watering can with plants in garden

Nurture your new plants during this hot & dry weather in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Don’t let this happen to you! My husband and I were out of town this past week. We weren’t away long, just a few days. We took a taxi from the airport, and as we pulled up to our house, the driver pointed to my hanging basket of calibrachoa. “I just bought one of those,” he said. “How long do they live?” “They will flower all summer,” I said, then glanced up, horrified to see my…...

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red lily leaf beetle

Invasive Species Week: learn & help in WNY

WNY PRISM is marking New York Invasive Species Awareness Week with a series of events. Want a chance to win a prize? After attending an event, fill out the New York Invasive Species Awareness Week survey. To see the statewide webinar series, check out the 2023 NYISAW Statewide Website and Calendar. __________ Saturday, June 3 Walk and Talk 10 a.m. – 12p.m. Pfeiffer Nature Center’s Eshelman Property, 1420 Yubadam Rd., Portville WNY PRISM will be guiding folks on a leisurely…...

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garden on East Side Garden Walk

Get maps ahead of time for Garden Walk Buffalo & East Side Garden Walk

Are you the kind of person who likes to make sure you get to garden walks early so you can pick up a map, decide which gardens you want to see most, and still have plenty of time to visit the gardens? When you make a donation by Thursday, June 15, you can get the map for both Garden Walk Buffalo and the East Side Garden Walk mailed to you before the tours! Your donation supports not only these tours,…...

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flowers and grass to illustrate how to start new garden in Western New York

Basics: Start a garden & keep it going in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you want to create a brand new garden bed? Extend a garden bed? Make changes to your perennial garden? Start growing vegetables–or grow them better? You’ll find lots of great gardening tips in these articles: Would you like to find out more on various gardening topics, such as deer, water features and pests & weeds? Browse all our Gardening Topics for Western New York here…....

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photo of food waste turning into compost

‘National Learn About Composting Day’ is May 29, but you can learn today

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardeners are marking “National Learn About Composting Day,” which falls on May 29, by sharing great composting tips. There are many good reasons to compost. You save money by making rich, organic soil fertilizer. You reduce erosion. You conserve and replenish groundwater. And you keep organic material out of landfills. Organic material sent to a landfill creates methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our environment. In his recent…...

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garden to be on Ken-Ton Garden Tour in Town of Tonawanda NY

Ken-Ton Garden Tour accepting applications for this year’s tour

The Ken-Ton Garden Tour is now accepting applications for this year’s tour. The deadline is Friday, June 2. All gardeners in the Town of Tonawanda and Village of Kenmore are welcome to apply. You can register online; see application here. The online registration process is simple, quick, and easy to use. If you wish to apply by telephone you can contact Sandy at 716-983-6827. You may display your garden during one or more of the times listed below: Visitors to…...

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purple petunias by Stofko

5 tips on shopping for plants in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s that time of year when gardeners in Western New York are happily buying plants. Here are some tips to guide you while shopping. Plan what to look for Do you want to grow food, have a pretty yard, help the environment, or a bit of all of those? Do you want plants that are easy to maintain? New and different? Fragrant? Tall? Even if you don’t know exactly what plants you want, have an idea…...

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mosquito Culex pipiens

Mosquitoes bugging you? Keep them out of your WNY landscape

One way to keep mosquitoes from biting you is by keeping them out of your yard in the first place. The most common mosquito in New York State is Culex pipiens, which has a very small territory. It usually stays within 300 feet of its breeding site, according to this page on mosquitoes from New York State Integrated Pest Management (NYS IPM). If you and your Western New York neighbors make sure there are no breeding sites, everyone can have a…...

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garden on Amherst Garden Walk

Sign up by June 17 for Amherst Garden Walk

The Amherst Garden Walk is looking for gardeners to share their landscapes. The deadline to sign up is Saturday, June 17.  See the registration form here.  The organizers are looking for gardens of all sizes and shapes, and designed by amateurs or professionals.   The walk will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 8 and 9.  For more information, contact Darryl Moden or Chuck Hidy at 716-839-0018…....

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plant plugs of annual plants at Mike Weber Greenhouses in West Seneca New York

Save money & get more variety with plant plugs at Mike Weber Greenhouses

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Plugs are a soil-filled fabric tube planted with one or more cuttings,” explained Jen Weber, vice president and manager of Mike Weber Greenhouses, 42 French Rd., West Seneca. The fabric acts as the container for the plant. Regular plugs have one plant. Combo plugs have three types of plants together in one plug. “The combos are great if you have trouble getting inspiration or aren’t sure what color combinations work well,” she said. Buying plant plugs has…...

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