Coleus is the newest category to be rolled out in the Great Plant Sale, which is being held by the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. This year, instead of publishing the list of available plants all at once, new categories of plants are being rolled out each month through March. Members of the Botanical Gardens get early access to shopping on the 14th of each month. If you want to make sure you can get popular items before they are sold…
by Connie Oswald Stofko We walk around our gardens watering and weeding, but sometimes we actually take time to sit down and relax! When planning your landscape, remember to include one or more seating areas. Get some ideas from these gardens in Western New York….
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you’d like to help perpetuate the native American chestnut tree, check out the tree seedling sales in Western New York. Three counties are offering the native specimens. See details on the tree seedling sales below, and get tips on how to plant your tree seedling to maximize its chances for success. American chestnut The American chestnut seedlings are being offered in sales in Erie County, Niagara County and Genesee County. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata),…
High school seniors who reside and attend school in Erie County can apply for the 2021 Master Gardener College Scholarship. The application deadline is Thursday, April 1. To be eligible, 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 limited to, agriculture, entomology, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, forestry, genetics, food technology, landscape design, sustainable agriculture, urban geography and urban planning. Get more details here. See…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Is your garden exciting in winter? Do you enjoy gazing at all its beautiful features? Or are you one of those people who didn’t even know it’s possible to have a garden that looks great in winter? Today we’ll take a look at a Pendleton garden has been featured on Open Gardens. It’s amazing in the summer, but it sparkles in winter, too! Tom and Darcie Homme had lived in Lockport before they moved 11 years…
Whether you already have a backyard pond or are just now starting to think about building a water garden, check out the Guide to Water Gardening in New York State from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This guide includes visuals of some amazing recommended species and tips on avoiding harmful aquatic species. Here are some tips: Place your garden upland and away from waterbodies to prevent storms or flooding from washing away any plants or animals. Before planting,…
Microgrants are being offered for gardening projects in the City of Buffalo through Gardens Buffalo Niagara. Grant applications are due by Sunday, Feb. 28. The application process is easy and you can get help in filling out the application. Projects must be public ones–seen from the street–and must bring neighbors together. The grants provide up to $1,000 to block clubs and community groups toward: Community gardens Street side planters Historic garden restoration Annuals for baskets Tree planting Street pole basket…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Have you noticed that you haven’t had as many birds at your bird feeder lately? The cause is simple: lack of snow. Something you probably didn’t notice is that the number of birds in North America is down by almost 3 billion birds since 1970. That’s a big concern, but there are things that gardeners can do to help. No birds at your feeder? A reader left this comment on a previous article: I live in…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Amaryllis seems to be the most popular flower on Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com. Maybe that’s because it has a very large and showy flower– and you can enjoy inside in the winter! Gardeners who received an amaryllis at Christmastime want to know how to keep it blooming year after year. My friend David Clark, international gardening expert, has provided most of the information about amaryllis on my site. Below are links to the articles that you will probably find…
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will host Horticulture V classes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays starting February 20. The classes will be held on Zoom. David Clark, horticulturist & CNLP, will teach. He is wonderfully entertaining and informative. The topics are: Houseplant Care and Cultivation, February 20 Rain Gardens, February 27 All About Roses, March 6 Hostas and Hydrangeas, March 13 Vegetables and Organic Gardening, March 27 The fees are $25 per class or $150 per series for the general…