shade plants at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville NY

A hundred varieties of plants at Mischler’s 79-cent perennial sale

by Connie Oswald Stofko There’s something for everybody at the 79-cent perennial sale at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses. Here are just three of the interesting plants that will be in the sale: A little more than a hundred varieties of perennials will be offered in the sale. See the entire list of the plants on sale here. The plants are sold only in packs of four plants at $3.16 per pack. Get a flat for $37.92 (12 packs per flat)…....

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trees in Amherst NY by Stofko

Look for ways to help on Arbor Day & Earth Day in WNY

Two environmental holidays are coming up next week: Earth Day is on Wednesday, April 22 and Arbor Day is on Friday, April 24. There are a lot of ways to celebrate and help our communities. Take a look at the events listed here. What events have we missed? What do you do to help the environment? Please leave a comment below. Earth Day on the East Side Community Clean-Up Earth Day on the East Side: Community Clean-Up will take place from 9…...

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hostas in wooded lot in Lewiston NY

Wooded backyard & flower gardens make this large area appealing

by Connie Oswald Stofko Large trees tower over the front lawn of John Dyster and his wife Lyn in Lewiston: a river birch, a redbud and two maples. But that’s nothing compared to the back of the house, which looks like a forest. “It’s always been wooded,” Dyster said, noting that the area has been like that ever since the house was built in 1950. The entire lot size is .62 of an acre, about 116 feet wide and 232…...

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deer buck in Amherst NY

Help study mammals in WNY with trail cameras in your yard

Snapshot NY is a statewide network of trail cameras powered by volunteers throughout the state. By sharing wildlife photos, you contribute to research that helps us learn more about mammals in our area. It helps wildlife professionals better manage and conserve wildlife in the state. By setting up a trail camera on your land and using the Snapshot NY app, the data collected by Snapshot NY allows researchers to monitor trends in the abundance and distribution of mammals such as…...

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garden post in snow in Amherst NY

Brr! How will this frigid cold affect our gardens?

by Connie Oswald Stofko The predictions were worrying, but Western New York didn’t get much of a storm (yay!). Yes, there was a day with constant snowfall, but the snow fell in teeny, tiny flakes. Here in Amherst, even when the snow piled up, we could shovel easily because the snow was granular and very light. There wasn’t much wind, either, which helped. But things are different today. It’s windy, there’s lots of snow and it’s still super cold. (How…...

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oregano in snow in Amherst NY

What gardens teach us in winter: ‘Digging In’ newsletter

Here is the latest edition of Digging In, the newsletter published by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. What our gardens teach us Our gardens keep teaching, even as winter approaches. It’s harder to see the lessons when everything feels cold and dormant, but they’re there. Consider vernalization — the way many plants, from native perennials to fruit trees to spring bulbs, need to experience winter’s chill before they can bloom. It’s what makes the seeds we plant during winter…...

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Snow November 9 2025 on Stevenson Blvd., Eggertsville NY

Drought, rain & snow in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Drought & rain Good news! We’re almost out of the drought. The announcement came last Wednesday from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Recent rainfall has improved dry conditions, and all of Western New York is now at the lowest level of drought, called “Drought Watch.” The counties moved from the drier “Drought Warning” to “Drought Watch” are Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans. Wyoming County already had been downgraded to…...

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species tulips

It’s time to choose new spring bulbs–and new autumn bulbs!

by Connie Oswald Stofko This is just a sample of the bulbs you can find at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. If you’ve never planted bulbs, keep reading–there’s a list of previous articles that you’ll find helpful. But if you’re still stumped, stop in to Urban Roots to get the gardening advice you need. Tulip wildflower mixture (species) These wild tulips (also called species tulips) are shorter than the hybrid tulips you usually see, but…...

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Topiary Tales

Your next adventure awaits at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens during Topiary Tales. Step into the conservatory, which has been transformed into a whimsical woodland forest, filled with larger-than-life animal topiaries made from plants and other natural materials. Peacocks and turtles and bears, oh my! That’s right— there is an entire cast of characters set in botanical scenes that inspired a series of short stories for you to read as you adventure through this picture book come to…...

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rabbit in garden

Lots of rabbit damage this winter: why?

by Connie Oswald Stofko The rabbits killed half of my blackberry bush; only three healthy canes, or stems, are left. My neighbor’s five-foot rose of Sharon that she has been nurturing for ten years looks like a skeleton. Many gardeners around Western New York have the same question: Why was there so much damage from rabbits this winter? First of all, we have a lot of rabbits in Western New York, said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in…...

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