by Connie Oswald Stofko Gardens Buffalo Niagara, which organizes Garden Walk Buffalo, the East Side Garden Walk, Open Gardens and many more WNY gardening events, will take over my magazine in May! For a couple years now, I had been looking for someone to take over Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. I’m so glad that Gardens Buffalo Niagara is making sure that local people can continue to get dependable information on gardening. If it wasn’t for Gardens Buffalo Niagara, I might not have started…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Snow is on the ground–still!–but you can make your list of seeds now. Check out Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, which is now carrying two especially delightful offerings. “We are excited about these seeds,” said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. And don’t forget about seeds for cool weather vegetables. Seed shakers for flowers These seeds “are a mix of annuals, biennials and perennials,” said Jablonski-Dopkin. “Each mix has a…...
Gardens Buffalo Niagara is doubling the gifts available for the Lunenfeld Beautification Grants this year, thanks to the generosity of the Buffalo Together Fund. A record breaking $40,000 is available in 2026. Grants of up to $1,500 per project will be available. Applications are due March 15. Whether planting something new or enhancing a shared green space, community groups are encouraged to apply. Full application details are available here. Applications are reviewed by a committee of dedicated volunteers. The grants prioritize projects…...
by Peggy Koppmann, Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County Forget all that hearts-and-flower stuff in February. Even chocolate can’t erase the fact that February is a cruel month. The snow and gray skies go on forever, snow piles are dirty and ugly, and the groundhog is really not much of a weather forecaster. So cherish those little peeks of sunshine, watch for the snowdrops and hellebores, and remember that what is hidden by the gloom of February…...
The Master Gardeners of Orleans County are starting a new Homestead Educational Series. The monthly classes are dedicated to self-sufficiency and sustainability. The series focuses on a variety of practical skills and approaches for the home. No experience is necessary. Fees for the classes vary and cover the cost of supplies for each project. Advance registration is required in order to ensure enough materials for each participant. The Homestead Educational classes will take place at 10 a.m. on the third…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko I’m sorry that some of our members here at Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com had trouble with our paywall technology last week. (Thanks for your patience, folks!) The good news is that the problem looks like it’s all taken care of now. And while our paywall technology runs smoothly most of the time, we want to make it easier for you to report a problem with a paid membership. If you have an issue with your account, there is a…...
a by Eileen K. Sorochty, Master Gardener in Orleans County For any avid gardener, winter is a time of conservation and rehabilitation. I’m glad, in a way, that the toil has ended and I get a bit of rest from all the tasks that feel never-ending. But I’m still drawn to next season’s plan. I’m scouring heritage seed catalogs in an attempt to add some new varieties of veggies. I’m mapping out the new garden addition I started before the…...
A new collection called Horticultural Heroes is on display in the Arcangel Gallery at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Portraits of 30 people who made groundbreaking contributions in gardening, botany, horticulture, agriculture and conservation are on display. Each portrait was created by a different artist. February is Black History month, and 12 influential Black figures across generations are being recognized among the 30 individuals. You can see famous faces such as George Washington Carver and Michelle Obama, as…...
The 2026 Education Day will be held by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program. It will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at Classics V Banquet Center, 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst. The event includes a continental breakfast and a hot lunch buffet. Topics and speakers will be: The price is $65 for the public and $55 for out-of-county Master Gardeners. Register here. Space is limited; advance registration is required. Registration…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko The predictions were worrying, but Western New York didn’t get much of a storm (yay!). Yes, there was a day with constant snowfall, but the snow fell in teeny, tiny flakes. Here in Amherst, even when the snow piled up, we could shovel easily because the snow was granular and very light. There wasn’t much wind, either, which helped. But things are different today. It’s windy, there’s lots of snow and it’s still super cold. (How…...