logo for Birds on the Niagara 2024

Birds on Niagara, international event, is coming back to WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Birds on the Niagara, North America’s only international bird festival, will take place from Friday to Monday, February 16-19. It includes indoor talks as well as outdoor bird walks in several sites in Western New York and Ontario. It includes birding hotspots along the international river corridor between Canada and the United States. Here are a few highlights:…

Master Gardener training Chautauqua and Cattaraugus county Western New York

Master Gardener training for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus counties starts March 5

Master Gardener training for residents of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties will begin Tuesday, March 5. The program lasts 14 weeks takes place every other Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at 28 Parkside Dr., Ellicottville. There is a remote Zoom option available. Tuition is $125.  Apply here or contact Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener program coordinator, at smr336@cornell.edu. The program includes a core course in gardening, as well as refresher classes, field trips and workshops to enhance expertise and ability to communicate information…

graphic of four leaves in four seasons

Communities in Bloom classes start Feb. 10 in Erie County

The 20th Annual Communities in Bloom Classes will be held by the Master Gardener Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. Classes will be of interest to both beginning and veteran gardeners. Dates, locations & topics February 10 – Orchard Park Community Center, 4520 California Road, Orchard Park February 24 – Roswell Park Community Center, 907 Michigan Ave, Buffalo Class times 8:30 a.m. registration / 9–11:45 a.m. class Pre-registration is required. Register here or contact jah663@cornell.edu or (716) 652-5400 ext. 176. Fees 1 day/2…

orchid arches at Orchid Exhibit in Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Ladders on ceiling, arches on floor: See novel orchid displays

by Connie Oswald Stofko Colorful orchids are displayed in a way you’ve never seen before during a new Orchid Exhibit that will open Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. The opening of the exhibit was postponed because of the weather, but it’s worth the wait. Enter through arches adorned with orchids. See orchids hanging from orbs and enjoy the masses of orchids in pots. Make sure you look up to…

gloved hands planting plant

Get free landscape training plus earn up to $1,500; deadline is Jan. 29

Learners will be able to attend class remotely and earn up to $1,500 in the Hybrid–Landscape Maintenance Technician program from the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT). Adults who are accepted into the program will receive a scholarship that will cover 100 percent of tuition, books and work boots. There will be 30 hours of online classes taught by a live instructor. There will also be 30 hours of hands-on landscaping training. The confirmed sites so far are Buffalo Olmsted…

images representing topics of horticulture classes

Register now for free classes; Gardeners Give & Take starts soon, too

Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market in Buffalo will host a free discussion series called Gardeners Give and Take starting in January. Urban Roots is also partnering with Grassroots Gardens and the Massachusetts Avenue Project for a series of free classes and workshops. More workshops will be announced in February. Gardeners Give and Take An informal discussion on everything gardening will take place at 10 a.m. Saturdays on Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3 and Feb 17 at Urban Roots, 428…

cardinal and sparrow in snow in Cheektowaga NY

You can add to 120 years of data through Christmas Bird Counts

Be a citizen scientist and join one of the many Christmas bird counts that the National Audubon Society will hold from Thursday, Dec. 14 to Friday, Jan. 5. The Christmas bird counts have been taking place for more than 120 years. The information from these has been used in hundreds of analyses, peer-reviewed publications and government reports over the decades. One thing that scientists have discovered from the bird counts is that the number of birds has decreased dramatically in…

Buddha's Hand citron at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

See ‘Buddha’s Hand’ when new exhibit opens at Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko “We’re reimaging everything,” said Joe Mannion, director of Horticulture & Operations at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The multi-million-dollar expansion plan that the Botanical Gardens started several years ago is gaining momentum, and Mannion gave me a sneak peek at the next transformation: Greenhouse 12 will become the home for a new collection of fascinating edible plants. Other revamped exhibits will include a seasonal pollinator exhibit and a family play space inside the existing…

cannabis conference in Niagara Falls NY: chef using cannabis and vendor at table

Cannabis conference set in January at Niagara Falls Community College

by Connie Oswald Stofko Experts will discuss the latest research and opportunities in cannabis at the second annual, two-day 2024 SUNY Cannabis Conference to be held January 8 and 9 at Niagara County Community College and the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. Sessions include plant genetics, sustainable practices, medical cannabis research and human resources. See speakers here. You don’t have to be a professional to attend. Culinary uses of cannabis A half-day program on the culinary uses of cannabis will take…

poinsettia show at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Poinsettias fill Botanical Gardens; see them at night, too

Thousands of brilliant poinsettias, from ‘Christmas Joy Reds’ to ‘Princettia Pure Whites’, will be on display at the annual Poinsettia Exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. The exhibit takes place now through Monday, January 1, with these exceptions: This year’s Poinsettia Exhibit features a new installation called Dimensions. Large reflective orbs and mirrors are arranged to showcase never-before-seen angles. Experience this exhibit in a new light on select evenings during Poinsettias After Dark. See the…