How we know it’s been hot & other items too good to miss

Mischler’s receives two awards in container design competition

Mischler's container garden won second place
Photo from Cornell University.

Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses was honored with two second-place awards in the ninth annual Kathy Pufahl Memorial Container Design Competition, held July 24 during the Floriculture Field Day at Cornell’s Bluegrass Lane Horticultural Research Facility in Ithaca. More than 130 floriculture professionals attended.

In the open division, Mischler’s was honored for its “Perennial Memory Basket.” The large wicker basket is filled with containers of potted perennials of various sizes and trimmed with a bow. After a memorial, plants can be given to one individual or distributed to several family members for a lasting memory in the recipient’s garden. See how you can create a container garden out of perennials.

In the 12-inch hanging basket category, Mischler’s was honored for its monster of a hanging basket tiltled “Hang Out, Dine In.” That large  pot held a very healthy Tumbler Tom tomato plant accompanied by Red Robin basil, Sweet Italian basil, chives, dill and parsley.

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Last-minute deals: 50 percent off rental of the Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens party
Photo from Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens has open Saturdays this fall and is offering 50 percent off the dates and times listed below for weddings, receptions, retirement parties, corporate events, holiday cocktail parties, showers, rehearsal dinners or whatever you need.

As a bonus, their professional team will help to plan your wedding or special event in a few short weeks with no worries!

The discount is for rental fees of the Botanical Gardens only and does not include catering or special rental needs. The discount applies only to these dates and times:

  • Saturday, September 1, 2012 – 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 1, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight
  • Saturday, September 22, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight – During the Succulent Show
  • Saturday, October 27, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight – During the Mum Show
  • Saturday, November 10, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight – During the Mum Show
  • Saturday, November 17, 2012 – 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, November 17, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight
  • Saturday, December 1, 2012 – 1 to 3 p.m. – During the Poinsettia Show
  • Saturday, December 1, 2012 – 6 p.m. to midnight – During the Poinsettia Show

Call before your desired date disappears! Contact Michelle Slawiak, director of Weddings and Special Events at the Botanical Gardens, at (716) 827-1584, ext. 219 or mslawiak@buffalogardens.com.

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trumpet vine in rain in Amherst NY
Water droplets glisten on a trumpet vine after this weekend’s brief rain, but it’s been a hot, dry summer in Western New York.

 

You know it’s been a hot, dry summer when…

We got some rain this weekend, but it’s been a hot, dry season for gardeners in Western New York.

With temperatures in the 90s last week, we beat records for highs set in the 1800s. Many gardeners had trouble keeping up with the watering required for their poor vegetables and never even considered giving the lawn a squirt.

There are other ways to know this weather has been extraordinary. I’ve compiled a list and hope you’ll leave a comment below to add your own observations.

You know it’s been a hot, dry summer in Western New York when:

  • People cheer when it rains, even if the rain comes on the day of their garden walk.
  • You turn on the cold water, but it isn’t cold.
  • You can’t remember the last time you mowed your lawn.
  • After a bit of rain, you’re happy because your grass is less crunchy.
  • Even the black-eyed Susans wilted.
  • You go swimming and say out loud that the water is too warm.
  • When you kneel down, the grass itself feels hot!

 

What tells you that this has been a hot, dry summer? Leave a comment!

 

9 Comments on “How we know it’s been hot & other items too good to miss

  1. Oh, that’s so true! Sometimes you get thirsty and take a sip from the hose. Depending on how you have the hose set, it sprays your face or drips down your shirt. It’s wonderful!

  2. You don’t mind getting wet clothes or shoes while you are watering the gardens because you feel a LITTLE cooler!

  3. Ha ha! I’m laughing out loud as I read these comments. So true. When I go for a walk and see a sprinkler splashing across the sidewalk, I slow down instead of speeding up.

  4. You know it is hot when you get a little rain shower and and instead of running inside you continue standing out in the rain watering your garden while DH is standing on the open deck cooking on the gril and you watch a hummer perched on the clothesline enjoying her shower and preening her new feathers without flying off to the shelter of the trees.

  5. You’re right, even the weeds were affected! I sure didn’t mind that.

    We don’t have air conditioning, but we close the windows and draw the blinds during the day to keep the heat out. There were days it was in the 80s in the house and it still felt pretty good!

    Connie

  6. Oh, yeah, I have a newish tree in front (replaced after the October Storm) and it definitely had wilting days. I watered when I could. Thanks for adding that!
    Connie

  7. Your air conditioner is set at 78 and you feel cool in the house.

    The weeds are growing slower.

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