by Connie Oswald Stofko I saw a post on social media today from a gardener at the West Seneca-South Buffalo border who said she saw two adult spotted lanternflies. However, at this time of year, Western New York probably has nymphs, an earlier stage of the spotted lanterfly, rather than adults, said Brian Eshenaur, Senior Extension Associate with Cornell University and the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program. We probably won’t see adults in Western New York until early August…....
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardener Program is celebrating National Pollinator month by sharing information and resources to help create a garden for your favorite pollinators. by Shannon Rinow, Master Gardener Coordinator, Chautauqua County Butterflies and honeybees may come to mind when you think of pollinators, but pollinators also include wild native bees (there are 450 native species of bees in New York State), beetles, moths, bats, wasps, birds, specialized flies and other beneficial insects. They all play an important…...
Two garden walks will take place in Western New York this weekend. Lyndonville Garden Walk The Lyndonville Garden Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1. See the list of gardens here. Lyndonville is in Orleans County. A suggested $10 donation benefits Yates Community Library. Akron-Newstead 2023 Bicentennial Garden Walk The Akron-Newstead 2023 Bicentennial Garden Walk will take place from 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Sunday, July 2. Pick up maps at Pixleys Surefine, 81…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Creating a theme for the Fourth of July in your garden isn’t as easy as it might seem. While there are many red and white flowers to choose from, finding true blue flowers is difficult. “Blue flowers are never blue, even if they’re named as such,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. “They tend more to purple.” If you want flowers that are closer to blue, try these plants…....
Two great events are taking place in the same South Buffalo area this weekend. Visit more than 50 vendors at the Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy a tour of gardens on the South Buffalo Garden Walk on Sunday. Get a map for the South Buffalo Garden Walk at the garden art sale. Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale The garden art sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24 and…...
Learn from a professional when you attend the Garden Education Series at Graycliff, home to historic gardens designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with contributions from Ellen Biddle Shipman, pioneering landscape architect. Emma Hahn, Graycliff’s head gardener, will lead you through techniques you can use in your own garden. Hahn is an International Society of Arborists certified Arborist trained at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum. Each session has a different focus. The series has been scheduled to make use of Graycliff’s historic gardens…....
The season of garden walks will kick off this weekend with Lewiston GardenFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18 on Center Street in Lewiston. Here are some photos–and tips!–from a couple of the gardeners who will be sharing their landscapes during the Lewiston GardenFest. You can see and learn more during the actual event. “Celebrate summer at Lewiston GardenFest and come away inspired to enhance your own green spaces,” said Mary Ann Yates,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Gardeners worried about how the smoke from the recent Canadian wildfires would affect vegetable plants in Western New York, but “The good news is the impact will be minimal at worst,” according to Steve Reiners, professor in Horticulture at Cornell University, Cornell AgriTech. Smoke-filled skies decrease sunlight and reduce photosynthesis, but only to a small degree and temporarily, Reiners said. Despite the shade, there was still enough diffused light penetrating the smoke to maintain growth. Smoke…...
Ladybugs can take care of aphids for you–if the ladybugs are in your garden. If your aphid-filled plants are waiting for ladybugs, wait no longer. Buy ladybugs at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. The ladybugs are in stock now. Urban Roots also sells beneficial nematodes. Read this previous article to learn more about releasing ladybugs. For more information, stop in to Urban Roots or contact them directly at (716) 362-8982 or info@urbanroots.org…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s not completely finished, but I am using a new app for the Events Page on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. The previous app wasn’t working correctly and some events weren’t showing up at all. Yikes! This new app has all the events showing up where they should be–whew! In addition, you can view the events as a one-month calendar or as a list. There are some small glitches right now: Please be patient with me as I work with…...