by David R. Clark, CNLP If your houseplants have been outside this summer, start preparing now to move them indoors. Here are some of my tips to get them ready for the move. When to move houseplants inside Move your houseplants to a shady place outside for one to two weeks to get them acclimated to the lower indoor lighting conditions. Bring your houseplants inside before you turn on your furnace. If the plants are outside in cool daytime temperatures,…...
Seed saving is just one of the topics in the newest edition of The Optimistic Gardener. Dianne Hovey, Master Gardener, discusses saving dry fruited seeds, such as beans and lettuce, and wet fruited seeds, such as winter squash and melons. The seeds of tomatoes and cucumbers should undergo a fermentation process. You’ll also find information on garden tool maintenance, planting garlic, what to do about the invasive spotted lanternfly, food preservation and a recipe for peach apple salsa. The publication…...
Erin Grajek, who has been the chief operating officer since 2021 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, has been appointed interim president and CEO. She has held progressive leadership roles at the Botanical Gardens since 2006. The appointment came one week after the death of Mark Mortenson, the organization’s president and CEO. “Erin has been a trusted leader with the Botanical Gardens,” said Tisha Luciani, board chair of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, “and we are…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Autumn is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, but planting them too early could damage or even kill them. When you plant bulbs that flower in the spring, the soil needs to be cool; around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market in Buffalo. Cool soil tells the bulb to grow roots, which is what you want. The bulb is getting established for spring, when it will send out leaves…...
Did you have tree damage during Western New York’s summer tornadoes or winter storms? Proper planning and good care can help keep trees healthy, which prevents expensive damage, according the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. September is National Preparedness Month, so this is a good time to review your emergency plans for storms. Tip: If your community is ready to get started with storm mitigation, see the new Storm Mitigation Workbook and Template available now. Trees Start right Plant the…...
The Jamestown Garden Club will hold its fall gardening symposium from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 5 at the YWCA Lake Lodge, 185 East Terrace Ave., Lakewood. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $15. Jonathan Townsend, bat biologist at EDR, will speak on “Conservation of Bats in Chautauqua County.” EDR is a firm that does environmental design and research. Bruce Robinson of Bruce E. Robinson Forestry Consultants, Inc. will speak on “Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Seasonal Beauty.”…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko I was shocked when I saw the pitiful state of my impatiens. The flowers were limp, the leaves were sagging and the plant looked miserable. I don’t know when I had watered them last, but, obviously, it was too long. I felt bad. Luckily, impatiens spring back fast. I checked back a few hours later and they were perky and happy again. But don’t wait until your plants start wilting to let you know that they…...
New York State boasts one of the longest and most colorful fall foliage seasons in the country, starting in September and ending in November. If you want to enjoy the wonderful colors of autumn, keep track with the fall foliage report from the I Love NY website. The reports signal when leaf color will be just changing, at the midpoint, at near peak, at peak and past peak. Volunteer field observers send in their findings, and reports are updated every Wednesday afternoon. The…...
Mark Mortenson, president and CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, has died suddenly. The Botanical Gardens made the announcement on Sunday, Sept. 15. “Mark was a visionary leader who embodied the spirit of our ‘Wow, Wonder, Welcome’ philosophy, enriching the experience of every guest who visited our Gardens,” according to the announcement. “His warmth, generosity, and dedication made a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.” In honor of Mortenson, the Botanical Gardens…...
a A brand-new carnivorous plant and art exhibit, Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora, will open this Friday, Sept. 13, and continue through Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. This is the first time that a carnivorous plant exhibit has taken place at the Botanical Gardens, and it features hundreds of carnivorous plants including Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews and more. The theme of carnivorous plants continues with sculptures and an adventurous comic…...