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holly raguza, Bugwood.org

Good news: No lanternfly infestations found, but your help is still needed

The good news is that there hasn’t yet been a documented spotted lanternfly infestation in New York. That’s wonderful because the spotted lanternfly can damage many kinds of plants. In addition, it can secrete so much messy “honeydew” that people can’t go outside without getting honeydew on their hair and clothes. If this insect becomes established in New York, it could impact our forests, agriculture and tourism. Your help is needed to keep this invasive and destructive insect out of our area, according…

Nov 12, 2019
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autumn leaves on grass

It’s leaf season! 9 tips for using autumn leaves in your garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko We enjoyed many weeks of beautiful autumn color in Western New York this year! Now it’s time for the leaves to fall. The bad news is that our recent strong winds brought down branches as well as leaves. I hope you didn’t sustain any damage. The good news is that the fallen leaves give us things to do in our landscapes at this time of year. And those leaves can be used in so many ways!…

Nov 5, 2019
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orchid from Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Orchid show set for Nov. 9 & 10 at Botanical Gardens

An orchid show will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10 by the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Hours are 10 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. The show will feature dozens of hand-picked and award-winning orchid exhibits dispersed throughout the Botanical Gardens for visitors to enjoy. Exhibitors include members of the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society, Genesee Region Orchid…

Nov 5, 2019
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Christmas banner with poinsettias

How to find gardening gifts, holiday decorations & more

by Connie Oswald Stofko Where can you find a gift for a gardener? A lovely centerpiece for any of the many holidays coming up? Or an indoor plant to brighten your living room as the days get darker? Look at the ads on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com and go to our Gardening Directory. When you click on an ad, it will take you to the website of that business, where you can see more about what they have to offer as well as…

Nov 5, 2019
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Hosta 'Sum of All'

Three tips on overwintering perennials in containers

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s time to think about some simple steps to overwinter your plant. These tips should work with any kind of perennial that is winter hardy; that is, any perennial that would come back in spring if it was planted in a garden bed over the winter. Bonus tip: Before we get into that, let me say that I was impressed by this stunning hosta at the home of Marcia and David Sully in Eden. I’ve written…

Oct 29, 2019
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Halloween bat

Bats: spooky creatures or garden helpers?

It’s Bat Week, time to raise awareness about the important role bats play in our environment and our gardens. What you might not know about bats All of New York State’s bats eat insects. A single little brown myotis bat can consume 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour! The bat is the only mammal that can truly fly. (Flying squirrels glide, but don’t fly.) Bats are extremely long lived, compared to mammals of similar size. The oldest documented one was…

Oct 29, 2019
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blossom end rot in tomatoes

What calcium has to do with blossom end rot in tomatoes

Blossom end rot is connected to a calcium deficiency, but, oddly enough, adding calcium to the soil doesn’t help. Read more in the article here to find out why. That’s just one of the articles you’ll find in the most recent issue of WNY Gardening Matters, produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Here are the other articles you’ll find in this issue: Earwigs are invasive insects that may cause minimal damage to plants but…

Oct 29, 2019
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rose hip with flowers in background

How to start roses from seed using rose hips in autumn

by David Clark, CNLP If you want to try to start roses from seed, autumn is the time to do it. However, because of cross-pollination, there is no guarantee that the plant you get from those seeds will flower true; that is, those seeds may not produce the same kind of flower that your original plant produced. On the other hand, you may find a new and exciting variety! What are rose hips? The rose hip is the fruit of…

Oct 22, 2019
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yellow dahlia flower by Stofko

Dahlias: How to dig & store them for winter

Dahlias are beautiful flowers that you can enjoy year after year, but the tubers don’t fare well if you leave them in the garden over the winter. You should dig your dahlia tubers up before there’s a hard frost, according to information on dahlias from the National Garden Bureau, a non-profit organization for the gardening industry. A hard frost occurs when temperatures drop below 28. A good indication of when to dig your tubers up is when the plant starts…

Oct 22, 2019
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making Thanksgiving arrangement at Buffalo Botanical Gardens

Sign up early for Make-It, Take-It workshops at Botanical Gardens

Make-It, Take-It Workshops at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens are extremely popular and may sell out, so make your reservations now. Some of the projects use indoor plants while others are holiday designs. Pre-registration is required. You can register by calling 716.827.1584, ext. 730 or click on the links below to register online. Succulent Dish Garden 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 Participants will design a unique succulent container garden while learning more about these exciting low-maintenance…

Oct 22, 2019
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Upcoming Events

Sunday, Dec 15, 2019 | 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Arcangel Gallery: Science Museum Camera Club

Location: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
Sunday, Dec 15, 2019 | 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Poinsettia and railway exhibit at Botanical Gardens

Location: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
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