by Connie Oswald Stofko The numbers and letters on a bag of fertilizer can be confusing. Let’s take a moment to learn what all this means to our Western New York gardens. Letters on fertilizer bag The letters on the fertilizer bag represent primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The abbreviations come from the periodic table of elements: N is nitrogen, P is phosphorus and K is potassium. The standard label displays the nutrients in the same order, according to…...
__________ Block clubs & community groups in the City of Buffalo can request a Lunenfeld Beautification Grant from Gardens Buffalo Niagara. The deadline is March 15. Awards of up to $1,000 will be based on the overall project cost and matching funds from government, private contributions, and volunteer sweat equity. Projects need to be public—seen from the street—and should be designed to bring neighbors together. Types of projects include: The application process is easy and assistance is available if needed…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko When you’re visiting landscapes on the many garden walks and Open Gardens here in Western New York, it’s fun to just be wowed by what you see. You might think, “I wish I had a garden like that.” You can never completely replicate someone else’s landscape. Your yard might be shady where theirs is sunny. Or you might have a much smaller yard. Or you might not want to spend as much time watering and weeding…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko There aren’t many plants blooming outdoors right now, but many Western New Yorkers are enjoying stunning amaryllis flowers indoors. Amaryllis bulbs are popular holiday gifts. If your plant is done blooming, don’t throw it away–it can bloom again next year. It’s pretty easy to get an amaryllis to bloom again, and the small effort you put into the project is well worth the effort. Amaryllis has huge, trumpet-shaped flowers–it’s spectacular! The most important thing to know…...
A $1,000 college scholarship is being offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program volunteers. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Friday, March 31. The scholarship is for graduating high school seniors from public, private and home schools who reside in Erie County. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be accepted by a recognized, accredited college or university to study horticulture, botany or a related field. Related fields may include but are not…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko For gardeners, one of the joys of winter is planning for spring! Start your planning now with the Great Plant Sale from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Not only can you browse through the selections now, you can order now before anything is sold out. Pick up your plants on May 19 or 20. (The sale will be online only this year.) Joe Mannion, director of horticulture, noted that the Botanical Gardens has contracted…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko When will spring get here? We’re supposed to find out on Thursday, Feb. 2: Groundhog Day. Maybe we should call it Woodchuck Day because we call these animals woodchucks. If the groundhog or woodchuck doesn’t see its shadow, that’s supposed to mean we get an early spring. So for an early spring, we want overcast weather on Thursday. But if it’s sunny and the groundhog does see its shadow, that means winter will linger for six…...
Master Gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County will hold Communities in Bloom classes on two dates in February. Both topics will be presented on both days. Topics are: The classes are for beginners as well as veteran gardeners. Dates and locations are: Both classes will be held from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $35 for the public and $30 for Master Gardener volunteers. Pre-registration is required. Register here, email jah663@cornell.edu or call 716-652-5400, ext. 176…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko Sales of tree and shrub seedlings are again being held in Western New York through counties and through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Here are 5 reasons why you should consider buying tree or shrub seedlings: Tree & shrub seedling sales The sales have different ordering deadlines. The organizers suggest you order early to make sure the items you want are still in stock. The county sales generally have you pick up…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you’re tired of the gray, gloomy skies we’ve been seeing for weeks, get a little sunshine in your life with fresh flowers. Spread the cheer by sending flowers to your Valentine or to your friends. What might make you even happier is supporting a local grower and getting flowers picked that day. At Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville, they grow their oriental lilies in their own greenhouses. “We cut them fresh daily,”…...