by Connie Oswald Stofko If you’re like me, anytime you see tracks in the snow, especially if they are near a plant that has been nibbled on, you assume it’s rabbits. But sometimes I get surprised—we occasionally have deer, too. Or the random skunk. How can you tell what has been in your garden? You can get help with these Winter Tracks from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In addition to drawings, there’s helpful text, too. For…...
Master Gardeners in Erie and Orleans counties share tips on moth gardens, what to do in your gardens now, a reminder about hardiness zones and more. Moth gardens Here’s a review on the book Gardening for Moths, a regional guide. The spectacular photos drew her in, but the text is attention grabbing, too, said Lyn Chimera, Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Moths are responsible for a tremendous amount of pollination. We think about butterfly gardens, but…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko One day I realized I had lots of large vases, but nothing that was suitable for flowers from my spring garden. It seemed like every flower was short: hyacinths, lilies-of-the valley, daffodils. And don’t forget the occasional gift of dandelions from a child. If you want to enjoy these flowers from your own garden, start looking for vases now. Thrift stores and garage sales are where I’ve been able to find small vases. The vases should…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko As a gardener, what would it be like if your house was surrounded by a nature preserve full of deer? Ruth Robson in Cheektowaga knows what it’s like firsthand. While she has houses to her right, to her left is the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. Her backyard, and the backyards of all her neighbors, border on Reinstein Woods. The deer could stay in Reinstein Woods, but they don’t know know anything about property lines, so they…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko We’re not ready to plant vegetables outside yet, but this is a good time to plan for spring. Here’s an idea for keeping rabbits out of your vegetable garden. I saw these raised beds in the yard of Beth and Brian Kreutzer in Cheektowaga. I think these garden beds are genius: simple, fairly easy to build and a solid defense against pesky rabbits. You can tell the fencing works by the healthy vegetables! The Kreutzers’ patch…...
You can buy tree and shrub seedlings through the state as well as several counties in Western New York. Schools and youth education organizations can get some seedlings for free from New York State. Tree & shrub sales Tips Links to state and county sales NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Cattaraugus County Chautauqua County Erie County Genesee County Niagara County Orleans County Free seedlings for schools, youth organizations Apply online by March 28 to receive 25-50 free seedlings to plant with…...
Jan. 30, 2025: There’s a new web-based form for you to report suspected cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds. The new link for reporting observations can be found on DEC’s the Animal Diseases webpage of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Of particular interest are reports of suspected outbreaks in all species of waterfowl, raptors, crows, shorebirds, and other waterbirds such as gulls, loons and herons. These species are known HPAI vectors, particularly vulnerable to the disease. The…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko A completely renovated greenhouse, the Tropical Orchard, will open this Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. I was given a sneak peek yesterday to share with you! The Tropical Orchard features a collection of edible plants from around the world. Some of the plants you’ll see are starfruits, bananas, Australian finger limes, pineapples, chocolate tree, ponderosa lemon, strawberry guava tree and coconut palm. More common plants include peanuts, a peach tree,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko To keep at least some of your potted poinsettias looking pretty longer, try this tip from my sister, Sharon Moriarity of Cheektowaga. She was able to start out with many potted poinsettias. On Jan. 6, the end of the Christmas season, her church was taking down the poinsettias, but no one else wanted them. Moriarity was glad to take them home. After a while, some of the “flowers” weren’t doing well. (What we think of as…...
Are you an artisan—or do you know one—who creates objects with a theme of gardens or nature? It’s time for artisans and vendors to sign up the 15th annual Garden Art Sale. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 25. “This is an exceptional opportunity for artists and creators to connect with our dedicated gardening community,” said Jim Charlier, Garden Art Sale event chair. “We’re calling upon artisans whose works can adorn gardens or evoke the spirit of nature to be a…...
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