Tag: Garden tips

spring flowers in garden in Hamburg NY

Waves of spring flowers bring beauty to Hamburg garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Spring is an overlooked time for gardens in the Buffalo area. It seems we spend our time waiting and preparing for the end of May, the traditional time to plant tender annuals, and we forget to pause and enjoy the beauty of spring gardens. With perennials, you can have successive waves of blooms in your garden starting in early spring, said Fran Evans of Hamburg, who is a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County…....

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May 8, 2012
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Dan Zak's Japanese maple bonsai. Photo from Buffalo Bonsai Society.

Demonstrations, sale to be part of Bonsai Show May 19, 20

You’ll see marvelous examples of bonsai, the miniature gardening art form, at the upcoming Bonsai Show, but there is lots more to do at the show, too. You can also watch demonstrations on how to start a bonsai tree. There will be a table where you can get advice on tending bonsai trees, and you can even bring your own bonsai and get technical help. Bonsai supplies and trees will be sold. If you want to start a bonsai, you…...

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May 8, 2012
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hosta leaves in Buffalo NY

Questions and answers about gardening: holey hostas and more

I’m trying something new today. Let me know what you think. Occasionally readers contact me with specific gardening questions. Since I’m not an expert gardener, I often can’t answer the question myself, so I try to seek out someone who can. Did you know you can use the same resources I use when trying to answer questions? Often I call the Master Gardeners with Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County at (716) 652-5400. These knowledgeable volunteers are available from 9 a.m…....

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May 8, 2012
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Chautauqua Labyrinth in Chautauqua NY

Garden labyrinths have long history, find new popularity in Buffalo area

Labyrinths date back thousands of years and have been used in many cultures. During Medieval times, many Christian churches incorporated labyrinths into floor designs. Today garden labyrinths are getting new attention at places of worship, medical centers, conference centers, parks, colleges and even backyards. World Labyrinth Day is Saturday, May 5, so this seems a good time to introduce you to some  local labyrinths: one at Unity Church in Buffalo, one at the Chautauqua Institution and one in the yard…...

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May 1, 2012
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old ladder holds garden plants in Buffalo NY

Potpourri: Gardening tips and news too good to miss

Sometimes I have bits of information that I think will interest readers, but each bit is too short for a whole article. I save them up until I have enough to offer you a potpourri of news. I hope you find something that interests you. Add height to your garden with an old ladder Maxine Osiewicz of Clarence had an old wooden ladder that was no longer safe to use. Instead of throwing it away, she secured it to her…...

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May 1, 2012
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tilted pots in Buffalo NY

Make this leaning tower of pots– It’s easy when you know the secret

Awhile back, I got a flurry of comments on the photo at left. People wanted to know how to make this leaning tower of pots that I photographed in Cherie St. Pierre’s yard in Eggertsville. It turns out that St. Pierre didn’t make hers; she bought the inner workings at a garden show. What she got was a long bar with a large fork at the end to be placed in the ground. The fork prongs give the rod more…...

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Apr 24, 2012
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overall view of front garden 81 Johnson Parkway in Buffalo NY

Clay-filled yard is nurtured into a colorful Buffalo garden

“I took a plot where even grass wasn’t growing because there was too much clay and turned it into this,” said Marilyn Rodgers of 81 Johnson Park, Buffalo. She shared her colorful garden during Garden Walk Buffalo last year. This year the event will be held July 28 and 29. Rodgers’ garden is another example of grassless front yards that are so charming. They seem to be turning into a symbol of Buffalo-style gardening. Her front yard was mostly clay,…...

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Apr 17, 2012
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Jerusalem artichole or sunchoke flowers in Amherst NY

Celebrate Earth Day in your garden

Gardeners treasure the chance to get outdoors and work with plants. They feel the rhythms of the seasons. They’re in tune with nature and want to make their corner of the world a better place. Earth Day is coming up this Sunday, April 22, so this seems like a good time to review ways we gardeners can be more effective in helping the environment. Many of the tips on our list today are things we’ve talked about in previous articles,…...

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Apr 17, 2012
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vertical gardens in Buffalo NY area

Vertical gardens add color to a fence or wall; great for small spaces

Vertical gardens are a great way to add color to a fence or wall. They’re terrific if you don’t have much space for gardening. With vertical gardening, you could install an herb garden right outside your kitchen door, and vertical gardens can be used inside, too. The trick to the vertical garden is the container. It’s basically a shallow box divided into smaller cells. Each cell has a slanted bottom that keeps the soil and plant in place.You can buy…...

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Apr 10, 2012
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plum tomatoes in Buffalo NY area

6 tips for growing your own tomatoes in Buffalo area

There’s nothing like a freshly picked tomato, and tomatoes are easy to grow everywhere in the Buffalo area. You don’t even need a garden– a very simple container will do. Thomas Mitchell, a horticulture teacher at Niagara County Community College, shared tips on growing vegetables during a presentation at Plantasia, Western New York’s premier garden and landscape show held in March. Mitchell’s number one point was that you have to have good soil. I demoted that tip to number two…...

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Apr 3, 2012
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