lilies and roses in flower arrangement at Mischler's in Williamsville NY

Brighten your day–or a friend’s day–with flowers now

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you’re tired of the gray, gloomy skies we’ve been seeing for weeks, get a little sunshine in your life with fresh flowers. Spread the cheer by sending flowers to your Valentine or to your friends. What might make you even happier is supporting a local grower and getting flowers picked that day. At Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville, they grow their oriental lilies in their own greenhouses. “We cut them fresh daily,”…

child next to large poinsettia at Mischler's in Williamsville NY

Twice-as-tall poinsettias now available at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Most poinsettias are 18 inches tall, but Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses offers poinsettias that are about three feet tall–twice as tall as other poinsettias. One recent shopper called them “magnificent,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s. While they’re unusual, these poinsettias are, oddly enough, traditional, too. They aren’t a different variety of poinsettia; they’re just grown differently. Typically, poinsettias are pinched back (which means cutting back some stems), Yadon explained. That encourages the plant to branch…

Mischler's Magic flower arrangement

New crop: homegrown flower arrangements at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s the season for homegrown produce, and here’s another local crop you’ll love: homegrown floral arrangements. The flowers are picked daily at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville.  “We pick them every day and make sure they’re at the right bud stage,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s. “We don’t want them to open all the way, or to open all at once.” To ensure there’s a continuous supply, new flowers are planted…

island waterfall entry in flower show at Plantasia 2019

See gorgeous & clever designs created by local garden clubs

by Connie Oswald Stofko Spring keeps teasing us. We get some mild temperatures, then the ground is coated with frost. Still, we are seeing snowdrops and crocuses, which are delightful. Pretty soon the hyacinth and daffodil buds will burst open. Until then, take a look at these gorgeous–and clever– entries from the flower show at Plantasia in 2019. (I know it’s not as good as being able to go to Plantasia this year, but I hope it helps a bit.)…

Plantasia flower show 2018 breakfast tray

Plantasia kicks off Wednesday with gardenscapes, flower show & more

by Connie Oswald Stofko The first day of spring occurs on Wednesday, but where in Western New York will it really seem like spring? At Plantasia! Plantasia, the premier garden and landscape show for Western New York, will be held inside the Fairgrounds Event Center & Artisan Hall, 5820 South Park, Hamburg. You can stroll through gardens filled with real trees, shrubs and flowers, as well as water features, patios, paths and seating areas. You’ll be able to get ideas…

mandala by Caroline North

Visit Nature’s Kaleidoscope & get inspired to make your own mandalas

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Mandalas go with gardening,” said artist Caroline North of Collins. “They’re centering and meditative–and that’s what plants do for us.” See her mandalas on display in the Nature’s Kaleidoscope exhibit through Sunday, Aug. 19 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This event is proudly sponsored by Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. See a short video of the exhibit here. The exhibit is included with Botanical Gardens admission. Admission is $11 for…

Christmas greens in pot with bow

Outdoor arrangement uses fresh-cut greens

Here’s an outdoor arrangement to welcome visitors to your home. This idea comes from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Greens are placed upright in a plastic pot and decorated with a big red bow and pine cones. The greens are fresh-cut and locally grown. There’s soil in the pot to hold the branches in place. Rain will keep the soil wet, adding more weight and helping keep the pot stable. The arrangement looks charming in the…

video on trends in floral design

Video: Current trends in floral design with Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Since it’s the beginning of a new year, we thought it would be fun to look at some of the current trends in floral design. In this video, Maggie Wittmer, floral designer at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, leads us through the new styles. Some trends, such as smaller, compact designs in flower arrangements, have evolved for practical reasons. Some people simply don’t have a lot of room to display a huge arrangement at home or on…

title image for video with Mischler's on how to make floral arrangement called My Suzie

Enjoy flowers now by making ‘My Suzie’ arrangement; watch video demonstration

You can enjoy flowers any time of the year when you make the “My Suzie” flower arrangement with these easy directions from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. This is a trendy design, but it’s simple enough that even a beginner will get good results. It uses hydrangeas, spray roses and lemon leaves (also called salal), which are available year round at Mischler’s. You can even get the container at Mischler’s. If you prefer, you can use…

Wreaths don’t have to be round; see creative decorations at Lockwood’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you want something a little different for the holidays, choose a wreath that isn’t round. You can find creative shapes at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg. The handmade wreaths at Lockwood’s can be shaped like a heart, Christmas tree, cross, square or rectangle as well as the traditional circle. You can custom order wreaths, too. Some people come in year after year for the same wreath, said Jill Kisker, grower at Lockwood’s. Others come…