2015 poster for Samuel Capen Garden Walk

Submit your artwork for a chance at a $100 prize for the Capen Garden Walk 2016

Submissions of original artwork for use on posters for the 2016 Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk are being sought. The poster art contest is being held by the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), which will jury the competition. It is free to enter your artwork and a prize of $100 will be awarded for first place. Additional prizes will be awarded to the second and third place winners. Anyone may enter. The theme for this year’s competition is “The Beauty in…...

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Christmas trees suspended from ceiling Goodman's Niagara Falls

How to keep your Christmas tree fresh until February

by Connie Oswald Stofko Ray Crawley and his family usually take their Christmas tree down around Jan. 1, but last year the tree was looking so good, they left it up until almost February. “I guess it’s like a flower arrangement,” Crawley said. Since it stayed fresh, they decided to enjoy it a little longer. Crawley is store manager at the family-owned Goodman’s Farm Market, 2227 Cayuga Drive Extension, Niagara Falls. Here’s how he kept his Christmas tree fresh so…...

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garden courtesy Schmith

There’s something special about real-world interactions among gardeners, speaker says

by Connie Oswald Stofko There’s something special about chatting face to face with other gardeners. It’s not the same experience if you just read another gardener’s tweet or Facebook post. That’s why you should consider joining a gardening organization, or if you are already part of one, encourage others to join, says Nikki Schmith, incoming president of the national daylily group called the American Hemerocallis Society. She will speak on “The Collective Experience” at the meeting of the Buffalo Area…...

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Calendar cover 2016

Small wonders of nature shown in calendar

The Audubon Nature Center calendar “Small Wonders” can make a wonderful gift for this Christmas. Jeff Tome, the senior naturalist at the nature center and the leader in the creation of the calendar, noted that there is a lot happening outside that most people never notice. “The calendar is dedicated to the thousands of children whose curiosity and enthusiasm has forced us to stop and take a closer look at the world,” Tome said, “often finding amazingly beautiful and fascinating…...

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soil by Stofko

Gardening-related grants available; some deadlines are Dec. 31

A number of garden-related grants are available. Hurry; some of the deadlines are coming up fast. Planting fruit trees Grants for planting fruit trees are available for nonprofit organizations, public or nonprofit schools, or government entities from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. The grant recipients must 1) own the planting site (or have long-term arrangements to remain at the planting site), 2) be committed to caring for the trees in perpetuity, 3) have a source of irrigation nearby, 4) and…...

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autumn trees at sunset South Park in Buffalo

Is your garden ready for winter? Last-minute checklist for WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko I saw a few snowflakes fluttering in the air yesterday evening, but you may live in an area of Western New York that got some snow accumulation. And all of us gardeners have experienced cold temperatures. A lot of us were caught off guard by overnight lows in the teens and brisk daytime temperatures. Just last week we could putter in the garden without a jacket! While we may see some milder temperatures this week, winter…...

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miniature holiday garden from Mischler's

Mischler’s to hold workshops on miniature gardens, wreath decorating

Make something to decorate your home for the holidays or to give as a gift in workshops to be held Saturday, Dec. 5 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Holiday mini-garden workshops Bring a smile to the face of a grandparent, teacher, or special friend with a beautiful living gift created by your hand in a holiday mini-garden workshop. Workshops will be held at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Each workshop…...

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Giving Tuesday graphic

Help our gardening community on Small Business Saturday and #GivingTuesday

by Connie Oswald Stofko During the gardening season, our local nurseries, garden centers and farmers markets provide us with wonderful plants, tools, supplies, garden decorations and produce. Don’t forget about them when you’re shopping for holiday items and gifts. You can find poinsettias, Christmas trees, floral arrangements, gifts and local produce at hometown shops. “Shop small” on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28,  to support these local businesses. How can you find local businesses? Check out our advertisers–the  businesses that make…...

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poinsettia decorations 2014 at Buffalo Botanical Gardens

Each greenhouse at Botanical Gardens will be decorated; vote for your favorite

In a new twist this year, each greenhouse at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will be decorated differently for the holidays, and you can vote for your favorite. A People’s Choice Award will be announced in January 2016. You can see the great holiday displays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 3 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. There will be a few days with special hours: closed Thanksgiving…...

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straw bale gardening

Save those straw bales; grow vegetable plants in them next spring

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you are using a straw bale in your autumn decorations, don’t throw it away! You can grow tomatoes and other vegetables in it next spring. I saw photos of the technique called straw bale gardening on the Vegetable Gardeners of WNY Facebook page. I was delighted that Gina and Tony Kruzel allowed me to visit their Kenmore home early in October to see what they had done. They decided to try straw bale gardening because…...

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