Celebrate the beauty of New York State’s trees by participating in the 2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest held annually by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Contest guidelines are: Read the full guidelines of the contest and how to submit your artwork here. DEC prints thousands of posters for distribution to schools, the New York State Fair, libraries and other venues. It is a long-time tradition and the posters have become collector’s items for many….
by Connie Oswald Stofko Open Gardens start this Thursday and Friday, and six garden walks will be held this weekend. Tip: When you visit these gardens, take note of things that interest you, such as the flowers flowing out of the picture frame in the photo here. See it in the garden of Courtney Gorman, who will share her landscape on the Snyder-CleveHill Garden View. “One of my best friends, Sandy Hoffman, made this easel for me out of scrap…
The season of garden walks will kick off this weekend with Lewiston GardenFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18 on Center Street in Lewiston. Here are some photos–and tips!–from a couple of the gardeners who will be sharing their landscapes during the Lewiston GardenFest. You can see and learn more during the actual event. “Celebrate summer at Lewiston GardenFest and come away inspired to enhance your own green spaces,” said Mary Ann Yates,…
Artists who create works that are garden- or nature-themed, or works that can be displayed in a garden setting, are invited to the Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale. For fees, rules, and regulations, visit GardenArtSale.com. The sale will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 24 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday June 25 on the grounds of the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. Sculpture, planters, metalwork, paintings, vintage signs, woodwork, architectural remnants, fountains, found art, ceramics – anything that…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Buy it from an artist. Commission something that fits in with the theme of your garden. Or make it yourself. As you’re planning next year’s garden, consider integrating art into your landscape. Buy garden art Beth and Brian Kreutzer of Cheektowaga, who share their landscape on Open Gardens, happily display a metal sculpture by Mike O of Yartworks titled “Mousetrap.” “I bought it at one of the first Buffalo Style Garden Art Sales,” Beth said. They…
Your photo or other artwork could be used on New York State’s 2023 Arbor Day poster. The deadline to enter is Dec. 31. Entries must feature trees within New York State. See the contest rules here. The competition is held annually to highlight the importance of trees in the lives of people in New York State. In addition to their scenic beauty, trees improve water quality, help mitigate stormwater, benefit our ecosystems, benefit public health, work against climate change and provide…
Garden Walk Buffalo, America’s largest garden tour, is looking for submissions of original artwork to promote the 2022 event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 30 & 31. Entries are due Friday, Jan. 31. 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…
by Connie Oswald Stofko If a tree dies, you don’t necessarily have to remove it from your garden. These gardeners incorporated the dead tree into their landscape….
by Connie Oswald Stofko Buffalo-style gardens are known for displaying quirky objects as garden art, such as a gumball machine or a giant bird cage. Put an elegant spin on that idea with a monochromatic theme. Choose one color for the decorations in a section of your landscape. Using objects of the same material, such as glass, can also make the space more cohesive. Here are some examples from this summer’s Open Gardens….
by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s September, a time when some gardeners give up on their gardens. But not Patti Zander and Bob Van Hise, who shared their gardens during the City of Tonawanda Garden Walk on Aug. 22. “Oh, I would never give up on my gardens!” Zander said. “We just live for summer. As long as things are alive, we’re out here watering and deadheading.” They have three rain barrels to help keep them supplied with water. No garden…
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