Gardening news Archives - Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

sign and plants in Allentown area of Buffalo NY

Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grant applications now available

Applications are now available for Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants, named for Garden Walk Buffalo’s founder. Completed applications are due Feb. 28. The grants, named for Garden Walk Buffalo’s founder, have been working to beautify Buffalo since 2005. The initiative has funded over 100 garden beautification projects across the West Side of Buffalo totaling more than $100,000. Find eligibility requirements and applications online or call 716-247-5004 and they will mail you an application. One objective of Garden Walk Buffalo, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this…

Feb 10, 2019

Last issue for 2018; look for more gardening tips for WNY starting Jan. 22

by Connie Oswald Stofko I’ve enjoyed being able to bring you great gardening articles in 2018. We’ve shared gardening tips, learned about new pests, viewed wonderful photos and videos, discussed plant choices, and kept up to date on garden walks and other events. I’ll be taking a break, then will return Jan. 22 with more articles for you as you plan for the coming season. Until then, you can go our website to check out past articles. You can use…

Dec 18, 2018

DEC awards grants for trees & more in Western New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has awarded grants for tree and other projects in Western New York. Urban forestry grants Urban forestry grants are part of DEC’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, which helps communities develop and implement comprehensive tree planting, management, maintenance, and education to create healthy forests while enhancing quality of life for residents. These programs promote clean air, clean water, energy savings and wildlife habitat creation. Find out more about the urban forestry…

Dec 18, 2018

Monarchs making a comeback in WNY; see more in the POLLINATOR

by Connie Oswald Stofko The bad news is that the number of monarch butterflies has been decreasing in the past 20 years. Monarchs may be given protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2019. The good news is that the number of monarchs in Western New York appears to be on the upswing. You can find out more in the very first issue of the POLLINATOR, a new publication produced by the Pollinator Conservation Association. To subscribe to the POLLINATOR for free,…

Dec 11, 2018

Spread the word: deadline is Dec. 7 for scholarships from PLANT WNY

Scholarships for college students and high school seniors are available from the PLANT WNY Foundation scholarships for spring 2019. The deadline has been extended to this Friday, Dec. 7. Applicants will be considered for one of three scholarships when applying with one application: The Mary Schichtel Memorial Scholarship, The George O. Adams and Kenneth E. Isaac Memorial Scholarship and The Fred Howarth Memorial Scholarship. See a pdf application here and find a fillable Word application here. In addition, the Toby Martino…

Dec 4, 2018

Artwork sought for New York State Arbor Day poster; deadline is Dec. 31

Each year the public is invited to submit photography and/or artwork to be considered for the New York State Arbor Day Poster. It’s a longtime tradition and posters have become collector’s items for many. There will be 100,000 posters printed for distribution to 3,500 New York State schools, at the New York State Fair and at other venues. The winning artist will be honored at the annual state Arbor Day celebration. The deadline is Dec. 31. To submit your…

Nov 27, 2018

Fester corpse flower Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

See Fester, the corpse flower, unfurl in time-lapse video

by Connie Oswald Stofko It was a great year for corpse flowers at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Not one, but two of these plants bloomed in June. That’s amazing because the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum blooms just once in six to ten years! Morty bloomed in early June, which was just four years after it first bloomed in Buffalo. Fester, which started out as the smallest of the three corpse flower corms (bulbs) that the Botanical Gardens acquired in…

Nov 20, 2018

Garden Walk Buffalo needs artwork for 25th anniversary poster

Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden walk in the United States, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2019 and needs artwork for the anniversary poster. Entries are due Jan. 31. This is an opportunity to share your artwork with hundreds of local gardeners and thousands of visitors. Artwork should communicate: • Descriptives: gardens, flowers, creativity, neighborhood • 25th Anniversary: You may choose to incorporate the number “25” into your artwork if applicable. It is not a requirement to do so, but…

Nov 12, 2018

Free seed library starting in Amherst for organic veggies, herbs, flowers

by Connie Oswald Stofko Brenda Snyder was looking for a seed bank–a place where seeds are collected and shared–but she couldn’t find one in Western New York. “There were no seed banks I could even drive to,” Snyder said. “I thought, ‘How is that even possible?’ I decided somebody just needed to take the bull by the horns and get it rolling.” Working with other volunteers, she is setting up the WNY Seed Library, a free seed library for anyone who wants…

Sep 11, 2018

Fester update: It may be bigger than Morty ever was!

by Connie Oswald Stofko Fester, the second stinky corpse flower to bloom at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, is already bigger than Morty was this year, and Fester may grow bigger than Morty was in 2014, said Erin Grajek, associate vice president of Marketing & Visitor Experience at the Botanical Gardens. Fester can grow two to eight inches per day and is now 63.5 inches or about 5 1/4 feet tall. Morty was about 4 1/2 feet tall this year, but was…

Jun 26, 2018