tree in yard in Eggertsville NY

Have you been sweltering this summer? Plant a tree this autumn!

Was your house roasting during the 80- and 90-degree days? Did your energy bill go sky high? Take this tip from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Plant a tree. Once it grows tall enough, a tree placed on the west or northwest side of a house can provide critical shade during the hottest times of day. This lowers the temperature inside the house and can reduce your cooling bill by up to 35 percent! To bring energy savings…...

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illustration of books and plants for horticulture classes

Sign up for horticulture classes at SUNY Niagara; free to audit for ages 60+

Classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 2, so hurry to sign up for horticulture classes at SUNY Niagara (previously called Niagara County Community College). Seniors who are 60 years old or older can audit a course for free! The classes are non-credit. See the cannabis courses here. Scroll past the cannabis courses to see the Workforce Development classes, which offer other horticulture classes. For more information, contact Carolyn Stanko, program coordinator, at cstanko@niagaracc.suny.edu…....

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Cornell Climate Stewards logo

Climate stewards: Training starts Sept. 10 in Cattaraugus County

Are you interested in helping your community adapt to our changing environment? Become a Cornell Climate Steward! Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County will participate in the statewide Cornell Climate Stewards program. Volunteers will be trained, then they will work on local climate change projects. Previous projects have included organizing a public education event, hosting repair cafes and supporting local task force initiatives – there are many options to choose from. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County is taking applications…...

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Brewster Street Farm in Buffalo NY

Tour farms in city & burbs on Urban Farm Day

Visit 21 urban farms–for free–in Buffalo, Grand Island and Tonawanda during the 5th annual Urban Farm Day. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 16. Activities More than a dozen activities are planned during the day, including: Special ticketed events from partners For more information and to reserve spots for the special ticketed events, visit UrbanFarmDay.com Policy makers With the intention of highlighting issues faced by urban farms, this year’s Urban Farm Day also features…...

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images of seeds, soil and lesser celandine by Connie Oswald Stofko

Sign up now for fall gardening classes

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program volunteers as they host three in-person fall gardening classes in September. The cost for the public is $15 per class or three classes for $45. The cost for Master Gardeners in any county is $15 per class, or three classes for $40. Register online here. For more information, contact (716) 652-5400, ext. 176 or jah663@cornell.edu. For accommodations for persons with special needs, contact (716) 652-5400, ext. 176 or jah663@cornell.edu at least five days prior…...

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Asian longhorned beetle (ALB)

Watch for Asian longhorned beetle

The good news is that we haven’t seen an Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in Western New York. The bad news is that this invasive insect kills maples and other broad-leafed trees. That’s not good for our street trees–or for our forests. And it could wipe out the maple industry. The good news is that you can help by watching for the ALB; it’s active now. This quick video gives you the high points. Get a fact sheet with photos here…....

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graphic of four leaves in four seasons

Garden Talk series continues in person or online

Join the Genesee County Master Gardeners for their remaining monthly Garden Talk programs starting August 7. This free series is open to all, but registration is required.  You can attend in person at the CCE office, 420 East Main Street, Batavia or via Zoom.  Many of the Garden Talk programs are recorded and posted to the CCE Genesee YouTube page. Garden Talk programs start at noon and can be 30 to 60 minutes long, depending on the topic. They will take…...

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illustration for gardening in a warmer climate with tree roots from Omar Ram and sun from Connie Oswald Stofko

EPA denies climate change; you can help

by Connie Oswald Stofko It comes down to this: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t want to stop climate change. In fact, EPA now wants to make a change that would block EPA from fighting climate change. It’s complicated. Let’s take it step by step. What’s this all about? There’s this thing called the “endangerment finding.” It’s a 2009 EPA rule that officially says greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide from cars and power plants) are dangerous to people’s health…...

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daylily, daisies going to seed, black-eyed Susans in Amherst NY

Your garden now: It’s not a failure, it’s just August

These articles come from the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez and Julia Bender August gardens can feel overwhelming. Everything’s either thriving or dying, weeds are winning battles you thought you’d won, and half your plans have gone sideways. The tomatoes are finally coming in, but the lettuce bolted weeks ago, and don’t even mention the aphids. This late-summer fatigue is real, and it hits most of us. But it’s not failure—it’s just August…....

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lisianthus in vase

Lisianthus: great cut flowers that last

by Connie Oswald Stofko At first glance, you may think you’re looking at roses, but the bouquet in the photo above is made up entirely of lisianthus. (See a pronunciation here.) Not only is this flower beautiful, but lisianthus is one of the longest-lasting flowers that you can have in a vase, said Barb Henry, who founded Henry’s Gardens with her husband Martin. They grow and sell lisianthus and other flowers as well as vegetables. Here are tips from Barb…...

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