by Connie Oswald Stofko We’re having 90-degree weather in parts of Western New York–I hope you don’t think it’s already autumn! Just because the kids are going back to school, it doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up our gardening tools. Here are some tips that you can use now or in the coming weeks as we prepare for autumn…....
Master Gardeners in Chautauqua County will hold a gardening symposium on Saturday, Sept. 23. Note: the deadline to sign up for the symposium and lunch is Sept. 8. Master Gardeners in Erie County will hold three gardening classes in September starting Tuesday, Sept. 12. Chautauqua County A gardening symposium will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 23 in the Carnahan Building, Jamestown Community College, 241 James St., Jamestown. It is sponsored by the Cornell Cooperative Extension…...
David Clark, known to many Western New York gardeners for his horticulture classes and presentations, was recently honored as the Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional (CNLP) of the Year. The statewide award was conferred by the New York State Nursery & Landscape Association (NYSNLA). Clark is also a member of PLANT WNY, the Western New York trade association for the professional landscape and nursery trades. As a horticulture professional, Clark wears many hats: educator, floral designer, writer and speaker. Currently…...
There’s a lot going on at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical and we don’t want you to miss a thing! This is just a reminder of some of the interesting and fun events coming up. You can see more on our Events page or go straight to the Botanical Gardens’ website. Coleus and Creatures See dozens of creatures made of live plants including dinosaur succulent topiaries, a massive megalodon, a moss-made pterodactyl, a dragonfly, turtles, the bison pictured here and more. You can also…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Why is it so hard to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder? It’s because they’re amazing acrobats! Researchers compiled this video showing just how nimble squirrels are. It’s fascinating! There are a couple things you can try if you want to keep squirrels out of your bird feeder. BirdNotes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers suggestions on the best spots to position the feeder in your yard. Special bird feeders and other equipment might…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s the time to go back to school–even for gardeners. You can learn a lot at the Back-to-School event at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The event will be held from Friday, Sept. 8 through Saturday, Sept. 16. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. (Closed Sunday.) Special activities will take place on certain days. See the updated schedule here. Sales Check…...
Two events celebrating monarch butterflies will be held by the Audubon Community Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Rd., Jamestown. Butterflies and Brews Butterflies and Brews, an adults-only event, will be held from 6–9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Learn about the life cycle and migration of the monarch butterfly while enjoying great food and drinks. There will be free-flying butterflies and you can see some of the butterflies being tagged with tracking numbers to assist with national efforts to track the monarch migration…....
If you’re having a great harvest this year, consider canning some of that produce. Learn about canning and other preserving methods in the article “Canning is my Jam” by Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener coordinator. That’s just one of the articles in the newest edition of The Optimistic Gardener, the local horticulture newsletter produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties. Find the newsletter on the gardening page of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua (on the lefthand…...
More than 15 urban farms will be open for visitors during the third annual Urban Farm Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. The event is free and self guided. In addition to the touring the farms, there will be free, informal talks on specialties such as composting, therapeutic gardening, and the issues related to food securities. Print a map and talk schedule here. Select farms will have produce available for purchase. Talks Urban farms to visit Farms…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Many years ago, I was visiting the grand Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua. I sat down on a bench and got a whiff of something nasty. It turned out to be a boxwood and I wondered why anyone would plant such a stinky shrub. It turns out that boxwood doesn’t affect everyone the way it affected me. Some people don’t notice a scent, and others actually think boxwood smells nice. On the other hand, I love the…...