Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

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…...

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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…...

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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…...

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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:…...

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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…...

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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…...

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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…...

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Sep 3, 2024

Report spotted lanternfly in WNY before it spreads

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive species that feeds on on 100 different plant species including grapes, hops, maple trees and other woody plants. It could be a problem for your landscape, but it’s an even bigger issue for agriculture, especially in our grape-growing region, and could pose a severe threat to our natural resources. The SLF has been found in Western New York, and we want to get rid of it before it spreads. You can help by reporting any…...

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Sep 3, 2024

Sign up now for SUNY Niagara classes; free to audit for ages ages 60+

You have just until Friday, Sept. 6 to sign up for plant classes at SUNY Niagara (previously called Niagara County Community College). Sign up sooner if you can; Sept. 6 is the Friday of the first week of classes. If you don’t want to get credit for the course, you can audit a course. Seniors who are 60 years old or older can audit a course for free! All of the courses that can be audited are under Workforce Development. Here…...

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Aug 27, 2024

Cottage garden in Lancaster is colorful in three seasons

by Connie Oswald Stofko “My garden has color from spring to fall,” said Elaine Bialecki, founder of the original Elaine’s Flower Shoppe in Depew. What does it look like at this time of the year? Watch the video below, made by Jay Jinge Hu of Williamsville at this time last year. Hu has shared many of his videos with us, and you can see them here. He has also welcomed visitors to his own wonderful garden on Open Gardens. While…...

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Aug 27, 2024