blacklegged ticks, adults and nymphs

Could you get sick from a tick while gardening in Western New York?

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Compared to 10 years ago, calls and questions about ticks have more than doubled,” said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. The geographic range of ticks has been increasing, he said, and ticks can transmit Lyme disease as well as other diseases. Are you at risk in your garden? Your garden probably isn’t a high-risk place, but the areas near your garden might be. If your yard has well tended beds…...

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GWA-Media-Awards

This magazine again honored by garden communicators group!

by Connie Oswald Stofko I didn’t know what information I could bring back for my readers when I visited Atlanta last year for the annual conference of GWA: The Association of Garden Communicators. I knew I would see lovely gardens, but since the climate is so different down south, what would interest gardeners in Western New York? Then I talked with Mike Dunn, a gardener desperate to keep deer from devouring his plants. In addition to fencing in his large…...

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day camp at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens camp is now full-day combining art & science; see more kids’ activities

The Nature Explorers Art and Science Camp for children at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will combine art and science in a full-day camp this summer. Campers will discover plants and the natural world through art and science. They will spend time discovering the Botanical Gardens, completing multimedia art projects, learning drawing and painting skills, participating in games and taking home their own plants to care for. Camps are appropriate for kids who have finished kindergarten through Grade…...

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seating area with southwestern feel

Scattered seating areas means there’s always a place to sit in the shade

by Connie Oswald Stofko No matter how hot it gets, you can always find a shady spot to sit in the yard of Sharon and Bob Rowitsch of Springville. They have made a point to create seating areas throughout their half-acre landscape. You can see their gardens during the Scene Garden Walk, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 8 in Springville. Pick up maps at Fiddler’s Green Park, Franklin and S. Buffalo St., Springville…....

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perennials in pot and beds

Mischler’s 49-cent perennial sale starts Friday; use perennials in containers & more tips

by Connie Oswald Stofko Mischler’s 49-cent perennial sale starts this week, and today we’re going to talk about using perennials in containers. We’ll also show you a couple of easy-to-maintain flowers that attract pollinators for your garden beds. The sale will be held from Friday, April 28 to Saturday, May 6 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m…....

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Spirea japonica Double Play Candy Corn

‘Candy Corn’ has different looks on one shrub; orders for Great Plant Sale due April 7

  by Connie Oswald Stofko A shrub that has different looks from spring through summer is just one of the exciting plants that is being offered through the Great Plant Sale of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Hurry and order– The deadline to pre-order is Friday, April 7, and some of the popular plants get sold out. See the entire pre-order list and place orders online. No orders will be shipped; you will pick up your plants at…...

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spring bulbs sprouting

What does this warm weather mean for your WNY garden?

by Connie Oswald Stofko We’ve been enjoying weather in the 50s, and it might go up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few days. What does this mean for our gardens in Western New York? Spring bulbs First, if the snow in your yard has melted, you’re probably seeing spring bulbs such as daffodils and hyacinths sprouting. That’s usual for this time of year, said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. If you didn’t…...

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treetops and cloud in Hamburg NY

New group forming on permaculture; intro presentations set for Feb. 4 & 11

by Connie Oswald Stofko A new group called Permaculture of Greater Buffalo will hold an introductory presentation on permaculture from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 in Ashker’s Juice Bar & Cafe, 1002 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. The same presentation will be given at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at Ashker’s. The room is small, so attendance is limited to 15 people at each meeting. Please RSVP online. At the group’s very first meeting, held earlier this month, an informal…...

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gardens around water feature in West Seneca NY

Drought tops list of gardening topics as we look back at 2016

by Connie Oswald Stofko I was going to say that the drought is probably what Western New York gardeners will remember most about 2016, but we may have to get used to summers like this. Our climate patterns have changed, and Western New York gardeners should expect more hot, dry summers, according to Cornell University. By June of this year it was already dry. By the beginning of August, Western New York was under a drought warning and gardeners were asked…...

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patio with walkway from A Growing Business

6 tips for working with landscapers– #1: Get on list quick for spring work

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Don’t wait until April to call a landscaper if you’re hoping to have your landscape done in May,” said said Claire Brown, CNLP, president and designer at A Growing Business, 11554 Wyandale Rd., Springville. That’s her first tip on what a gardener should do when working with a landscaper. The earlier you call, the better. “It would be awesome if people called in fall before the snow gets deep,” Brown said. That way, she explained, the…...

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