Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

Canning: Get started with info from The Optimistic Gardener

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…...

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Aug 22, 2023

Urban Farm Day features tours, talks & produce

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…...

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Aug 22, 2023

lilac, marigold and hyacinth in Amherst NY

WNY gardeners: What plants smell great to you and which ones don’t?

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…...

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Aug 15, 2023

Some WNY gardeners inundated with slugs

by Connie Oswald Stofko Slugs chomp on a variety of garden plants, and Western New York’s rainy weather means that some gardeners are battling with an increased population of slugs. What should you do if you have slugs? Well, keep things in perspective. You can reduce the numbers of slugs, but not get rid of them completely. To decrease the number of slugs, slug bait seems to be your best bet. There are two kinds of slug bait. The conventional…...

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Aug 15, 2023

Speak up on how to spend $4.2 billion in Environmental Bond Act

In 2022, voters passed a $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act for clean air, clean water and green jobs. What projects will be funded with that $4.2 billion? Don’t leave it up to others; you can have input now. The folks on the Environment Bond Act Listening Tour have been traveling around the state to hear what residents want. If you missed the in-person listening events in Western New York, check out the recording of the virtual event. You will get…...

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Aug 15, 2023

New pest damaging elms in WNY is spreading rapidly; please help

The elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda), an exotic insect pest, has been found this summer in Allegany County and is spreading rapidly through New York State. The elm zigzag sawfly is an insect that eats only elm leaves and can cause severe defoliation (leaf loss) that threatens tree health. It was first detected in August 2022 in St. Lawrence County in the northern part of New York State. This summer it has been found in Allegany, Ontario, Madison, Ulster, Schenectady,…...

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Aug 8, 2023

Still time to plant some veggies; save seeds, too

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s only August, so there is still a lot of gardening you can do in Western New York. Succession planting Succession planting is when you plant and harvest a second crop in one year. There is still time to squeeze in another crop of cool weather vegetables! If you missed planting them in early spring, take advantage of this second chance. In our previous article, Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market explains what to plant…...

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Aug 8, 2023

hosta leaf variegated in Buffalo NY area

New location for hosta, daylily, iris sale

The Hosta, Daylily & Iris Sale will be held in a new venue this year–the Lake Erie Italian Club, 3200 South Park Ave., Buffalo. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. It’s suggested that you arrive early; the plants often sell out fast. Admission to the sale is free. The sale is hosted by the Western New York Hosta Society, Buffalo Area Daylily Society and Buffalo Iris Society. Hundreds of daylilies, hostas and irises will be for sale…....

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Aug 8, 2023

mint tea in cup with sprig of mint copyright Connie Oswald Stofko

Make herbal tea from a variety of plants in Western New York

by Lyn Chimera, owner of Lessons from Nature After a busy day, sitting down with a good cup of herbal tea from the garden is one of the joys of my life. I started growing a few mints and was hooked on the amazing taste of fresh mint tea. The freshness makes a huge difference. Every year my first cup of fresh tea is a cause for celebration. Technically, herbal teas are not teas. Tea comes from the tea plant…...

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Aug 1, 2023

Banana plants add height & drama; now on sale at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko A tall plant with huge leaves can become the focal point in your yard, and banana plants fit that bill. You can find them now –and on sale–at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. They include: They come in 6.5-inch pots. They were $19.99 each and are now on sale for $9.99. In addition, any plant in a 6.5-inch pot is now on sale at Mischler’s for $9.99. The sale continues while supplies…...

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Aug 1, 2023