Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

Master Gardener training in Jamestown open to residents of 3 counties

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County is looking for new volunteers to enroll in the Master Gardener Core Training this spring at Jamestown Community College. Enrollment is open to residents of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 664-9502 or email Emily Reynolds at eck47@cornell.edu. Cornell Cooperative Extension makes agriculture and horticulture knowledge work in pursuit of economic viability, ecological sustainability and social well-being for a rapidly changing world…....

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Dec 3, 2019

Garden Walk Buffalo seeks artwork for 2020 poster

Garden Walk Buffalo, America’s largest garden tour, is looking for submissions of original artwork to promote the 2020 event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 25 & 26, 2020. Entries are due Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. This is an opportunity to share your artwork with hundreds of local gardeners and tens of thousands of visitors from around the U.S., Canada, and abroad. Submission guidelines: You may enter any form of painting (any medium, any style — traditional to contemporary), drawings, photography, illustrations, sculpture or…...

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Dec 3, 2019

What are you thankful for as a gardener?

by Connie Oswald Stofko Here in Western New York, we gardeners have a lot to be thankful for. Here’s my list, and I hope you’ll share your own thoughts in a comment below. I’m thankful that we got plenty of rain this season. I rarely had to water. Gardeners I talked to were thrilled that their perennials were so big and healthy! There are so many garden walks and Open Gardens during the summer in Western New York that no…...

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Nov 26, 2019

4 ideas for hostess gifts and holiday gifts for gardeners

by Connie Oswald Stofko Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and from there we rush headlong into any number of holiday celebrations. Here are four ideas for thoughtful gifts to give gardeners and non-gardeners alike. ‘Snowball’ hydrangea We’re starting off with the ‘Snowball’ hydrangea because it can serve as a festive accent in your home from Thanksgiving through all the winter holidays. This potted plant will last probably a couple months, according to Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville….

Nov 26, 2019

Don’t worry if you find boxelder bugs in your house; they’re harmless

Have boxelder bugs taken shelter in your home this fall? If so, don’t worry. They are native and won’t harm you, your house or plants. Boxelder bugs don’t bite or sting, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They aren’t attracted to food the way ants are. They become inactive when the weather turns cold enough. In addition, the boxelder bug doesn’t significantly damage the trees it feeds on, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. The…...

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Nov 26, 2019

4 gardening tasks for early winter

by Connie Oswald Stofko In other years, the middle of November would be a time to think about how to prepare for winter. This year winter has already made its appearance and is taking its sweet time to give us a break. Here are some things you can do now, even if your yard is covered in snow. Harvest herbs Despite the snow, my sage and parsley are still going strong. (The leaves on the sage are a bit limp,…...

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Nov 19, 2019

Witch-hazel’s fragrant blooms add interest in autumn & winter

If you’re looking for a plant that blooms in your garden now, consider witch-hazel. American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native shrub that produces fragrant blooms in late fall and early winter, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The streamer-like flowers are just starting to appear at this time of year, following the annual loss of the shrub’s leaves. The yellow flowers typically last into December. Since witch-hazel is one of the few plants blooming now,…...

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Nov 19, 2019

Before you buy wrapping paper, consider this: Can you compost it?

by Connie Oswald Stofko Those glossy wrapping papers are so pretty when they’re on a package, but what happens to the gift wrap after the package is opened? You might think that adding wrapping paper to your compost pile is a great way to use up the paper, but think again. Some wrapping paper can actually contaminate your compost with heavy metals– and that could affect your garden, too. Many kinds of gift wrap contain heavy metals such as lead,…...

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Nov 19, 2019

Winter makes a surprise visit—What it means for your garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Last week, I told you it was it was leaf season and gave you ideas on how to use all those autumn leaves. But before we could get the leaves raked — many leaves are still on the trees! — we got snow that broke records for Nov. 11. So what does all this snow mean for your garden? Snow provides insulation — yay! “I don’t think this is going to be a bad thing,” said…...

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Nov 12, 2019

pink poinsettia from Buffalo Botanical Gardens

Holiday events set at Botanical Gardens

Mark your calendar for holiday events at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Note that the Botanical Gardens will be open 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and will be closed on Dec. 25. Admission to the Poinsettia & Railway Exhibit and to Santa’s Workshop are included with admission to the Botanical Gardens. Prices are $12.50 for adults, $11 for seniors (62+), $11 for students (13+), $7 for kids 3-12, and…...

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Nov 12, 2019