broccoli in Parkside garden in Buffalo NY

Time to plant seeds indoors for cool weather vegetables

by Connie Oswald Stofko You can plant seeds indoors now for cool-weather vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage, said Julie Emerling, a grower at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg. Cool-weather crops are ones that you’re going to plant outside around mid-April, depending on the weather. (Tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers are planted outside after the danger of frost has passed, which is usually Memorial Day or the end of May. It’s too soon to…...

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deer eating in Buffalo NY winter Jan 2011

Erie County Master Gardeners to hold daylong gardening seminar

A daylong seminar called Communities in Bloom  will be held twice by the Erie County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. The cost for the seminar is $20 for the public and $10 for active Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County volunteers. The topics are:  Nuisance Wildlife Solutions  Plant Propagation  Landscape Design The same topics will be held on both days. The first option for attending will be from 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at the Unitarian Universalist Church,…...

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Notes from 45 Gardening Tips in 45 Minutes

by Connie Oswald Stofko Here are some links to information that I mention in my talk “45 Gardening Tips in 45 Minutes.” If you weren’t able to write fast enough, or if you want more information on a topic, you can find that information here. If you’d like to know more about something that isn’t listed here, use the search box at the top right of the page. (See image at left.) Or you can browse through our Popular Topics,…...

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snow in Amherst garden

Which was better for our gardens– this winter or last winter?

by Connie Oswald Stofko Last winter was bitterly cold, but there was a lot of snow cover to protect perennials. This winter has seen some swings in temperature, which can be bad for perennials. I thought our gardens might have liked last winter better than this winter. Not so, say my gardening experts. “Definitely this year is better, hands down,” said Teresa Buchanan, Teresa Buchanan, general manager at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg. Note that she’s in the South…...

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voodoo lily

Two more stinky flowers, Morty’s ‘cousins,’ in bloom at Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko A gardener thought an animal had died in one of the greenhouses. That’s how the staff at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens discovered that a voodoo lily, a “cousin” of the well known Morty the corpse flower, was in bloom last week. Like Morty, the voodoo lily gives off the aroma of rotting meat. A second voodoo lily bloomed over the weekend, so you should be able to get a whiff of the aroma…...

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Victorian tour at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Learn about ‘Our Victorian Garden– Yesterday & Today’ in guided tour

by Connie Oswald Stofko During much of the Victorian era, botanical gardens or conservatories were something only rich people could enjoy. The gardens were private, and the privileged few showed them off to only to their friends, said Kristy Schmitt, director of education at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. What botanical gardens were like during the Victorian era and how we came to have public gardens will be explained on a guided tour called “Our Victorian Garden– Yesterday…...

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2015 image for Black Rock Riverside Tour of Gardens

Black Rock & Riverside Tour seeks art; prize is $200

The Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens committee is holding a contest for artwork to be used on the cover of this year’s 12-page color map guide, as well as on posters and other promotional materials, including T-shirts. The winning artist will receive a $200 cash prize. The application deadline is Friday, April 29. The contest is open to all individuals, all ages and all skill levels. Official rules and an application are available online or by calling Councilmember…...

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garden courtesy Kerry Ann Mendez

A garden where you can have it all: Find out how at Erie County Master Gardener event

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you do it right, you can have pretty flowers while helping the environment–  and save time and money, too! Kerry Ann Mendez, garden designer, writer, speaker and consultant, will show you how to do that in two talks during the Education Day to be held by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program. She shared some of her tips with me in a phone interview. Details on Education Day For the first…...

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maple seeds on tree in Western New York

Tree, shrub seedlings available through DEC

During this year’s Spring Seedling Sale, you can buy tree and shrub seedlings through various counties or through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis as stock is limited, so place your order early. The seedlings will be shipped to a central location in your county where you can pick up your order on a certain date. Ordering deadlines and pickup dates vary by county. If you…...

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tropical drink

Get tickets now for Taste of Paradise; price goes up March 10

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will hold its popular fundraiser Taste of Paradise from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 18 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Tickets are on sale now. They’re $30 for Botanical Gardens members and $35 for non-members, but after March 9 they go up to $40. Buy tickets online or call 827-1584, ext. 220 to purchase over the phone. Just when winter might be getting you down, you can enjoy…...

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