Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

How to prepare your trees for storms

Did you have tree damage during Western New York’s summer tornadoes or winter storms? Proper planning and good care can help keep trees healthy, which prevents expensive damage, according the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. September is National Preparedness Month, so this is a good time to review your emergency plans for storms. Tip: If your community is ready to get started with storm mitigation, see the new Storm Mitigation Workbook and Template available now. Trees Start right Plant the…

Sep 24, 2024

maple leaf copyright Connie Oswald Stofko

Bat conservation & seasonal trees are topics in gardening symposium

The Jamestown Garden Club will hold its fall gardening symposium from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 5 at the YWCA Lake Lodge, 185 East Terrace Ave., Lakewood. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $15. Jonathan Townsend, bat biologist at EDR, will speak on “Conservation of Bats in Chautauqua County.” EDR is a firm that does environmental design and research. Bruce Robinson of Bruce E. Robinson Forestry Consultants, Inc. will speak on “Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Seasonal Beauty.”…

Sep 24, 2024

Reminder: Keep watering, weeding & harvesting

by Connie Oswald Stofko I was shocked when I saw the pitiful state of my impatiens. The flowers were limp, the leaves were sagging and the plant looked miserable. I don’t know when I had watered them last, but, obviously, it was too long. I felt bad. Luckily, impatiens spring back fast. I checked back a few hours later and they were perky and happy again. But don’t wait until your plants start wilting to let you know that they…

Sep 17, 2024

robin in tree with leaves that are green yellow in Amherst NY

Leaves are beginning to turn in WNY; find out when it’s peak season

New York State boasts one of the longest and most colorful fall foliage seasons in the country, starting in September and ending in November. If you want to enjoy the wonderful colors of autumn, keep track with the fall foliage report from the I Love NY website. The reports signal when leaf color will be just changing, at the midpoint, at near peak, at peak and past peak. Volunteer field observers send in their findings, and reports are updated every Wednesday afternoon. The…

Sep 17, 2024

Mark Mortenson at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Mark Mortenson, CEO at Botanical Gardens, died suddenly

Mark Mortenson, president and CEO of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, has died suddenly. The Botanical Gardens made the announcement on Sunday, Sept. 15. “Mark was a visionary leader who embodied the spirit of our ‘Wow, Wonder, Welcome’ philosophy, enriching the experience of every guest who visited our Gardens,” according to the announcement. “His warmth, generosity, and dedication made a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.” In honor of Mortenson, the Botanical Gardens…

Sep 17, 2024

comic page by Nate Phillips at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

New exhibit ties together carnivorous plants, sculpture & comic art

a A brand-new carnivorous plant and art exhibit, Mutation Invasion: Flesh-eating Flora, will open this Friday, Sept. 13, and continue through Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. This is the first time that a carnivorous plant exhibit has taken place at the Botanical Gardens, and it features hundreds of carnivorous plants including Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews and more. The theme of carnivorous plants continues with sculptures and an adventurous comic…

Sep 10, 2024

Neem oil can harm beneficial insects; see more in WNY Gardening Matters

Neem oil is used as a pesticide. However, just because neem oil is organic doesn’t mean it is totally safe. It can harm beneficial insects, according to an article in WNY Gardening Matters. “Don’t be confused by the ‘organic’ label,” said writer Lyn Chimera. “Remember—nicotine is also natural.” Read more in “Neem Oil: Friend or Foe?” Other recent articles in WNY Gardening Matters include:…

Sep 10, 2024

Plant sales & exchanges set by gardening organizations in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko You can find perennials at plant sales and plant & seed exchanges being held by garden groups in Western New York. Yes, you can still plant perennials, but don’t wait too long. As soon as you get your plants, put them into the ground. You want to give them time to make sure they get established before the first frost and first freeze. See this table for frost and freeze dates for your area. If you…

Sep 10, 2024

chalkboard and succulent for Mischler's back to school sale

Back to school for gardeners at Mischler’s: talks, sales & more

What should you do with a plant that isn’t thriving? How do you make a houseplant dish garden? What succulents can live outside during our winters? Learn about these during the Back-to-School event at at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The event will be held from Friday, Sept. 6 through Saturday, Sept. 14. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. (Closed Sunday.) Updates are available on their…

Sep 3, 2024

elderberries, New Jersey tea and black chokeberries

See the bigger picture of native plants & permaculture

by Connie Oswald Stofko When I think of permaculture, I picture an apple tree in a backyard. If you move away, the apple tree still produces fruit, even though you’re not there. “Permaculture” is permanent agriculture. Learn how permaculture can provide you with food—and help the environment—with talks on “Introduction to Permaculture and Native Plant Communities.” The talks will be presented by Kathy Contrino, a Master Garden in Orleans County and owner of CW Native Plant Farm. She is also…

Sep 3, 2024

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