by Connie Oswald Stofko The photos here give you a glimpse of the new Asian exhibits at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, but it’s something you really should experience in person. The first thing you notice on entering the space is a new water feature, which creates a rhythmic pattern as it swirls the water. In the distance you can see the tall waterfall that has been transformed to look like a mountainous outcropping. To the left is…...
Pruning oak trees in winter can help protect the oaks from becoming infected with oak wilt, a fungal disease that can be deadly for oaks, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The disease was discovered in six new locations in New York State last year and can be spread by beetles that are attracted to freshly cut or injured trees. Benefits of winter pruning: Diseases are rarely spread during this time, since insects and fungi are inactive. A tree’s…...
Classes to train new Master Gardener volunteers will be held by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County, but to be considered for the program, you must get all the paperwork for your application to the office by 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20. The office is located in the Print Shop Building on the Roycroft campus at 21 South Grove St., East Aurora. Only 30 people will be accepted for the training. Those accepted will pay a course fee of $225…....
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…...
Artwork is being sought to create the the official poster that will advertise the 2017 Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk. The “Beauty in Our Backyard: 2017 Gardening Art Competition,” produced by the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), will offer three cash prizes plus an exhibition of the top 25 finalists’ work. The first-place winner’s art will be used to create the official poster. The cash prizes are first place, $100; second place, $50, and third place, $25. Participants will be…...
Forest fires raged out of control in several southern states last month, but fire, when controlled, can also be used as a conservation tool. The Western New York Land Conservancy did that on Nov. 7 when it burned a grassland at the Niagara Escarpment Preserve on Leete Road in Lockport. It was the first prescribed burn to be done in Niagara County. The 10-acre grassland was healthy, brimming with tall native grasses that gave wildlife a place to hide, eat,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko An Asian theme and new features are in store when Houses 2 and 3 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens finally reopen after extensive renovations. The goal is to have the buildings open to the public on Jan. 14, said David J. Swarts, president and CEO of the Botanical Gardens. The tall waterfall in House 3 will be back with a different look. The old waterfall had a Mayan feel to it, and that…...
Mealybugs can be a problem for your houseplants during winter. Find out what to do about this pest in the newest edition of WNY Gardening Matters, published by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Mealybugs are tiny, but they’re a problem because they suck fluid from plant, weakening the plant and making the plant susceptible to diseases. Save Save Save Save Save…...
Whether you’re looking for a decoration for your home or a gift for a friend, think of fresh flowers. The centerpiece pictured uses oriental lilies grown in the greenhouses at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Even the pine cones are sourced locally. Other flower and plant suggestions include miniature gardens, snowball hydrangeas, and poinsettias. You can order online or call Mischler’s at 632-1290. Save…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko As a gardener, you should be aware of climate change. You should also know that there is a lot of misinformation out there on climate change, so be careful. A lot of folks get their news through Facebook or other social media, but their friends may share posts without investigating them first to see if the information is correct. Here’s an example of a post that claimed that global temperatures went down in 2016, when they…...