Category: Uncategorized

plant tags by Anne Gareis in Buffalo NY

Make plant tags for your Buffalo-area garden

Right now you may be able to name all the plants in your garden, but next season, will you still know what’s what? Make these sturdy plant tags and you’ll definitely be able to keep track of your perennials. You can keep the tags outside all winter and, unlike flimsy plastic tags that get trampled by rabbits or pushed over by heavy snow, these wooden plant labels will still be standing in spring. Best of all, they’re so pretty that…...

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Dec 6, 2011
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African violet in Buffalo NY

Learn how to care for African violets with these great instructions

Autumn keeps hanging on in the Buffalo area. My niece Carrie picked a rose from her garden last week! Unfortunately, we know that wintry weather is inevitable, and our outdoor gardening will soon come to an end. Don’t let it get you down, though. When we lose our outdoor flowers, it just means we have more time for our indoor blooms, such as African violets. If you’ve never grown African violets, or if you haven’t grown them well, check out…...

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Nov 29, 2011
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gazing ball in Kenmore NY

Light up a gazing ball, make a trap for fruit flies, plus more news

This is another one of those articles I like to think of as potpourri– a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I hope you find something that’s useful or entertaining. Light up a gazing ball. These instructions for making a lighted gazing ball, like the one you see at left, come from Kathi and Craig Schwab of Kenmore: “We used an extra LED light that we had, put it inside the globe and connected the lighted gazing globe…...

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Nov 22, 2011
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deer eating in Buffalo NY winter Jan 2011

Keep deer and rabbits out of your garden in the Buffalo area

  by Connie Oswald Stofko The image at left is lovely if it’s on a Christmas card, but aggravating if it’s actually happening in your garden. I’ve written before about ways to keep deer and rabbits out of your garden. Even if you read those articles when they were published, take a second look and make sure you take a look at the comments sections. Readers have followed up and shared great tips! I think it’s time to address the…...

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Nov 15, 2011
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AAA gems_of_germany cruise Nov 2011

See Floriade, held just once a decade, during river cruise

You can experience Floriade, the international horticultural expo held just once every 10 years in the Netherlands, during a trip hosted by Sally Cunningham, CNLP (Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional)and professional garden writer. “Every gardener should see Floriade at least once in a lifetime!” Cunningham said. An informational meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21 in McKinley’s Banquet Center, S-3950 McKinley Parkway, Blasdell. Reservations are required for the meeting. To make a reservation, call AAA at 800-242-4244…....

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Nov 15, 2011
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Quit smoking now– it’s bad for your plants

“All plants are sensitive to smoke,” David Clark said in answer to a question during a recent horticulture class at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Thursday, Nov. 17 is the 36th Great American Smokeout. Protecting your houseplants is one more reason for you to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. If you smoke, you probably notice that you have to wash your windows and mirrors…...

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Nov 15, 2011
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tar spot on leaves in Buffalo NY

Dealing with tar spot, plus two other timely tips for fall

Here are three helpful tips for autumn, courtesy of the free newsletter from Heimiller Greenhouses. Tip #1: How to deal with tar spot When it comes to tar spot, there’s bad news and good news and more bad news. The bad news is that tar spot is an ugly black fungus that seems to infect Norway maples, to a greater or lesser degree, every year, according to Lisa Heimiller of Heimiller Greenhouses. The good news is that while tar spot…...

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Nov 8, 2011
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waterfall at Botanical Gardens in Buffalo NY

Botanical Gardens will expand exhibits with $200,000 grant

Expanded outdoor gardens and a new “Celebration of Color” exhibit this summer are among the changes you’ll see at the the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, thanks in part to a $200,000 core improvements grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation. The Botanical Gardens will use the grant to continue its  growth in educational programs and horticultural exhibits as it strives to become financially self sustaining. Why growth is vital to the Botanical Gardens The challenge that the Botanical…...

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Nov 8, 2011
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balcony on Niagara near Hudson in Buffalo

Yes, you do have enough room to garden in Buffalo!

I often hear people say that they don’t have room to garden. They live in an apartment, they explain, and have only a small patio area. Or worse, they’re not even on the ground floor. Those things didn’t bother the folks with these second-floor balconies that I happened to spot in Buffalo this year. At left, this balcony on Niagara St. near Hudson has more flowers than your average suburban yard! The folks here could have settled for a single…...

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Nov 1, 2011
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Spring Flower Show by Kathy Struckle

Hurry and plant spring bulbs now. Plus, three other autumn reminders

Take advantage of this beautiful autumn weather we’re enjoying in the Buffalo area and tackle some gardening projects. Here are some reminders of things you can do right now. Reminder #1: Hurry and plant spring bulbs. If you want spring flowers such as tulips and daffodils, hurry and plant your bulbs now before the ground freezes. That tip is from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, where today 16 volunteers and several staff members planted spring bulbs– 4,500 of…...

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Nov 1, 2011
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