Where to go, what to avoid, and how to score the best deals this season
Story and photos by Jim Charlier
The nurseries are open. The plant lists are ready. And if you know where—and when—to shop, spring plant buying in Buffalo Niagara can be an art form.
A new article I put together at ArtofGardening.org, “The Smart Gardener’s Guide to Spring Plant Buying in Buffalo Niagara,” pulls together decades of gardening experience and tips from gardeners across Western New York and beyond into one seriously useful resource.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned shopper with a color-coded spreadsheet, there’s something in here for you.
A few things you’ll find:
Timing secrets. If you know an employee at your favorite shop well enough, ask them when shipments arrive for the best times to shop when selection is at its best, and crowds are smaller. Find out the best days to shop and time your first shopping expedition.
A list of garden gems. Western New York’s gardening scene features a rich network of unique, specialized venues—from an honor-box nursery in Orchard Park to a bare-root barn in North Collins, as well as Amish garden shops in neighboring counties—that are worth exploring. See the list of garden centers and unique shopping options provided by some serious Buffalo Niagara shoppers.
A calendar of events worth adding to your calendar—now! Including a Master Gardener plant sale, a spring bulb grab-bag sale, and a couple of native plant sales you won’t want to miss.
What to avoid. A frank conversation about big box stores—and a serious caution about buying plants from home gardens.
Money-saving strategies. Loyalty programs, veteran discounts, botanical garden membership discounts, buying and benefiting charities, overwintering tricks, and some good Aldi, Ollie’s, Tractor Supply, and Whole Foods intel.
It’s the most complete spring plant buying guide for this region we’ve seen—and it’s a good read.
Read the full article at ArtofGardening.org.
Jim Charlier is co-author of Harry Potter, Herbology Magic (Insight Editions, 2023) and Buffalo Style Gardens (St. Lynn’s Press, 2019). He is a speaker on garden tourism and design, a member of GardenComm International, and a longtime garden blogger at ArtofGardening.org. He is a co-founder and former vice president of Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN), chair of GBN’s Garden Art Sale, and a past president of Garden Walk Buffalo. His photography has appeared in dozens of garden magazines and books.
