by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you know someone who always looked forward to our great prize drawing? Are you sure they signed up for the new subscription platform for Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com? Some gardeners will miss out this year—simply because they forgot to subscribe! They don’t even realize that the drawing is happening, or that the prize package is worth more than $500! Can you help spread the word? Tag a friend, share this post, and make sure they don’t miss out!…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko How did you feel on Friday, that sunny day that hit 75 degrees at the airport? I have lived in Western New York my entire life, so I should know better, but to me, it felt like spring was here to stay. In weather like this, I always think of a cartoon, To Spring, that I saw on TV when I was a kid. It’s a lovely short cartoon movie created in 1936. A bunch of…...
EPA to fire 75% of the research staff The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate its scientific research office and could fire more than 1,000 scientists and other employees, according to The Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday, March 19. As many as 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists — 75% of the research program’s staff — could be laid off, according to documents reviewed by Democratic staff on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. The planned layoffs were…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko After many weeks of continuous snow on the ground in Western New, we finally see grass. And I’ve already seen the leaves of lesser celandine in my neighborhood. Lesser celandine is an invasive plant. You don’t want it! Please tell others! What lesser celandine can do to your landscape What you can do What you shouldn’t do Don’t try to tackle lesser celandine in large areas such as parks. Leave that for the professionals that have…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Tulips and hydrangeas aren’t blooming outside yet, but you can see full-scale gardens—in full bloom!—at Plantasia, Western New York’s premier garden and landscape show. “People want to get out and feel good about spring coming,” said Chris Zeisz, chair of Plantasia, “especially with the weather we had during this winter.” The event will be held at the Fairgrounds Event Center and Artisan Hall, 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg. It is presented by PLANT WNY. Dates and times are:…...
Experience hundreds of live butterflies fluttering around you during the new Butterfly Experience at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. It will be open this summer on June 7 and go through August 3. Tickets are expected to sell quickly; you may want to purchase tickets now. See details below. The exhibit will be housed inside the new Tropical Orchard greenhouse, which has dozens of fruit-producing and nectar-rich plants for the butterflies to feed on. You will see butterflies that are…...
“Call your elected leaders TODAY and tell them to take action to protect NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and our 50+ years of environmental legislation and protections,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper in its advocacy alert on Feb. 28. Learn how to find your elected officials here. The rapid and haphazard dismantling of public agencies “is a travesty,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. “… we know this is just the beginning of the intentional undermining of…...
We need to protect peat bogs. Learn more about that in the article “Peat Moss and Sustainability” by Kathy Contrino, Master Gardener in Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Peat moss, which is used to help soil retain moisture, is grown in peat bogs. However, peat moss grows slowly and it grows only if the conditions are perfect. Peat bogs are also an environment for native carnivorous plants, so harvesting peat moss can disrupt that ecosystem. There are alternatives to peat…...
Our soil is still frozen, so there’s not much to do outside right now. But there’s plenty to do inside during the Spring Preview event at Mischler’s Florist & Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 7 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Here are highlights of this exciting event: Plant sale: Add to your collection of indoor plants! All houseplants and succulents will be 33…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you want to start raising chickens for eggs, don’t be scared off by avian flu (bird flu), said Amy Barkley, the subject matter expert on avian influenza at Cornell University. However, you may face a different problem: finding chicks and pullets to start your flock. (Pullets are females raised by a farmer until the bird is about ready to lay eggs.) “I think it’s going to be more challenging to find chicks and pullets this…...
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