poinsettias in vase in Cheektowaga NY

How to keep poinsettias looking great for weeks

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…...

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Garden Art Sale by Gardens Buffalo Niagara

Artisans: Sign up for Garden Art Sale

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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black-eyed Susans in Amherst New York

Are black-eyed Susans native plants?

UPDATE FEB. 3, 2025: Some readers wanted to hear more about this topic, but couldn’t attend the talk when it occurred. You can see a summary of the main points of Ken Parker’s presentation here. by Connie Oswald Stofko Are black-eyed Susans native plants? To North America, yes. But to Western New York, they’re not native, said Ken Parker, membership chair of Wild Ones Western New York. And it’s important for “native plants” to be native to where we live…....

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Orleans Community Seed Share

New seed library, classes in Orleans County

A new seed library called Orleans Community Seed Share is a new program of the Master Gardeners in Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. The seed share is more than just a collection of seeds—it’s a living library that cultivates community, sustainability and biodiversity, according to the Master Gardeners. The Master Gardeners invite local gardeners to borrow seeds, nurture them in their home gardens and return seeds from their mature plants. This simple act creates a powerful cycle of sharing…...

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bees on flowers and two buck deer in Amherst NY

What worked well for your garden? What didn’t?

by Connie Oswald Stofko Now is the time to start making plans for next season. What worked well in your garden this year, and what didn’t? Here are some ideas that may help. Consider trees and shrubs Too often, when we think about “garden plants,” we think only about perennials and annuals, but shrubs and trees are important elements of your landscape. New York state and most counties in Western New York will have sales of tree and shrub seedlings…....

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Cannabis conference at SUNY Niagara

Cannabis Conference set for Jan. 13 & 14 at SUNY Niagara

At the third annual SUNY Cannabis Conference, the brightest minds in cannabis will discuss research and opportunities in cannabis within New York State. The conference will be hosted by SUNY Niagara (formerly Niagara County Community College) on Monday, January 13 and Tuesday, January 14. The event aims to advance cannabis education, foster professional networking, and inform the public about the numerous opportunities within this rapidly evolving industry. Sessions include medical cannabis research, plant genetics, sustainable practices and culinary cannabis innovations…....

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poster for Garden Walk Buffalo

Submit artwork for Garden Walk Buffalo poster; deadline is Jan. 31

Garden Walk Buffalo, America’s largest garden tour, is looking for submissions of original artwork to promote the 2025 event. One winner will be selected to be featured on the 2025 Garden Walk Buffalo poster. That winner will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Entries are due Friday, Jan. 31. This is an opportunity to share your artwork with hundreds of local gardeners and tens of thousands of visitors from around the U.S., Canada and beyond. Submission guidelines See more information here. Email your entry to aclark@gardensbuffaloniagara.com. Include ART…...

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using natural materials for holiday decorations

Use natural materials in holiday decorations

Get ideas for holiday decorations with materials that you already have in your garden. Nancy Walker, Master Gardener trainee with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, has compiled tips on using natural materials. Some of the materials she lists are: Read her article here. Tip: You can get the Master Gardens Journal and updates from the Master Gardeners in Orleans County by signing up here. See more holiday ideas here:…...

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gardening tips Buffalo NY daisy photo

Get ready for gardening in 2025!

What do you like the best about Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com? The photos of beautiful gardens? Classes, garden walks and other WNY events? Finding local garden centers with plants that work in our area? Tips on gardening from Autumn to Zinnias? Don’t miss out in 2025! Starting on Jan. 14, you will need a paid subscription to read all the great content on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com.  When you subscribe before Jan. 14, you get an extra month free! Don’t worry; the prices are definitely reasonable!…...

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lady bug, bees on a flower, maple leaf, soil

Sign up now for horticulture classes at SUNY Niagara; seniors can audit for free

Sign up now for plant classes at SUNY Niagara (previously called Niagara County Community College). The deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 15. If you don’t want to get credit for the course, you can take a low-cost class through the Workforce Development Program. Here are the Workforce Development traditional horticulture courses. Here are the Workforce Development cannabis courses. There are links on the bottom of those pages for registering and paying. Cannabis courses are $250. The Plant Protection (IPM) class is $200 and includes the option to earn the…...

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