by Connie Oswald Stofko I saw a few snowflakes fluttering in the air yesterday evening, but you may live in an area of Western New York that got some snow accumulation. And all of us gardeners have experienced cold temperatures. A lot of us were caught off guard by overnight lows in the teens and brisk daytime temperatures. Just last week we could putter in the garden without a jacket! While we may see some milder temperatures this week, winter…...
Make something to decorate your home for the holidays or to give as a gift in workshops to be held Saturday, Dec. 5 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. Holiday mini-garden workshops Bring a smile to the face of a grandparent, teacher, or special friend with a beautiful living gift created by your hand in a holiday mini-garden workshop. Workshops will be held at 10 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Each workshop…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko During the gardening season, our local nurseries, garden centers and farmers markets provide us with wonderful plants, tools, supplies, garden decorations and produce. Don’t forget about them when you’re shopping for holiday items and gifts. You can find poinsettias, Christmas trees, floral arrangements, gifts and local produce at hometown shops. “Shop small” on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, to support these local businesses. How can you find local businesses? Check out our advertisers–the businesses that make…...
In a new twist this year, each greenhouse at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will be decorated differently for the holidays, and you can vote for your favorite. A People’s Choice Award will be announced in January 2016. You can see the great holiday displays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 3 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. There will be a few days with special hours: closed Thanksgiving…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you are using a straw bale in your autumn decorations, don’t throw it away! You can grow tomatoes and other vegetables in it next spring. I saw photos of the technique called straw bale gardening on the Vegetable Gardeners of WNY Facebook page. I was delighted that Gina and Tony Kruzel allowed me to visit their Kenmore home early in October to see what they had done. They decided to try straw bale gardening because…...
Hundreds of poinsettias form the backdrop that you can use to take your family holiday photo at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. This opportunity will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28 and Saturday, Dec. 5. This opportunity is part of the Holiday in the Village of Williamsville celebration presented by the Williamsville Business Association. Take your own camera. Stylish wooden outdoor furniture will be available for your…...
by Dana Santasiero The GROW House is a dream for urban gardeners, especially in Western New York. Imagine being able to grow food during our harsh winters in our own homes. This is the idea of a team of students at the University at Buffalo who built the GROW House, an energy-efficient house that includes a greenhouse, which recently won second place in a national competition for solar energy called U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. Being such…...
Make a fresh floral centerpiece for your own Thanksgiving table or to give as a gift in the first of the holiday sessions of the Make-it, Take-it workshops to be held at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. The cost for each workshop is $35 for Botanical Gardens members and $40 for non-members. Take hand clippers or scissors as well as a large box in which to carry your project home. The workshops will…...
Here’s a question from a reader: Is it necessary or advised to cut gladiolus down before winter? Thank you. I enjoy reading your tips. Diane Wacker Town of Tonawanda I was surprised by this question. It never occurred to me that you might cut off the foliage; I thought you were supposed to bring in your gladiolus bulbs for the winter. Since I’m not a gardening expert, I asked my friend David Clark, who is a nationally known garden educator,…...
What’s the hot decorating trend for the holidays this year? Foxes. You’ll find many adorable versions of foxes at the annual Christmas open house to be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg. At the open house, you’ll see that owls are still popular, and reindeer are always a favorite. You’ll find many gift ideas, including ornaments, candles, plants and holiday decorations. While you shop, you can enjoy homemade treats made by…...