by Connie Oswald Stofko I didn’t know what information I could bring back for my readers when I visited Atlanta last year for the annual conference of GWA: The Association of Garden Communicators. I knew I would see lovely gardens, but since the climate is so different down south, what would interest gardeners in Western New York? Then I talked with Mike Dunn, a gardener desperate to keep deer from devouring his plants. In addition to fencing in his large…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Contrary to what many gardeners believe, fertilizing your annuals won’t cause them to “bloom out” or be done blooming before the summer is over, said Jen Weber, retail manager at Mike Weber Greenhouses, 42 French Rd., West Seneca. “It’s just the opposite,” Weber said. “Without the fertilizer, your plants won’t reach their potential. They’ll be smaller, thinner, weaker, leggier-looking plants.” In the case of petunias, verbena and calibrachoa (million bells), they will become leggy, won’t bloom…...
Artists can enjoy a free Plein Air Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 8 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. “En plein air” is a French expression that means “in the open air” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. Viewing a subject in natural sunlight is much different from working in a studio. You can draw, paint or take photographs. Use an easel if you like. Work for a…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Looking at her yard when it was torn up during construction work, Pamela Rose was at first horrified. Then she stopped and thought, “What’s the opportunity here?” Turning a calamity into an opportunity is one of the tips she shared with gardeners on how to deal with household construction that damages your landscape during the Parkside Garden Tour on Sunday, June 25. You can also see the property on Open Gardens. She and her husband Joel…...
This year three gardens in Pendleton will be open to the public, and the organizers hope for a full-fledged garden walk next year. The event is dubbed the Pendleton Petal-Pushers Open Gardens and will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15. If your garden is in the Pendleton area and you’d like to participate in next year’s garden walk, contact Tom Homme Jr. at Tgardenjr@aol.com or 716-210-3091. The three gardens that will be shown this year…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Here’s a question from a reader: Have you heard of any way to deter pesky little birds from nesting in my hanging planters? Carol Thibault of Elma We love birds visiting our gardens, but I can see where it would be a nuisance if birds nest in hanging baskets. When you try to water your plants, you disturb the birds, and if you don’t water, your plants will die. Plus, the nest may mess up the…...
The Silver Creek Hanover Garden Club is starting a new garden recognition program for gardeners called Spruce Up Silver Creek! The program aims to recognize outstanding front yard gardens that add to the curb appeal of Silver Creek neighborhoods and encourage residents to make the community a more beautiful place by planting gardens. It is the club’s way to acknowledge the value that these gardens and their caretakers add to the village and thank them for their time and effort…....
by Carol Sitarski Master Gardener, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County It’s raining, it’s pouring, and the fungal spores may be growing. This spring’s rain seemed to be nonstop. Don’t get me wrong— we needed rain to replenish our water tables, but with the good comes the bad. The bad is all the fungus that may start growing on our susceptible trees and plants. Already I have seen this happening on crabapple trees and Asiatic lilies in my area and…...
The Nature Explorers Art and Science Camp for children at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will combine art and science in a full-day camp this summer. Campers will discover plants and the natural world through art and science. They will spend time discovering the Botanical Gardens, completing multimedia art projects, learning drawing and painting skills, participating in games and taking home their own plants to care for. Camps are appropriate for kids who have finished kindergarten through Grade…...
Whether you want to learn how to plant up a miniature garden or you want to have some fairy fun with the family, stop in to Mischler’s Mini Garden & Fairy Fest on Friday or Saturday, June 23 and 24, at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. There will be activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day for children as well as adults. Mischler’s creative staff will present a brief explanation and demonstration of how…...