by Connie Oswald Stofko Sometimes we get plants that just show up in our gardens. If we want to keep those plants, we call them volunteers. If we don’t want those plants in our garden, they’re weeds. An interesting plant arrived in one of my garden beds this spring. I didn’t know what it was and wasn’t sure whether it was going to be a volunteer or a weed. It grew about five feet tall and got pretty little daisy-like…

Hosta, Daylily & Iris Sale at Botanical Gardens
The Hosta, Daylily & Iris Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 in the Administration Building at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission to the sale is free. It’s hosted by the WNY Hosta Society, Buffalo Area Daylily Society and Buffalo Iris Society. Hundreds of daylilies, hostas and irises will be labeled and described for sale at reasonable prices. Experts will be on hand to answer your plant questions. Note: There…

Beech leaf disease found in all of Western New York; report affected trees
Beech leaf disease (BLD), which affects all species of beech trees, has been identified in in all eight counties of Western New York. DEC is asking the public to submit reports through NYimapInvasives if they encounter a beech tree showing signs of BLD. The main symptom to look for on beech foliage is darkened striping between the veins, which is best seen when looking up through the canopy. Leaves with severe symptoms can be heavily banded and crinkled, with a thickened leathery…

Summer is the time to see Graycliff at its best; great events, too
by Connie Oswald Stofko Perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff is a wonderful spot to catch a cooling breeze and enjoy the view. No wonder Isabelle and Darwin Martin had their second fabulous estate built there. “This was the Martins’ summer home,” said Anna Kaplan, executive director of Graycliff. “Summer is the time to see it!” This architectural gem, designed in the 1920s by Frank Lloyd Wright, features newly completed restoration projects. They include stone benches looking out…