by Connie Oswald Stofko Peas, lettuce, broccoli and beets are some of the vegetables you can plant in your garden now. These are cool-weather crops that don’t mind the chilly temperatures we have at this time of year. You can start these plants from seed or you can buy vegetable starts (small plants), said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. “With plant starts, you can have an instant garden,” Yadon said. But don’t…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Garden centers are working hard to make the necessary changes so that you can get plants and supplies while staying safe. In my Gardening Directory, I have added categories for businesses that are open or opening soon as well as where you can order online, get delivery or use curbside pickup. Here is the information I have for the businesses I work with. Things keep changing, so if you have specific questions about a business’s hours…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Please help me congratulate the three lucky winners in our recent drawing held by Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. They are: Narcy Ryan of Bemus Point Gail Naylor of the Town of Tonawanda Ann Santiago of Buffalo The names were drawn at random. Everyone who was subscribed to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com by March 24– even those who signed up years ago– were entered into the drawing. I’m happy to have so many new subscribers, and I love my loyal readers, too! Each of the winners…
by Connie Oswald Stofko I know we are all excited to start planting, and there are some plants and seeds that you can work with now. But where can you buy them? I am doing my best to compile an updated list of my advertisers so you know where you can get the supplies you’re looking for. In my Gardening Directory, I have added categories for businesses that are open or opening soon as well as where you can order…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Don’t wait until you see the pretty yellow flowers. Look for lesser celandine and get rid of it now. If you want to use an herbicide, you must do it now before the plant flowers. Why you should get rid of lesser celandine If you’re not careful, lesser celandine can spread until you have no grass or other plants in your lawn. Even worse, it can spread into wild areas and wreak havoc there. Lesser celandine…
by Connie Oswald Stofko I know that thousands of you are wondering: who are the three winners of our prize drawing worth more than $250? I notified the three winners last week, but only one got back to me by the deadline. That meant I had to move down to the next two subscribers on my randomized list. I sent them emails this morning notifying them that they are winners. A few hours later, one of them responded! The other…
by Connie Oswald Stofko I received this message from Tess in Binghamton: “Red lily beetles have arrived early! Picked a dozen of them out of the flower bed today, March 20, 2020, in Binghamton NY area!!” It’s not too early to start looking for them in Western New York, said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County “They do show up early, as soon as the foliage breaks ground,” Farfaglia said. In past years, “I’ve gotten calls…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Spring keeps teasing us. We get some mild temperatures, then the ground is coated with frost. Still, we are seeing snowdrops and crocuses, which are delightful. Pretty soon the hyacinth and daffodil buds will burst open. Until then, take a look at these gorgeous–and clever– entries from the flower show at Plantasia in 2019. (I know it’s not as good as being able to go to Plantasia this year, but I hope it helps a bit.)…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Tell your friends that today, Tuesday, March 24 is the last day to enter to win a gardener’s prize package worth more than $250. All they have to do to enter is to subscribe to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. And it’s free to subscribe! If you are already subscribed, you’re already entered. I love my loyal readers! But if you haven’t subscribed, do it today. You will automatically be entered into our prize drawing. We will choose the winners tomorrow morning (Wednesday, March…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Plantasia is cancelled. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is closed until at least April 20. Lots of other places and activities are shut down, too. It’s disappointing, but we all need to do what we can do to slow the spread of COVID-19. But here is good news: Spring is arriving on March 19. The weather seems to be getting milder. And there are actually some gardening activities you can do now! I’ll list…