by Connie Oswald Stofko Learn about the history of the Erie Canal, tour the gardens and the shoreline restoration, buy a native plant, get answers from Master Gardeners, try kayaking for beginners and listen to music. A wide range of activities will be offered at Celebrate our Beginnings, an event to commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. It’s sponsored by the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at…...
“Trees for the Future” is the theme of the 2026 Arbor Day poster contest in New York State. The 2026 theme expresses connections between people and trees, the importance of planting trees for future generations, and the role of trees in providing resilience in a changing climate. “Trees are powerful allies in building resilient communities, ecosystems, and a healthier future,” said Amanda Lefton, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). “As we work together towards our goal…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Learn about all that and more in a previous video with Lyn Chimera of Lessons from Nature. Autumn is a good time to move or divide perennials See the video here…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko See charming, larger-than-life animal topiaries during Topiary Tales, the newest exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The exhibit will open Friday, Sept. 19 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave. Buffalo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free with admission. It’s a lovely exhibit for adults, and children will especially enjoy the Topiary Tales, a series of short stories that you can read…...
The first signs of colorful leaves are here in Western New York! The first I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report came out last week. Salamanca, in the Chautauqua-Allegheny group, had the most significant foliage change in Western New York. A new report will come out on Wednesday (Sept. 17). The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report relies on more than 90 volunteer field observers to let us know when leaves start to change color and when they will be at…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko I’ve been seeing a lot of brown marmorated stink bugs this past week: hiding inside the umbrella on my patio table, hanging onto the outside of my window screens and walking around inside my house. They’re fairly big (the size of a fingernail) and very ugly (like a creature from a horror movie). Plus, when they get aggravated or killed, they stink. If you aren’t familiar with the brown marmorated stink bug, don’t be worried. When…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko I am happy to say that my website is fixed and you shouldn’t have any problems. Last week my website wasn’t working well and you may have missed some of the articles. (I’m so sorry!) But you can see those articles now: Thanks for your patience!…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you know how to properly cut flowers from a garden? Most people don’t, said Barb Henry, who founded Henry’s Gardens with her husband Martin. People often cut the stem too short, she said. Or they think they are cutting one stem, but they are cutting the entire plant. Or they cut a flower that is already old and won’t look nice for very long. That’s why Henry has created classes to help you learn how…...
The gardener’s emphasis is often on annuals and perennials, but shrubs are an essential component of garden design, said Peggy Koppmann, Master Gardener. There are many reasons to use shrubs: You can see more in the article “This Month in the Garden,” which is part of WNY Gardening Matters, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Other articles in this edition are:…...
If your houseplants have been vacationing outside, don’t let them stay out too long. When should you bring them in? Before you turn on your furnace, said David R. Clark, CNLP. That’s just one of many tips he shares in this previous article, “Houseplants on summer vacation? Time to bring them back inside.” Clark also discusses pests in depth: how to keep pests from coming into your house and what to do if you find your houseplant is infested…....