By Ruth Syron Does your African violet look dull? Do its leaves droop? Does it lack blooms and have a long neck? It is time to repot. African violets require rich, well drained soil to flourish. Bagged specialty soil made for violets is good, and it’s better if blended with equal parts of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite. If you have a long neck on the plant, select a 5- to 6-inch pot. Otherwise, a 4- or 5-inch pot that is…...
Volunteers, as well as people who own land along the Niagara River, Buffalo River or creeks, are needed for planting projects to restore the habitat along the water’s edge. The projects are part of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s Habitat Restoration Program and Restore Corps. Landowners If you own land on the Niagara River, Buffalo River or a creek that is a tributary of those rivers, you probably appreciate your access to the water and want to help protect our streams. But…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko A new trend in gardening is the development of small bushes that fit nicely into tight spaces– some are even suitable for containers! These new varieties preserve the characteristics we enjoyed in the larger versions. One example of a smaller bush is ‘Bloomerang,’ a very fragrant reblooming lilac introduced two years ago that grows only four or five feet tall. That’s not like your grandmother’s lilac, which might have gotten 10 feet tall, said Mark Van…...
by Ruth Syron Good grooming will help keep your African violets looking beautiful for nine months out of the year. (African violets rest for three months. The rest period is usually January through March, but it can be December through February.) Here are nine tips to keep your African violet looking its best: Any leaf with a dried edge or a spot should be removed. Keep the leaves free of dirt and dust by brushing with a soft makeup brush…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Even if you already know how to root a plant in water, you can make the process more successful with great tips from David Clark, professional horticulturist. He also shares tips on two easy methods for starting plants that you may not have used before. Clark recently gave two hands-on workshops on plant propagation at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. He shared a wealth of information, including these five great tips: 1. Create a…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko In the early 1900s, Margaret Wooster’s family farmed land in the Genesee Valley, south of Rochester. When salt deposits were discovered underground, the family sold their land to a mining company. A mine shaft was sunk and family members went to work as salt miners for the company. Eventually the mine was sold to what became Azko Nobel and the mine became the largest salt mine in North America. Unfortunately, disaster struck in 1994. Residents of…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Debbie Hageman of Lancaster e-mailed us this question: “I’m looking for information on winter damage for a rose (I think it’s an old fashioned rose) that split where the two main canes come together. Can they be glued or taped? Thanks for any information.” Yes, they can be taped, answered John Farfaglia, Extension educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. “Basically you want to get those two pieces to hold together long enough for the…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Last year at this time, spring had already arrived in the Buffalo area. The ground was thawed, the sun was shining, the air was warm and I was in my garden getting a head start on pulling weeds. It was glorious! Will we be getting another early spring this year? Probably not. “Last year was an aberration,” said Tom Paone, meterologist with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo. We keep getting snow this month,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko A fertilizer or pesticide may be called “organic,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you, contends Dr. Fran Evans, a master gardener and retired chemist. In a wide-ranging talk about garden conservation this past weekend at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Dr. Evans touched on “organic” versus “chemical” fertilizers and pesticides. With fertilizers, you could choose seaweed, which is considered an organic fertilizer, or you could choose something that is considered…...
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens has received a Bride’s Choice Award 2011 from WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation. “This is truly an honor,” said Mary Rose, wedding and event coordinator at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. “We are so pleased to have made such wonderful memories for our clients.” Winners of the award were determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from more than 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Awards were given across 20…...