On checking temptation, hitting thugs where they hurt, and above all, enjoying your patch of heaven. By Peggy Koppmann I saw a quote recently that said, “I garden, therefore I am.” With apologies to Descartes, I believe that to be true for gardeners. As June arrives, acts of gardening are part of our very existence. We plan and plant to feed our families, to support pollinators, to sustain our environment, and to create beauty. We are the face of resistance…
By Elizabeth Foy Ready to transform your yard from ordinary to extraordinary? Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s 15th annual Garden Art Sale, in partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, is your opportunity to discover truly unique, handcrafted treasures that will make your outdoor spaces sing. Explore an incredible lineup of more than 70 vendors (including 22 new ones!) showcasing one-of-a-kind creations. Whether you are hunting for a bold, dramatic sculpture, stunning ceramics, rustic woodwork, or just a touch of…
Show your own roses, and see more than 100 others, at the 75th Annual WNY Rose Society Rose Show Story and photos by guest writer Eileen Koteras Elibol It’s time to fall in love with roses all over again. Do you remember the beauties that your grandma used to grow in her garden? Or the lingering old rose scent of a gorgeous rose that captivated you? “Whether it’s a rose with a spectacular color, or exquisite fragrance, come experience and…
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…
Left to right: Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County Master Gardeners Sally Cunningham and Phyllis Witherspoon Lobbins; Jess Abbott and Barbara Cavanaugh at Garden Walk Buffalo; Martin House curator Susana Tejada, garden writer and historian Abra Lee, East Side Garden Walk participant Walter Myles, and GBN emeritus board member Catherine Lincoln. It’s not just garden tours, it’s a blooming movement By Lauren Newkirk Maynard As the new steward of Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) is going all in. We’re serious about…
By Elizabeth Foy Gardeners and visitors asked, and Gardens Buffalo Niagara delivered! The first-ever Open Gardens Spring Weekend is happening Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17. This is your opportunity to visit 16 private, regional gardens throughout Erie and Niagara counties earlier in the season. “Open gardeners put a great deal of effort into having their gardens ready for the July opening,” said event co-chair Mike Shadrack. “This year, many have opted for an additional May tour and are…
By Elizabeth Foy From May 16 through July 19, the popular Butterfly Experience returns for a second year to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens this summer, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the important role butterflies play in the ecosystem. Housed in the Tropical Orchard greenhouse and featuring a variety of native butterfly species—including Swallowtails, Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, and more—the exhibit is included with admission. “We’re excited to offer the Butterfly Experience again this year,”…
By Jim Charlier This year, Gardens Buffalo Niagara granted $39,695 in Lunenfeld Beautification Grants to 33 block clubs and community groups for garden projects across Buffalo. Since the program launched in 2004, more than $200,000 has supported more than 300 projects—a living tribute to Marvin Lunenfeld, founder of Garden Walk Buffalo, who passed away in 2012. The grants, up to $1,500 each, fund community gardens, street-side planters, rain gardens, raised-bed gardens, hanging baskets, and more. To be eligible, projects had…
by Lauren Newkirk Maynard Starting in May, you’ll see changes at Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com! “Gardens Buffalo Niagara has rescued this magazine,” said Connie Oswald Stofko, who built Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com from scratch and is happy to step down and retire after almost 20 years. “They can do more than I could do by myself.” The first thing you’ll notice that it will be a monthly publication instead of weekly. We think you’ll enjoy it because we have a new, larger team of editors and…
by Lauren Newkirk Maynard Next month, Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com will change hands when Connie Oswald Stofko, publisher, steps into retirement after 16 remarkable years at the helm. To make sure you continue to get great gardening information for Western New York, I’m happy to share that Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) is stepping in to continue the magazine. GBN is the non-profit that brings you Garden Walk Buffalo, East Side Garden Walk, Open Gardens, the Garden Art Sale (and a lot more). I’m…
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