April 30 The Southwest Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has just released the brochure for their annual native plant and tree sale. Full details and contact information is in this newsletter--click down to the " Perennial Landscape" section.
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The Beautiful Landscape
Planting Parties Are Already Underway! 
Though Beier's isn't officially open for the season yet, we're already holding planting parties. These were a big hit last year, so we've ramped up the fun by offering more parties and more choices.
What is a planting party? You and your group of 6-16 friends get together at Beier's and plant a container arrangement or hanging basket with the plants of your choice, all under the expert guidance of Gretchen the Container Garden Guru. After a guided tour to help you choose plants, Gretchen leads you to the dirt and fills you in on all the tips and tricks you need to know for success with your container garden.
These parties are by reservation only, so you must call ahead to reserve a spot for your group. You may choose between Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or Thursdays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Spots are filling up fast, are available now, and won't last forever.
Cost is $7 per person, which includes dirt and a free idea book to take home. Bring your own container or purchase one of ours--we have lots of new containers you'll love. Hostess admission is free!
Call to reserve a Planting Party spot for March, April, May, or June. Be prepared to have fun!
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The Herbal Landscape
Mmmm... Lemon Thyme
Our reader Connie B. sent us an email recently asking if Beier's will carry lemon thyme again this year. The answer is an enthusiastic yes!
Lemon thyme lives up to its name: It's zingy and zesty and takes its place in the background supporting the main cast of your meal. Add it toward the end of cooking. Though the flavor of other thymes stands up to longer cooking, lemon thyme's joyous citrus notes tend to fade if cooked too long.
Though thyme is often ignored by cooks and herbalists, its light woodsy flavor is unique and elegant. Thyme pairs well with rosemary, is best with pork or beef, and truly shines in chowder-type soups and stews.
This season, Beier's will carry English winter thyme, French thyme, lemon thyme, and Mother of Thyme (our old standby). If you've never tried growing this herb before, you'll be pleasantly surprised--it's an easy keeper that doesn't mind poor soils or underwatering, though it will dry up in intense heat.
We found a nice article from Linda Gilbert that tells about the uses of three kinds of thyme. Click here to read on, and make a little space in your garden for this tasty herb.
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The Perennial Landscape
SWCD Annual Native Plant and Tree Sale
It's that time again! The Southwest Soil and Water Conservation District sells plants and trees native to our area every spring. Trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses and sedges are all available, along with seed mixes designed just for the Itasca County area.
Orders must be received by April 30, 2010 for pickup May 20th and 21st. The brochure and order form can be downloaded from www.itascaswcd.org.
Check out this website for great information about shoreline planting, wetlands, and forestry in general. There is also information on how to get your soil tested. Haven't had your soil tested? Get it done--your fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees will thank you!
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The 5th Dimension
Rain Barrels for So Many Good Reasons 
Bonnie will be set up with a vendor booth at the annual ICC Master Gardener's Spring Fling Saturday, March 27. What will she have that's new? A full display of the new Hort Couture plants, Easter plants for sale, and lots of surprises, but more importantly, she's become the local source for rain barrels.
We'll have a future column about the many reasons rain barrels are a good idea, but meanwhile click here to read about the Minnesota company that supplies our rain barrels to Beier's Greenhouse. Buy local and keep your consumer dollars in our communities!
Click here to read the PDF brochure for the Spring Fling event, including the agenda and full details about all the day's presenters.
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Upcoming Class and Workshop Schedule
Planting Parties: Reservation Only
Call to reserve a Planting Party for your group of 6-16 people. Reservation only, please. Cost is $7 per participant (includes soil for your container only; you choose your plants and bring your own container or shop our selection). Hostess admission is free. Choose between Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 a.m. or Thursday evenings 6-8 p.m.
Girl's Greenhouse Day: April 10, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Create your own 14 inch hanging basket and take it home that day or leave with us to grow until May 8. Cost is $40 if you take your basket home or $60 if you leave with us (includes soil, plants, and a nice lunch). This is a great alternative to a Planting Party for individuals or a couple of friends.
Girl's Greenhouse Day: May 1, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Create
your own 14 inch hanging basket and take it home that day or leave with
us to grow until May 20. Cost is $40 if you take your basket home or $60
if you leave with us (includes soil, plants, and a nice lunch). This is
a great alternative to a Planting Party for individuals or a couple of
friends.
Proven Winners with Carrie Larson: May 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. OR 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Carrie will hold two seminars again this year. We're so lucky! She is an encyclopedia of plant knowledge and knows every great combination for the most colorful, successful container or bed flower garden. This workshop is not to be missed! Even our employees attend every season to learn what's new and wonderful in the gardening world. Fee is $5 (includes an idea book to take home).
Tropical Tidbits with Suzette: May 22, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Monrovia has made it to Beier's Greenhouse! This new line of unique plants includes tropicals, citrus, and "flower trees." Fascinating stuff northern gardeners rarely see and didn't know they could grow! Cost is $5, but you get a $5 coupon for Monrovia products with pre-registration. So call today to register!
Trees, Trees, Trees! with Ken: June 12, 10 a.m.
Ken from Bailey's will park himself at Beier's to answer all your questions about trees and shrubs. Pruning, varieties to grow in our area, disease and pest control (think of all your deer questions). Fruit trees, decorative shrubs--Ken knows about trees. Drop in to ask him anything; no reservation needed, but mark your calendar.
Perennials with Jesse and Square Foot Gardening Classes
We don't have our dates set for Perennials with Jesse or the Square Foot Gardening workshops, but they're on the agenda. Shoot an email or call to let us know you're interested, and keep an eye on this column to find out when these will be held.
Please call to pre-register for our seminars. Information subject to change, so keep an eye on this column for the latest info.
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Today's Recipe
Pork Chops with Thyme
Serves 2
1 pound pork chops
2 large cloves garlic, pressed or chopped fine
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 1/4 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons Cabernet Sauvignon jelly (or any other non-fruit jelly)
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
Combine pressed garlic, olive oil, and thyme in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and rub on the pork chops. Allow the chops to marinate for an hour or more in the refrigerator.
Sautee pork chops in a medium pan until done to your liking. Keep the heat low so you don't burn the garlic and thyme. Remove from pan and keep warm.
Turn the heat up and deglaze the pan with the stock. Cook for 5 minutes then add the jelly, mustard, and Herbes de Provence, stirring well. Boil for 1-2 minutes then add the chops back to the pan along with any collected juices. Heat for 2-3 minutes, turning chops over to coat with glaze.
Serve with rice or polenta and pour the glaze over the chops. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.
Buy Herbes de Provence from Mountain Rose Herbs
Recipe courtesy of Beier's Greenhouse. Adapted from Linda Gilbert, www.sallybernstein.com/food/columns/gilbert/thyme.htm.
March 21, 2010
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Thank you for your time! We appreciate our customers so much. Feel free to email any time, for any reason!
Have a wonderful week, Bonnie and the whole Beier's Greenhouse team
www.beiersgreenhouse.com
beiersgreenhouse@beiersgreenhouse.com
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Watch this space for savings!
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Until we open the greenhouse doors, there will be no valid coupons sent, of course. Each valid coupon will have the product name and details, the savings and limitations, the expiration date, and your personal email address. Print these out, bring them in, and save even more with these EXCLUSIVE email coupons.
These savings are not available to the general public. Have your friends sign up to receive our newsletter so they can take advantage too!
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