by Connie Oswald Stofko We’ve had a long and pleasant autumn, but some Western New Yorkers have had to shovel already. Even if you still have grass showing, you know winter is on the way. Here is a list of last-minute gardening tasks to do to prepare your garden. Put away your breakables. Anything that’s breakable, such as glass garden ornaments, ceramic bird baths or ceramic pots, should be brought inside. There is a chance that wind might topple some…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko “We’re going to be the Buffalo of the south,” said Kim Halyak of Memphis, Tennesee. “That’s my goal.” Got that, folks? Gardeners in other parts of the country want to be compared to us! I met Halyak this summer during the conference of GWA: The Association of Garden Communicators, which was held in Buffalo. Halyak was one of the few attendees who had been to Buffalo before. Originally from Pittsburgh, she drove up with her sister to…...
This year give a special gift created by you. Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses will hold an open session for you to do a couple of holiday decorating projects– decorate a fresh pine wreath or decorate a pre-planted dish garden. It isn’t a class where you have to arrive at a certain time. You can do the projects anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at Mischler’s, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. All of the supplies will be…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko When you’re shopping for holiday items and gifts, don’t forget about our local businesses. You can find poinsettias, Christmas trees, floral arrangements, gifts and local produce at hometown shops. “Shop small” on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25, to support these local businesses. How can you find local businesses? Check out our Gardening Directory. You may have noticed that the directory has grown. I want to expand it and make it the very best place to find gardening…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko No matter what color they are, autumn leaves are like gold for your garden. You can use them in so many ways, so don’t rake them to the curb. In fact, if you see bags of leaves set out to the curb, take them home! A friend gave me five big bags of leaves last year and I used the last of them about a month ago. I’m ready for more! The two main ways I…...
For the first time, you can hold a party during Lumagination, the great light show to be held in January and February at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. This would be fun for garden clubs, folks from community gardens, block clubs, businesses, and groups of friends or relatives. Lumagination party rental space is in the community room in the Administration Building. You can choose two hours between 4 and 8 p.m., based on availability, for $200. Additional time…...
by Steven Jakobi, Master Gardener Volunteer, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County Autumn is a time for unwanted guests in the house. These insects are like squatters, moving in for the winter and looking for a place to ride out the cold months. In my house, we have to deal with cluster flies, Asian lady beetles and western conifer seed bugs. (Western conifer seed bugs are often confused with the marmorated stink bug.) Other folks I know also have occasional…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Our growing season in Western New York is longer than it used to be– two weeks longer than it was in 1965, according to Stephen Vermette, professor of geography in the Department of Geography & Planning at Buffalo State College. Now the growing season starts about a week earlier in spring and lasts about a week longer in autumn. This is just one of the findings of Vermette’s research into how climate change is affecting Western…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko You can enjoy spring flowers inside during winter, weeks before they appear outside in gardens, but you may not want to do it the way they do it at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. First of all, they force bulbs on a grand scale. (Forcing is getting a plant to bloom at a time when it wouldn’t normally bloom.) Last week they planted about 21,000 bulbs in pots. They can’t plant more because “there’s…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko I will present “Get Crafty in Your Garden” at the meeting of the Ken-Sheriton Garden Club at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 at St, Mark’s Lutheran Church. 576 Delaware Rd., Kenmore. In my presentation, I’ll show you tips on crafts you can make for your garden as well as from your garden. One of the crafts is the inexpensive and easy-to-make glass mushroom decoration for your garden seen here. Like all the events we list on…...