by Connie Oswald Stofko The box tree moth, an invasive pest that can damage and even kill a boxwood shrub within weeks, has been identified in Niagara, Erie and Orleans counties. This pest can spread; the moths are highly mobile and are good fliers. Anyone with boxwoods in Western New York should watch now for the caterpillar stage of the box tree moth (Buxus species). The caterpillar feeds almost exclusively on boxwood shrubs. The caterpillars are ravenous feeders, and heavy infestations…
“When a customer asks to purchase zinnias, my first question is, ‘Which one?’” said Barbara Henry, who founded Henry’s Gardens with her husband Martin. Not only can you find a wide range of colors in zinnias, there is a wide range of heights as well. Enjoy these annuals ranging in size from 12 inches to 50 inches. You can buy zinnias to plant in your own garden or buy cut zinnias for a flower arrangement. Both are available at Henry’s…...
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The Western New York Iris Society will hold its annual Iris and Perennial Show from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at the Julia B. Reinstein Library, 1030 Losson Rd., Cheektowaga. Not only can you attend to view the irises and perennials, but you can submit an entry as well. Members will assist you. The entries will be judged by accredited judges. All blue winners will be acknowledged and receive ribbons and medals accordingly. There are two categories: For more…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko “It’s nice to add these flowers you can walk on,” said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager of Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “These flowers are great for us; they’re not just for pollinators.” Urban Roots now carries flower seeds that you can add to your lawn: creeping thyme, self-heal, Dutch white clover and white yarrow. You can use them to create a “flawn” or flowering lawn. This is one way to add biodiversity to our landscapes; that is,…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko We don’t have the kind of volcanoes that spew hot rocks out of a mountain, but we do have volcanoes in Western New York that can damage your trees: volcanoes made of mulch. Mulch volcanoes are those cone-shaped piles of mulch at the base of trees. Many gardeners like how the mulch volcanoes look, but they are actually bad for the trees. Check out our previous article on mulch volcanoes to find out why you shouldn’t use mulch volcanoes…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko A bear was spotted walking through a resident’s yard in Batavia last week. You can see the resident’s video here. This isn’t the first sighting of bears in populated areas of Western New York. I wrote about bears that were seen in Cheektowaga and Lancaster (suburbs of Buffalo) in 2020. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said then that they had begun to see a rise in reported sightings of black bears in…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko by Connie Oswald Stofko “Let me tell you a story,” said Kelly McDonald, executive director and Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County. “Last year my husband and I planted tomato seeds in the house with grow lights. The plants were getting bigger, so we moved them into gallon buckets. The weather got warmer and we moved the plants in and out of the garage (to protect them from cool nights). “Then we got…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko On June 29, it will be legal for adults, age 21 and older, to grow cannabis at home in New York State. Right now, only medical cannabis can be grown by private individuals in New York State. The patient must get authorization from a certified health care provider to grow cannabis. The rules that are in place now for growing medical cannabis will be the rules for home cultivation of cannabis starting June 29. A person…...
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The Lewiston GardenFest and the Ken-Ton Garden Tour are accepting applications from gardeners to share their landscapes. The Lewiston GardenFest is also seeking vendors. Lewiston GardenFest Lewiston GardenFest is accepting applications from residents interested in sharing their own gardens. Get the application form here. The deadline is May 15, but getting your application in sooner is better. The event is also looking for businesses and vendors who sell items related to gardening, horticulture and the outdoors, including nurseries, landscapers, garden…...
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by Connie Oswald Stofko Many non-profit groups are holding plant sales and plant exchanges in Western New York. See a lengthy list below. More plant sales or plant exchanges might be added in coming days. You can keep up to date on our Events page. Great Plant Sale by Botanical Gardens UPDATE: The Great Plant Sale has been extended through May 8. Shop online through Sunday, May 4 for the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden’s Great Plant Sale. (There will be…...
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