by Connie Oswald Stofko Learn about all that and more in a previous video with Lyn Chimera of Lessons from Nature. Autumn is a good time to move or divide perennials See the video here…....
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Larger-than-life topiaries will charm adults & kids at Botanical Gardens
by Connie Oswald Stofko See charming, larger-than-life animal topiaries during Topiary Tales, the newest exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The exhibit will open Friday, Sept. 19 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave. Buffalo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free with admission. It’s a lovely exhibit for adults, and children will especially enjoy the Topiary Tales, a series of short stories that you can read…...
Autumn is here: leaves are changing color in WNY
The first signs of colorful leaves are here in Western New York! The first I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report came out last week. Salamanca, in the Chautauqua-Allegheny group, had the most significant foliage change in Western New York. A new report will come out on Wednesday (Sept. 17). The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report relies on more than 90 volunteer field observers to let us know when leaves start to change color and when they will be at…...
This bug is ugly, stinky & annoying, but not a problem in WNY
by Connie Oswald Stofko I’ve been seeing a lot of brown marmorated stink bugs this past week: hiding inside the umbrella on my patio table, hanging onto the outside of my window screens and walking around inside my house. They’re fairly big (the size of a fingernail) and very ugly (like a creature from a horror movie). Plus, when they get aggravated or killed, they stink. If you aren’t familiar with the brown marmorated stink bug, don’t be worried. When…...
Website is working again!
by Connie Oswald Stofko I am happy to say that my website is fixed and you shouldn’t have any problems. Last week my website wasn’t working well and you may have missed some of the articles. (I’m so sorry!) But you can see those articles now: Thanks for your patience!…...
Learn the proper way to cut flowers–then arrange them–at Henry’s Gardens
by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you know how to properly cut flowers from a garden? Most people don’t, said Barb Henry, who founded Henry’s Gardens with her husband Martin. People often cut the stem too short, she said. Or they think they are cutting one stem, but they are cutting the entire plant. Or they cut a flower that is already old and won’t look nice for very long. That’s why Henry has created classes to help you learn how…...
WNY Gardening Matters: shrubs & more
The gardener’s emphasis is often on annuals and perennials, but shrubs are an essential component of garden design, said Peggy Koppmann, Master Gardener. There are many reasons to use shrubs: You can see more in the article “This Month in the Garden,” which is part of WNY Gardening Matters, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Other articles in this edition are:…...
Reminder: Bring houseplants inside before weather gets too cold
If your houseplants have been vacationing outside, don’t let them stay out too long. When should you bring them in? Before you turn on your furnace, said David R. Clark, CNLP. That’s just one of many tips he shares in this previous article, “Houseplants on summer vacation? Time to bring them back inside.” Clark also discusses pests in depth: how to keep pests from coming into your house and what to do if you find your houseplant is infested…....
Talks, sales & more: Learn at Mischler’s back-to-school event
It’s the time to go back to school–even for gardeners! You can learn a lot at the Back-to-School event at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. It will take place from Friday, Sept. 5 to Saturday, Sept. 13. Times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. There will be talks, a tour of Mischler’s cutting gardens (gardens where flowers are grown to be cut and placed in a vase), people to…...
Moving into autumn: tips from Master Gardeners in Orleans County
As autumn settles in, it’s tempting to focus solely on the checklist—deadheading, mulching, putting beds to rest. But before we rush into end-of-season tasks, consider taking a different approach this month. Step into your garden not as a worker, but as an observer. Notice the subtle shift in light, the way seeds have scattered in unexpected places, the quiet persistence of late bloomers. Your garden has been telling stories all season long. This month, let’s slow down enough to listen. —From…...