Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

Banded wooly bear: caterpillar that sticks around during winter

Legend has it that the banded woolly bear can predict the weather. The size of their middle band is supposed to tell us whether the winter will be harsh or mild. There are other versions of this folklore, too, though none of it stands up to scrutiny. But the banded wooly bear is a cool caterpillar. It is one of the few species of moth or butterfly that overwinters as a full-size caterpillar, according to the Butterflies & Moths of…...

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Nov 16, 2021

Periwinkle is invasive; see 5 better alternatives for Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko I have enjoyed periwinkle in my garden, but it’s time to consider some alternatives. Periwinkle or Vinca minor is used as an ornamental groundcover. The leaves are glossy and the purple flowers are a delight. Here’s the problem: This invasive plant can easily spread outside of our gardens. It invades natural spaces, gets established and pushes out the native plants. It offers nothing to insects, birds and other animals. When it comes to control, periwinkle or…...

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Nov 9, 2021

illustration for lasagna gardening by Stofko

Reminder: It’s easy to start new garden over grass in autumn in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko If you want a new garden in spring, prepare it now. There’s no digging involved and it will be ready for you when it’s time to plant. This works even if you have weeds and clay soil. Use the lasagna gardening method. You lay out material in layers, like a lasagna. The first layer is cardboard or a thick layer of newspaper. Over the top of that, alternate layers of whole leaves, chopped leaves, manure, grass…...

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Nov 9, 2021

orchids courtesy Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Orchid Show is back at Botanical Gardens

For first time since March 2020, the popular Orchid Show will be held at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. The show is hosted by the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society and the Botanical Gardens. Times and dates are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. (The Botanical Gardens will also close at 3 p.m. Sunday.) Informal educational presentations will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday…...

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Nov 9, 2021

Reminder: How to use all those great autumn leaves in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Those autumn leaves are gold for your garden. Here are some of the ways you can use them. Help your lawn When you mow your grass, chop up the leaves as you go. Those bits of chopped leaves are good for your lawn– they return nutrients to the soil. See this short video from Cornell School of Integrated Plant Science. Compost leaves Adding leaves to your compost pile will help your kitchen scraps break down more…...

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Nov 2, 2021

New benefit for Super Readers at the Sunflower Level from Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko I love all of my Super Readers, and this year I have a new benefit for readers at the Sunflower Level: a $10 gift certificate from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville! That’s in addition to the other benefits at the $50 Sunflower Level: An ebook filled with tips on how to keep deer from bothering your garden. An ebook with a sampling of quirky, fun and helpful gardening tips. A digital photo that you can…...

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Nov 2, 2021

poster for video Uninvited: The Spread of Invasives Species

Dogs, drones & more: Video on dealing with invasive species in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Yes, invasives species are causing problems for us in our everyday lives. And more invasive species will probably arrive in Western New York. But there are things we can do. That’s the upbeat message of the video Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species, produced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with West Field Production Co. Invasive species we have been dealing with in Western New York, such as the emerald ash borer that…...

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Nov 2, 2021

Alternatives to gas leaf blowers that are better & actually save time

by Connie Oswald Stofko When it comes to dealing with leaves, lots of folks in Western New York depend on gas-powered leaf blowers. Here are alternatives that are better, and one that will actually save you time! Drawbacks to gas leaf blowers So loud! There’s nothing like enjoying a warm afternoon in your garden and having the tranquility disrupted by the abrasive noise of a gas-powered leaf blower. Not only is it annoying; it can be harmful to people’s hearing…....

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Oct 26, 2021

Bat update: hopeful news for one species, work continues

by Connie Oswald Stofko Bat populations have suffered devasting declines for more than a decade, with a disease called white-nose syndrome playing a role. There still isn’t a treatment for bats suffering from white-nose syndrome, though a collaborative effort is working on it. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Department of Health are partnering with researchers from the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and experts at universities across the country…....

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Oct 26, 2021

Two contests seek artwork for Arbor Day posters; deadlines in December

An Arbor Day poster contest for student art now includes fourth- as well as fifth-grade students, and a separate state Arbor Day Poster contest is open to anyone. Both contests are coordinated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contest for 4th & 5th graders The deadline for the 4th and 5th Grade Arbor Day Artwork Contest is Dec. 10. The theme is “Healthy Trees, Healthy People!” See details here. Lesson plans and resources for teachers are…...

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Oct 26, 2021