Could you be a Super Reader?

by Connie Oswald Stofko Have you ever found a helpful tip in Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com that you can use in your own garden? When the shutdown occurred, did you turn to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com’s Events page to find out about cancellations? Later, were you happy when you discovered that things were starting up again? Do you like seeing all the pretty pictures of gardens? Then you could be a Super Reader of Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com! To stay in business and keep offering you great local content…

Sep 1, 2020
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gloved hand weeding garden

Volunteers needed by two groups to help with gardening tasks

Two WNY groups are seeking volunteers to help with gardening. North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Volunteers are needed for community work days with the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization, 1825 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda. Meet at the gazebo. Sessions will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Dates are Sept. 12 and Oct. 3 and 17. Ongoing projects are weeding, mulching and setup of raised beds in the fenced-in perennial bed area. There are 11 acres to keep social distance. Any level…

Sep 1, 2020
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chipmunk

How to deal with chipmunks in your garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko I’ve been hearing a lot of complaints lately from gardeners who are having problems with chipmunks. I talked with John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County, and my first question was whether we have more chipmunks in Western New York. “We have been getting occasional calls on chipmunks for many years, so I don’t think their populations have increased significantly,” he said. But they can be a problem for gardeners. “If their populations build…

Aug 25, 2020
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closeup of coleus by Stofko

Add interest to your garden; learn more in horticulture classes

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Color is the most fleeting experience in a garden,” said David Clark,  horticulturist and CNLP. But color isn’t the only way to add interest to your garden. Clark, a dynamic instructor with a wealth of knowledge, will share insights with you during his class on Garden Design in October. It’s one of the classes he will teach online in Horticulture I and Horticulture II, hosted by the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. See details below. Look…

Aug 25, 2020
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Mischler's Magic flower arrangement

New crop: homegrown flower arrangements at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s the season for homegrown produce, and here’s another local crop you’ll love: homegrown floral arrangements. The flowers are picked daily at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville.  “We pick them every day and make sure they’re at the right bud stage,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s. “We don’t want them to open all the way, or to open all at once.” To ensure there’s a continuous supply, new flowers are planted…

Aug 25, 2020
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Skirmish over Queen Anne’s lace leads to bigger discussions

by Connie Oswald Stofko It all started about two weeks ago when an anonymous neighbor complained to the Town of Amherst about the front lawn of Walter and Nan Simpson. The Simpsons mow their lawn, but when an interesting plant pops up, such as Queen Anne’s lace, they mow around it. The neighbor didn’t like that. When a town inspector showed up, he deemed the Queen Anne’s lace to be a noxious weed, according to the town code. Since the…

Aug 18, 2020
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series of photos of garden

1-minute task now will help you identify perennials in spring

by Connie Oswald Stofko In April, my backyard is nearly flat. Most of my perennials don’t reach their full height by then– if they’ve poked out of the ground at all. So if I want to know where I can plant something new, or if I’m trying to decide if that sprout I see is a flower or a weed, it helps to know where things are already planted, what those plants are, and approximately how big those plants get….

Aug 18, 2020
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seats under tree in driveway in South Buffalo

Don’t miss the last garden walk of 2020 this weekend in City of Tonawanda

You can visit gardens– in person!– during the City of Tonawanda Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Friday Night Lights will be held from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Pick up maps at City of Tonawanda Hall, 200 Niagara St., or at the City of Tonawanda Library, 333 Main St., City of Tonawanda. See more information here or call (716) 957-4177. A garden walk has never been held so late in the season before…

Aug 18, 2020
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Desmodium canadense or showy tick trefoil

What are the most popular categories of perennials?

by Connie Oswald Stofko What kinds of perennials are most popular with gardeners? Perennials that: Attract butterflies Attract hummingbirds Are native plants That’s from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. These categories are so popular that the staff at Mischler’s has grouped perennials from these categories together to make them easier for gardeners to find. There is still time to plant perennials, and many are blooming now! Let’s take a look at an example of one perennial…

Aug 11, 2020
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make rain barrel

See DIY video on how to make a rain barrel; enter to win one

Rain barrels are pretty easy to make, and this video with step-by-step directions makes it even easier. The video was created by the Western NY Stormwater Coalition in partnership with the Central Library of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries. The rain barrel made in the video will be raffled off. To be entered into the raffle, click on the survey link in the Facebook post or go to the survey by clicking here. You can also watch a…

Aug 11, 2020
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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Sep 29, 2020 | 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Garden volunteers at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Location: Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2020 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Exhibit in Arcangel Gallery at Botanical Gardens

Location: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
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