Category: Uncategorized

swallowtail butterfly in Amherst NY copyright Stofko

Leaf litter isn’t trash—it’s gold!

by Connie Oswald Stofko “One of the craziest things people do is to rake up leaves and put them in a bag,” said Tom Kerr, senior naturalist at Buffalo Audubon Society. “Leaf litter is important, but some people scoop it up and throw it away!” Why you should leave the leaves Remember the food chain in science class? A plant is food for a certain insect, and that insect is food for a bird, and so on. If you took…...

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Oct 29, 2024
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dried flowers arranged in a pumpkin at Henry's Gardens in Eden NY

Hands-on classes open now at Henry’s Gardens

Two hands-on classes are being held now at Henry’s Gardens, 7884 Sisson Hwy., Eden. The first is a floral class, where you can arrange dried flowers in a pumpkin. The second is a gardening class where you can plant three kinds of spring bulbs, all in one pot. Mark your calendar: Henry’s will hold its Christmas open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at Henry’s. Santa will be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The…...

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Oct 29, 2024
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poster in Arbor Day poster contest 2024

Enter Arbor Day poster contest; deadline is Dec. 31

Celebrate the beauty of New York State’s trees by participating in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest organized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Submit your photography or artwork to be considered for the 2025 New York State Arbor Day poster. DEC prints thousands of posters for distribution to schools, the New York State Fair, libraries and other venues every year. Contest guidelines: Visit DEC’s website to read the full guidelines of the contest and to submit…...

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Oct 29, 2024
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head of garlic and cloves of garlic

Plant garlic now, plus more from WNY Gardening Matters

It’s time to plant garlic. Find out about that and more in the newest edition of WNY Gardening Matters, produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. See these articles:…...

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Oct 22, 2024
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little brown bat

Bat Week! Why you should help

Bats are insect-eating machines, eating thousands of flying insects in a single night! That’s one reason why gardeners should help bats. And one way you can help bats is by planting a pollinator garden. The plants attract insects, and the insects pollinate the plants. Bats are a player in that, too, by keeping the insect population in check. We have nine species of bats in New York State and they all eat insects, according to the New York State Department…...

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Oct 22, 2024
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Blooming now: cactus & succulents at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Just when your outdoor gardens are waning, indoor succulents and cactuses are adding color through flowers. Autumn is the time for these plants to bloom, said Elle Kreuzer, who manages that department at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Many varieties are blooming or budding now. Here are just a few. Lifesaver plant It’s easy to see why Huernia zebrina got the name of the Lifesaver plant. In the center of the flower…...

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Oct 15, 2024
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plastic bag protecting a tomato plant in autumn in Amherst NY

3 tips to protect tomatoes from cold weather

by Connie Oswald Stofko Tomatoes like warm weather. They don’t do well with the cool days and cold nights that most of Western New York has been experiencing recently. But don’t worry; there are steps you can take to keep on harvesting! Tip 1: Make a mini-greenhouse This will work whether your tomato plant is a container or in the ground. Get a clear or translucent plastic bag that is slightly bigger than your plant. Slip the bag over your…...

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Oct 15, 2024
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egg masses on spongy moth

Help trees; scrape off spongy moth eggs

Now through spring, you can help protect your trees by looking for and destroying spongy moth egg masses, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Egg masses appear as fuzzy, brown patches and can be found on trees, firewood, lawn furniture and other hard surfaces. Each egg mass contains 600-700 eggs. To get rid of the eggs, scrape them off into hot, soapy water.  The spongy moth (formerly called gypsy moth) isn’t native; it came from France. Spongy…...

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Oct 15, 2024
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hardy fuchsia in Buffalo NY

Keep your garden looking colorful into autumn

by Connie Oswald Stofko “We don’t do the usual; we do the unusual. We pride ourselves on that,” said Brian Olinski. That’s why so many people visit him and and his husband, Gordon Ballard, during Open Gardens. You will find plants in their landscape that no one else in Western New York has. And their “Bird Avenue Gardens” are big, situated on a double lot in Buffalo, with plants everywhere you look. But you don’t need a gigantic garden or…...

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Oct 8, 2024
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looking at mint plant in Amherst NY

Start a community or school garden with Grassroots Gardens WNY

Grassroots Gardens WNY is taking applications now for people who want to create new community gardens or school gardens in 2025. The deadline for applying is Saturday, Nov. 30. Currently Grassroots Gardens WNY is considering only community gardens and school gardens located in the cities of Buffalo or Niagara Falls, NY. However, if you are a school in one of their nearby suburbs, Grassroots Gardens WNY may be able to support you in 2025. Priority is given to gardens in neighborhoods…...

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Oct 8, 2024
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