Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’

Award-winning perennial & more: The Great Plant Sale is here!

by Connie Oswald Stofko The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is again holding its Great Plant Sale online, and you can order now. The deadline to order is May 4, but don’t wait–many plants sell out well before then. I am highlighting just three here: I’m proud that Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com is a sponsor of the Great Plant Sale again this year! About the Great Plant Sale Last year, “A lot of people were amazed by the quality of the plants” they…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Flynn and Goldstein in their Open Garden in Buffalo NY

Bowling balls, cute creatures & more in flower-filled Buffalo garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Are you ready to see colorful flowers, unique garden art and an overall beautiful landscape? In this video, Jay Jinge Hu, who shares his own landscape on Open Gardens, takes us on a tour of the gardens of Mitch Flynn and Ellen Goldstein, who will again this year share their landscape on Open Gardens and Garden Walk Buffalo. Whatever you enjoy about a garden, you can probably find in these gardens. There’s the sculpture Flynn made…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
coleus Hottie

Tips on overwintering plants in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Now is the time to think about overwintering plants so you can enjoy them next year. In “What plants do you overwinter in Western New York?”, you’ll find guidelines on which plants are happy outside in the winter, which plants you should bring inside and which plants might be difficult for you to overwinter. That article includes links to many other helpful articles. Here are more related topics:…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
spring flowers in small pots at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

5 tips from Botanical Gardens’ Spring Flower Show to use in your landscape

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s lovely just to walk around the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens during the Spring Flower Exhibit. The fragrance of hyacinths scents the air. Spring bulbs that won’t flower in our gardens for a few more weeks are already in bloom. And flowers that might bloom at different times in your garden are all blooming at once, creating a garden fantasy. And if you look carefully, there are some things you can try in your…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Amaryllis 'Apple Blossom' in Buffalo NY

Reminder: What to do now so your amaryllis blooms next year in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko There aren’t many plants blooming outdoors right now, but many Western New Yorkers are enjoying stunning amaryllis flowers indoors. Amaryllis bulbs are popular holiday gifts. If your plant is done blooming, don’t throw it away–it can bloom again next year. It’s pretty easy to get an amaryllis to bloom again, and the small effort you put into the project is well worth the effort. Amaryllis has huge, trumpet-shaped flowers–it’s spectacular! The most important thing to know…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Lavandula Munstead courtesy Ball Horticultural

Order now in Great Plant Sale from Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko For gardeners, one of the joys of winter is planning for spring! Start your planning now with the Great Plant Sale from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Not only can you browse through the selections now, you can order now before anything is sold out. Pick up your plants on May 19 or 20. (The sale will be online only this year.) Joe Mannion, director of horticulture, noted that the Botanical Gardens has contracted…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
looking at mint plant in Amherst NY

Garden Talks begin in Batavia & on line

The Genesee County Master Gardeners will hold monthly Garden Talks starting in February. Garden Talk programs start at noon and can be 30 to 60 minutes long, depending on the topic. They will be held on Thursdays. This free series is open to all, but registration is required. You can attend in person at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 420 East Main St., Batavia, or online via Zoom. To attend in person, contact Mandy at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or amm532@cornell.edu. For a Zoom…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
iris with leaves in Buffalo Niagara New York

Prevent iris borer by removing iris leaves in autumn in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko In general, gardeners in Western New York are encouraged to keep perennial leaves and stalks in place to create winter interest, but one plant you should cut down is the iris. “We encourage folks to cut the iris leaves down after the first heavy frost,” said Marilee Farry, president of the Western New York Iris Society. “What is important is not to throw those leaves into the compost pile but to either burn them or put…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
species tulip 'Ballerina'

How to plant spring bulbs in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko Want to get bulbs to bloom in spring and summer? Here’s your first tip: Plant in autumn. Every spring, people walk into garden centers expecting to buy tulips and other bulbs to plant immediately in their gardens. It’s understandable, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. With most other plants, when you see them flowering outside, that’s the time to plant them. With bulbs, you have to plan…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
squirrel holding tulip bulb copyright Stofko

Protect your flower bulbs from squirrels in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko “I’ve planted bulbs, gone into the house, and the squirrels come back ten minutes later to steal my bulbs,” said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “They’re viscous little things!” Jablonski-Dopkin offers tips for keeping squirrels away from your newly planted bulbs. You still have plenty of time to buy and plant bulbs. In Western New York, plant bulbs in October or November. The soil should be cool, about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here