rue at Mike Weber Greenhouses in West Seneca NY

7 unusual uses for easy-to-grow herbs; you can plant them all summer

by Connie Oswald Stofko Everybody knows you can use herbs to season your food, but there are many other uses for these wonderful plants, said Jen Weber, retail manager at Mike Weber Greenhouses, 42 French Rd., West Seneca. Today we’ll talk about just a few of the 90 varieties of herbs grown by Mike Weber Greenhouses. What I like most about herbs is that they’re easy to grow. “They just don’t want to be overwatered,” Weber said. As I’ve said…...

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Jun 2, 2015
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bee flying into hosta flower in Amherst NY

Help bees, butterflies & other pollinators

by Connie Oswald Stofko Whether we want to grow food or enjoy beautiful flowers, pollinators are so important to our gardens that an entire week has been dedicated to them. About 75 percent of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators, according to Pollinator Partnership, which works to protect the health of these animals that are vital to not only our gardens, but to agriculture and our ecosystem. The group initiated Pollinator Week, held this year from June 15-21, out…...

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Jun 2, 2015
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Lilies by Susan Webb Tregay

Exhibit June 5-27 to feature art created during Open Gardens last year; art can be purchased

Garden Walk Buffalo Niagara will hold an exhibition of artwork that was created during Open Gardens last year. (During Open Gardens, clusters of private gardens are open to the public on Thursdays or Fridays. Open Gardens will be held again this year in July.) The opening of the art exhibit will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 5 at Studio Hart, 65 Allen St, Buffalo. The exhibit continues through June 27. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to  3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon…...

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Jun 2, 2015
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Mushrooms by Elizabeth Miller courtesy Audubon Nature Center

June 30 is deadline for Audubon photo contest; photo workshop set for June 20

The deadline is Tuesday, June 30  for submitting photographs to the Audubon Nature Center’s 2015 Nature Photography Contest. You can choose photographs from your collection or shoot new ones. Photographers with any level of experience can enter. All submissions are made online. The Youth Division is for people ages 8-18 or who are still in high school;  the Adult Division is for people 18 and over or are post-high school. Youth and Adult winners in the three categories of Landscapes,…...

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Jun 2, 2015
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Shayne Dark's Tanglewood in Buffalo

Shayne Dark exhibit at Botanical Gardens depicts nature, shaped by humans

by Connie Oswald Stofko Shayne Dark doesn’t want you to be intimidated by his artwork. Dark took a break last week from installing Tanglewood, the blue artwork you can now see on the front lawn of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, to talk about  his art and how it connects with nature and gardens. His works are being showcased at the Botanical Gardens in a collaboration between the Albright-Knox Public Art Initiative and the Botanical Gardens. Dark’s works…...

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May 26, 2015
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yarn around tomato cage in Buffalo NY area

Help a reader: Is it safe to use concrete reinforcing wire around tomatoes?

by Connie Oswald Stofko A reader sent me this gardening question that I can’t answer, but I hope one of my readers can. Can we use concrete reinforcing wire in our gardens? If you can answer his question, please leave a comment below. Here’s the whole question: Hi Connie.  I have a question for you or one of your readers.  I’ve read a lot about using concrete reinforcing wire to make sturdy tomato cages.  All I’ve ever seen about that wire is…...

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May 26, 2015
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chives in garden in Western New York

Master Gardeners set sale in Buffalo

The Master Gardeners of Erie County will hold a plant sale at Central Park Methodist Church, 216 Beard Ave., Buffalo. Times and days are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 29, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Admission to the sale is free. There will be a selection of sun and shade perennials, native plants, herbs, annuals, shrubs and vines direct from the gardens of Erie County Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners will be on hand throughout…...

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May 26, 2015
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garden at Schofield Residence in Tonawanda NY

Garden volunteers needed at Schofield Residence in Tonawanda

The Schofield Residence, a not-for-profit organization located at 3333 Elmwood Ave., Town of Tonawanda, needs garden volunteers. They need people with a knowledge of gardening, specifically tending their rose garden. Weekly or bi-weekly help is needed for dead heading and grooming rose bushes, plus light weeding of other plants. Other long-term, flexible volunteer assignments such as visiting are also available. Extensive training is provided. For more information, contact Schofield’s volunteer department at 874-1566, ext. 324…....

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May 26, 2015
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Eggplant Patio Baby from AAS

Grow tomatoes & eggplant in a small space, or try the hottest peppers in the world

by Connie Oswald Stofko People often tell me they have no room to garden, but if you have room for a pot or hanging basket, you have room to garden. Gardening in containers counts as gardening! Today the folks at Lockwood’s Greenhouses tell us about a smaller, compact version of eggplant that’s well suited to containers, as well as a cascading cherry tomato that you can grow in a hanging basket. Then they tell us about bhut jolokia, the hottest…...

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May 19, 2015
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'Ultra Blue Star' petunia from Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

Close-out plant sale at Botanical Gardens Friday & Saturday, May 22-23

You can get up to a 40 percent discount on plants left over from the Great Plant Sale in a close-out sale to be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23, in the Administration Building at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Admission to the sale is free. The sale will offer annuals, perennials and shrubs. A lot of plant material was offered this year at last week’s…...

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May 19, 2015
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