by Connie Oswald Stofko Wait until the forsythia blooms. That’s a rule of thumb for many gardening tasks in Western New York. For example, you shouldn’t prune your roses until you see forsythia blooming in your neighborhood, according to this tip from the the Western New York Rose Society. The forsythias are blooming now, or will bloom soon, in Western New York. “This is when the soil is warming up and things are popping up outside,” said David Clark, CNLP, who was honored…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko There are literally thousands of people out there waiting to hear who won our drawing for a gardening prize package worth approximately $525! But not all of the three winners who were chosen at random have responded. That means I move on to the next name on the list. If you are a winner, I will send you an email with the information. If it’s you, please respond promptly so you can get your prizes! __________…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Does it seem that your crocuses, daffodils or other plants are budding—even blooming—early this year? “There’s no question about it,” said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. “We are ahead of where we would normally be. It looks like April instead of March.” The Southern Tier has also seen warmer temperatures than usual, said said Kelly McDonald, executive director and Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County. While it’s…...
Enjoy the brilliant blooms—as well as the warm air!— at the Spring Flower Exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. With more than 30,000 blooming bulbs, the smell of the flowers will hit you the second the doors open. The colors are more vibrant than ever before with the help of some pleasant plant surprises such as hibiscus and orchids. Also featured is a unique art installation, Chromatic Organics. These metal sculptures, twisted and…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Thank you, new and current subscribers, for signing up. And thanks for telling your friends about Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, the online gardening magazine for Western New York. March 19 was the last day for people to enter my prize drawing by subscribing—for free!—to this great magazine. If you haven’t already subscribed, hurry! You must subscribe by the end of today, Tuesday, March 19 to be entered into the prize drawing. The prize package is worth approximately $525! There…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko There are thousands of gardeners in Western New York. I know that because more than 10,000 already subscribe to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com! But many more local gardeners are missing out. They haven’t subscribed, so they don’t receive all the gardening tips, full-color photos, videos and up-to-date list of gardening events that are focused on Western New York. And they don’t know about our wonderful prize drawing with a prize package worth approximately $525! Can you help me spread…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko It feels a bit like spring outside, but what’s still missing in our gardens is the color. You can make up for that by visiting Plantasia, Western New York’s premier garden and landscape show. Walk through full-scale gardens, get ideas for water features and other hardscapes, buy plants and other items for your garden, attend great seminars and take the kids for fun activities at the Children’s Garden during this event presented by PLANT WNY. Get ticket…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Gardeners in Western New York have the opportunity to address the problem of lesser celandine. That’s because lesser celandine is right in our own backyards. Or front yards. Or the lawns and gardens of our neighbors. If you don’t know what lesser celandine is, read on. And if you are already familiar with this invasive plant, please tell others. Tip: Our weather has been warm, and lesser celandine may be coming up sooner than it has…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko The landscape of Mary Lou Szalach and Kevin Papendick is beautiful, with garden islands in the front yard, but it was the backyard that I wanted to see. That’s where they have raised beds that are self-watering; the beds are connected to their sprinkler system. I visited them last year on the North Tonawanda Garden Walk. Papendick displayed a diagram that laid out the set-up; see above. I colored it in to make it easier to…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Have you ever fallen in love with a houseplant, only to discover it’s not for you? Find a compatible houseplant in “Blind Date,” one of the activities during Houseplant & Succulent Weekend at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 8 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9. In “Blind Date,” houseplants will be set up at stations around…...