Environment Archives - Page 5 of 27 - Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

bumblebee flying to blossom on nepeta, copyright by Connie Oswald Stofko

What does this hot summer mean for WNY gardens?

by Connie Oswald Stofko “This year seems to have been running ahead of schedule from the beginning,” said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. “We had a mild winter, early spring and and early summer.” And summer has been hot! What does this mean for our gardens now? Tomatoes and other food plants With the higher temperatures we’ve had, your tomato plants and other vegetable plants may have started fruiting earlier than usual, Farfaglia said…....

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Aug 6, 2024

30 x 30: Help conserve land & water by 2030 in New York State

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you want to help conserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030? Learn more and offer your comments on a proposed strategy for New York State. A virtual meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 where you can offer your input. Here are the details: See the draft New York State 30×30 Methodology and Strategies document. You can offer your comments until Aug. 30. See more here. 30 x 30…...

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Jul 30, 2024

Hippodamia convergens, commonly known as the convergent lady beetle

Learn about ladybugs in the newest issue of the Optimistic Gardener

Ladybugs aren’t bugs at all. They’re beetles. That’s just one thing you’ll learn in the newest edition of the Optimistic Gardener. The publication is produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Find the newsletter on the gardening page of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua County (on the lefthand side) and in Cattaraugus County (on the righthand side)…....

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Jul 16, 2024

How to deal with Japanese beetles in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s the time of year when Western New York gardeners may be finding Japanese beetles in their gardens. If you have Japanese beetles, you will see them; they’re easy to spot. About half an inch long, they’re big enough to see, plus their coloration catches your eye. They are green and copper, and they’re shiney. The damage they do may catch your eye as well. They feed on rose petals— and on about 300 other kinds…...

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Jul 9, 2024

meadow rose at CW Native Plant Farm in Akron NY

Free tour of native plant farm & meeting of WNY Native Plants group

Free, self-guided tours of a native plant farm will be part of the next meeting of the Western New York Native Plants Collaborative. Anyone may attend. The WNY Native Plants Collaborative will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 10 at the Gardens at Murder Creek and CW Native Plant Farm, 12288 Tonawanda Creek Rd., Akron. The hosts are Kathy Contrino and Ron Winkelman. The event will include a potluck dinner (bringing food to share is optional). Native plant farm and…...

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Jul 2, 2024

Did you paint a fence? How you can dispose of leftover paint

Did you paint a fence or garage? Did you coat a deck? What will you do with the leftovers? Paint products can harm the environment if not managed properly and there have been few options for reuse or recycling, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Now there’s a network of paint retailers, local government facilities and reuse stores where you can drop off your leftovers. It’s provided by New York State’s Paint Stewardship Program. The DEC oversees…...

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Jun 18, 2024

DEC staff member wearing protective equipment next to adult giant hogweed plant.

Good news & bad news with giant hogweed in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko The bad news: Giant hogweed is a nasty invasive plant that can cause severe burns on your skin if you touch it. The good news: In many areas of New York State, giant hogweed has been eradicated. The bad news: Western New York has the most giant hogweed in the state. The good news: If giant hogweed is on your property, you can get advice on what you should do. Even better, staff from the Department…...

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Jun 11, 2024

Is a plant from South America better than a cultivar in WNY?

by Connie Oswald Stofko A reader contacted me regarding a previous article on zinnias. The reader wanted native zinnias, and the zinnias described in the article were all cultivars, not native plants. No one around here sells native zinnias because zinnias aren’t native to Western New York. In the United States, zinnias are native only to the Southwest. Their range stretches all the way to South America. My reader replied: “I understand this, but they are at least native to…...

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May 28, 2024

Can you plant tomatoes on Mother’s Day? Memorial Day? Be patient

by Connie Oswald Stofko by Connie Oswald Stofko “Let me tell you a story,” said Kelly McDonald, executive director and Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cattaraugus County. “Last year my husband and I planted tomato seeds in the house with grow lights. The plants were getting bigger, so we moved them into gallon buckets. The weather got warmer and we moved the plants in and out of the garage (to protect them from cool nights). “Then we got…...

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May 7, 2024

Thyme, soil & more in ‘Optimistic Gardener’

In the newest edition of the Optimistic Gardener, topics include: The publication is produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Find the newsletter on the gardening page of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua (on the lefthand side) and in Cattaraugus (on the righthand side)…....

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Apr 30, 2024