by Connie Oswald Stofko Jim Charlier wanted to build a gardening shed. But where could he put a shed in his small Buffalo yard? His wife Leslie suggested taking down the jungle gym that their daughter Margaux didn’t use and put a shed there. “It was Leslie’s idea,” Charlier said, “then I took it to the nth degree.” This elaborate, quirky and practical shed is just one of the cool things you can see this weekend on Garden Walk Buffalo,…
Six garden walks, including East Side, set this weekend in Western New York
It’s another amazing week for gardening events in Western New York! You can visit six garden walks this weekend, and several have nighttime tours, too. The East Side Garden Walk, which debuted in 2018 but was canceled during the pandemic in 2020, is back. You can visit again– or visit it for the first time. More than a garden tour, the East Side Garden Walk is a way for residents to take control of the narrative for their community, according…
Hear ‘Get Crafty in Your Garden’ in East Aurora
by Connie Oswald Stofko I will present “Get Crafty in Your Garden” at the meeting of the East Aurora Garden Club at noon Monday, July 12 at Nativity Lutheran Church, 970 Main St. East Aurora. Like all the events we list on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, this event is open to the public. In my presentation, I’ll show you tips on crafts you can make for your garden as well as from your garden. One of the crafts is the inexpensive and easy-to-make glass mushroom decoration for your…
Open Gardens start on Thursday, Friday
Open Gardens is one of the amazing gardening events we get to enjoy here in Western New York. Open Gardens are like garden walks, but they take place on Thursdays and Fridays instead of on weekends. They take place only during July. And Open Gardens include just exceptional gardens. This year there will be nearly 100 gardens to visit! The gardens are beautiful, there are no crowds, and the gardeners are friendly and happy to answer questions. To see where…
Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale set this weekend
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 26 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 27 on the front lawn of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission is free. Need something unique or handmade to complete your garden? Visit more than 50 vendors of nature-themed items or works that can be displayed in a garden setting – in many mediums:…
Author of ‘Finding the Mother Tree’ to speak June 16
Trees live in societies, and “In those societies, there is so much going on,” said Suzanne Simard. “It’s complex. “Trees have complex lives. They know what their neighbors are doing. They communicate with them through these webs of fungal filaments that travel through the soil. They also communicate by sending off chemicals through the air.” Dr. Simard, author of Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, will speak in a free, virtual event to be held at 7…
Open Gardens start July 1; buy guide now
by Connie Oswald Stofko Now is the time to buy the guidebook that will show you the way to nearly 100 exceptional gardens to visit during select hours on Thursdays or Fridays for five weeks. Open Gardens begin July 1 and continues through July. To get all the information, you need an Open Gardens guide. There are three ways to get the guide: Purchase one online here ($20 donation). Buy the Open Gardens smartphone app ($4.99). It has GPS, maps, photos and garden…
Sign up to share your garden on Ken-Ton Garden Tour; deadline is June 4
The Ken-Ton Garden Tour is now accepting applications for this year’s tour. Residents of the Town of Tonawanda and Village of Kenmore can sign up here. If you wish to apply by telephone, contact Sandy at 716-983-6827. The deadline is Friday, June 4. You may display your garden during one or more of the times listed below: Friday, July 16 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 17 from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, July 17 and 18…
Get map mailed to you before Garden Walk Buffalo
With about 400 gardens on Garden Walk Buffalo and only two days to visit, wouldn’t it be nice to get a map ahead of time so you can plan your route? You can! Make a donation before June 15 and a map will be mailed to you by the third week of July. Donations received after June 15 will receive next year’s map. See all the details here. Bonus: you will also get the map for the East Side Garden Walk mailed to…
Plant sales, exchanges set in WNY
by Connie Oswald Stofko Many garden groups in Western New York are holding plant sales and plant exchanges in the coming weeks. Here’s the list I have so far; there might be more sales to come. Check back to our Events page often to see what’s new. And when you’re looking for plants, please don’t forget our local garden centers! Garden Friends of Clarence Garden Friends of Clarence will hold a perennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday,…