by Connie Oswald Stofko “Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod does not cause hay fever!” said Lyn Chimera, the author of “Goldenrod Gets a Bad Rap,” one of three articles in this month’s edition of WNY Gardening Matters, produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. Although many gardeners think of goldenrod as a weed, it’s one of Chimera’s favorite garden plants. It’s beautiful in the garden, it’s great as a cut flower and it provides food…
Fall classes in the community education program in horticulture will start Aug. 27 at Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd., Sanborn. These community education classes are non-credit, but you can get a certificate of completion if you complete the requirements. It is also possible to get up to seven credits through the NCCC Credit for Prior Learning Process. Seniors age 60 and older can audit the classes for free. You participate fully in the class when you audit; however, there…
by Connie Oswald Stofko The best time to plant grass is from mid-August to mid-September, said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. By the time the seeds sprout, the cooler, wetter autumn weather will be here and you won’t have to water as much. Don’t plant grass seed in late September or in October because the seed will sprout, but then die in cold winter temperatures. If you miss the late summer/early fall window…
by Connie Oswald Stofko “Mandalas go with gardening,” said artist Caroline North of Collins. “They’re centering and meditative–and that’s what plants do for us.” See her mandalas on display in the Nature’s Kaleidoscope exhibit through Sunday, Aug. 19 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This event is proudly sponsored by Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. See a short video of the exhibit here. The exhibit is included with Botanical Gardens admission. Admission is $11 for…
by M.L. Wells, Master Gardener Volunteer of Allegany County Here it is, the early part of August. You’ve already planted your Garden 101; now it’s time to plant Garden 102. By now, the peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, early green beans, broccoli and early potatoes are done in the garden. Don’t let the empty space go to waste, or worse yet, go to seed. Any vegetable that matures in 60-75 days will do well in late summer. The hardy ones will grow…
Now is the time of year to look for the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), an invasive beetle that could cause serious damage to New York State’s street trees and forests. Most infestations of forest pests are found by members of the public, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), so your help can make a difference. Good news: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) has succeeded in eradicating the invasive beetle from Staten Island, Manhattan, Islip…
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you get discouraged when deer chomp away at your garden, know that growers and garden centers have the same problems. “Deer are a battle for us,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. In back of Mischler’s, there are fields filled with deer, eyeing the tasty plants set outside for sale. “I swear by the repellents,” Yadon said. “If I didn’t have repellents, we wouldn’t be in business.”…
by Connie Oswald Stofko You can share your favorite photos of your garden by sending them to us for the Your Photos page. You might have an overall view of your landscape, a closeup of a blossom or a great project you have completed. To share your wonderful photos with other gardeners, include them as an attachment to an email and send them to me at connie@buffalo-niagaragardening.com. Please include some information about what we see in the photo so that…
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will offer Master Gardener training this fall. Classes will be held from 5:45 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays from Sept. 5 through Nov. 14 at the Cooperative Extension office at 420 East Main St., Batavia. There will also be a full day of classes on Saturday, Nov. 3. Each class will focus on a different horticulture topic. Some of the topics include botany, diagnosing plant diseases, entomology, soils & fertilizers, lawn care, herbs, vegetable gardening, weed identification,…
Put your love of plants to good use by becoming a docent at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. A six-week training course will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays from Aug. 11 to Sept. 29 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. To be docent, you should have a love of gardening or botany, enjoy learning and talking with the public, and like to become involved in a rewarding volunteer experience. An education background…
