You don’t have to have grass in your front yard. I loved the grassless front yard of Anne Gareis, which I saw on Garden Walk Buffalo in 2011. A spectacular evergreen takes up most of the space in the front yard. She could have planted grass in the space around the tree, but instead she extended the garden from the front of the house to the tree. “Grass is boring,” Gareis said. Ferns, hostas and other shade-tolerant plants fill in…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Your garden in the Buffalo area might not have much color this time of year, but you can change that by making your own Plexiglass light toppers. You can decorate for Valentine’s Day and other holidays, show your support for the Buffalo Sabres or other teams, or express your personal interests with these simple lights. This idea comes from Ben Sperandeo of Buffalo, who shared views of his yard as well as his lights with visitors…...
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society will hold their Annual Orchid Show and Sale on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo NY. Check out these articles to learn more about orchids and see how easy orchids are to grow. This Annual Orchid Show and Sale will include orchid displays, demonstrations, specialty merchandise and care products…....
In addition to publishing Buffalo-Niagara Gardening.com, I am delighted to announce that I am now writing the “Gardening & More” column in the Springville Journal and Hamburg Sun. I want to welcome readers of those publications as well as all my new readers. Whether you’re a new reader or have been a subscriber for awhile, please take some time to explore our website and see everything we have to offer. The article will point out various features you may have…...
by Mike Van Der Puy Climate change is here. What does that mean for gardeners and farmers in Western New York? Should we alter our growing plans? If so, how? Evidence that the climate is changing in Western New York You may have noticed migratory birds arriving earlier than they used to or see some bushes budding in January. Those are clues that the Western New York climate is slowly changing. However, we have more than anecdotal evidence that climate…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko At a recent workshop at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, David Clark shared this ingenious way to plant hardy annual seeds right now in the Buffalo area– outside! I love this idea because I always get itchy to do some gardening at this time of year, but there’s generally not a lot to do outside. I’ve tried to start seeds inside at this time of year, but it doesn’t work. It’s simply too soon…...
There are still two weeks left to see Night Lights at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Check out this brief video to get a glimpse of what you’ll experience at Night Lights. If you have already visited Night Lights, you can share your photos. Email them to me, along with your name and where you live, so I can post them on the Your Photos page. The event will be held Wednesdays through Saturday,…...
Did you know that the beautiful amaryllis you have been enjoying indoors this winter can rebloom next year and the year after that, too? “I’ve been using the same bulbs through the years,” said Doug O’Reilly, horticulturist and head gardener at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. He has to make sure he has amaryllis flowers– and lots of them– blooming every year for the annual Amaryllis and Cymbidium Exhibit. The exhibit continues through Feb. 20 at the Botanical…...
Live music is a new addition to the popular Night Lights event at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, which starts tomorrow. Also new this year, Buffalo artist Zach Boehler will install sculptures inside the Botanical Gardens to enhance the visitors’ experience. As visitors walk through the Botanical Gardens during Night Lights, they encounter creative lighting displays and soundscapes that inspire imaginations and delight the senses. Last year’s event was a huge success, and…
Hearts in the Gardens, a fundraising party to benefit the National Garden Festival in Buffalo will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. By attending the party, you’re supporting the National Garden Festival and helping to make the Buffalo-Niagara region a garden destination. The event will feature a silent auction. Items to be auctioned include garden goodies, hotel overnights and a…