Category: Perennials

Corsican mint at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouses

Plants to use in mini-gardens & full-scale gardens, too

by Connie Oswald Stofko You have probably seen mini-gardens on garden walks. There are vast fairy gardens and fairy gardens tucked under a tree and gardens in a tray There are yards with garden railways. And there are mini-gardens that have nothing to do with fairies or trains. Whatever direction you take, you’ll need small plants that give you the appropriate scale. Today we’ll talk about plants you can use in your mini-garden to mimic trees, lawns and flowering shrubs…....

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Jun 18, 2019
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daylily 'Princess Diana'

How to make daylilies look great for visitors; garden walk season begins

by Connie Oswald Stofko Garden walk season in Western New York starts this weekend with the Lewiston GardenFest–see details below. If you’re sharing your garden on a garden walk, or just plan on having folks over for a barbecue, here’s a tip on daylilies that will make your gardens look pretty. Liveheading daylilies If you want to make your landscape look attractive for visitors, here’s a tip for daylilies from Kathy Guest Shadrack, who does communications for the Buffalo Area…...

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Jun 11, 2019
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monarch caterpillar

If you want butterflies, garden for caterpillars

If you want butterflies to stick around your garden longer, it’s not enough to think about gardening for butterflies. You need to think about gardening for caterpillars, too, said David O’Donnell of Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm. You can find his article and more in the Spring 2019 edition of the Pollinator magazine. It is published by the Pollinator Conservation Association, which is based in Western New York. Butterflies have a mission, O’Donnell explained. In addition to keeping themselves nourished by…...

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Jun 4, 2019
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Hosta 'Lakeside Paisley Print'

You can enter hosta show—or just view it—at Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko You don’t have to be a member of the Western New York Hosta Society to enter the show to be held this weekend at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The show will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors (ages 62 and older), $9 for students (ages 13 and older…...

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Jun 4, 2019
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flower twist tied to a stake

How to properly stake a flower

Some flowers, such as delphinium, may need support so they stand up straight and won’t break in a strong wind. Jen Weber, vice president and manager of Mike Weber Greenhouses, gives us tips on how to do it properly. Start with a bamboo stake that is taller than your flower. (You can get bamboo stakes at Mike Weber’s.) When you’re placing the stake, make sure you’re not too close to base of your plant. The stake should be at least…...

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May 28, 2019
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North Tonawanda Botanical Garden shares tips on standing water & more

by Connie Oswald Stofko How can you deal with standing water in your yard? What can you plant to attract birds and butterflies? The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization wants to share what they know about these topics and more. “Our ultimate focus is community education,” said Laura Pecoraro, secretary. The group, which became a nonprofit in July 2018, is in its fourth year of rehabilitating a long-neglected park. It’s located at 1825 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda, along the Tonawanda…...

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May 21, 2019
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looking into 'secret garden' in Amherst NY

Shade, color, water and sound create sanctuary on Amherst Garden Walk

by Connie Oswald Stofko “This is my sanctuary,” said Kathleen Pratt of Amherst. “The waterfall, the fish, the birds — it all brings me such peace.” I visited the home she shares with her husband John during last year’s Town of Amherst Garden Walk. This year, the Town of Amherst Garden Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6. You can see the dates for all of the garden walks here. Even though her yard…...

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Apr 30, 2019
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tulip garden in Cheektowaga NY

Another tip for spring flowers; see tulip gardens May 4 and 11

In a 2014 video, Claudia Kolbe-Hawthorne shared how she gets waves of spectacular spring color in her garden. Today we get a new spring gardening tip and tell you when you can visit her tulip gardens. Tip on Lenten rose Many gardeners enjoy the perennial called the Lenten rose. As its name implies, it blooms early in the spring. When it’s done blooming, the leaves stay green, but some gardeners might find the plant a bit boring at that point…....

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Apr 30, 2019
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rye grass and foxglove 'Summer King' amd lamium 'White Nancy'

Plants for trouble spots & more at Mischler’s 59-cent perennial sale

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you have trouble finding plants for a dry, shady area? Or maybe you want beautiful flowers for sun. Or you’re ready to try some native plants. You can find that and more at the 59-cent perennial sale being held from Friday, April 26 to Friday, May 3 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and…...

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Apr 23, 2019
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'Dream Come True' grandiflora rose

Tip for planting new roses

When planting new roses, make sure the bud union (the place where all the canes grow together) is about two inches below the soil level to protect it from wind and harsh weather. From Steve Styn, Consulting Rosarian with Western New York Rose Society…...

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Apr 23, 2019
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