sign and plants in Allentown area of Buffalo NY

Applications available for grants from Garden Walk Buffalo; deadline is Feb. 17

Applications are available for Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants, named for Garden Walk Buffalo’s founder. Completed applications are due Feb. 17, 2017, with anticipated funding awards announced in early spring of 2017. You can find applications and eligibility requirements here or call (716) 247-5004 and they will mail you an application. The organizers say the application process is easy and they will offer help if you have any questions. The grants have helped fund dozens of garden beautification projects across the…

hand with flower

Apply by Dec. 20 for scholarships in garden writing, photography or blogging

Scholarships are available for college or technical school students who are interested in pursuing a career in garden writing, photography or blogging. The scholarships are awarded by the GWA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable subsidiary of the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators. The application deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 20. View the full scholarship guidelines and criteria here. The scholarship awards will range from $500 or $2,000 per student and include a complimentary full-year membership to GWA. Students must be enrolled…

Connie Oswald Stofko

PLANT WNY bestows honors; one goes to this magazine!

by Connie Oswald Stofko PLANT WNY, the trade association for the professional landscape and nursery trades in Western New York, has announced two awards, and one goes to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com! The awards will be presented Nov. 18 at the group’s Harvest Dinner. Chris Zeisz: 2016 Person of the Year First let me tell you about Chris Zeisz, CNLP, who was named the 2016 Person of the Year. This is the second time he has received this award. Only two other people…

Owens Falls Sanctuary in Town of Aurora NY

Land conservancy creating new nature preserve at site of two waterfalls in Aurora

The Western New York Land Conservancy is creating a new 57-acre nature preserve at the site of Jackson Falls on Hubbard Road in the Town of Aurora. The property will be named the Owens Falls Sanctuary in honor of Barbara and Don Owens who donated $200,000. It was announced at the land conservancy’s 25th anniversary dinner on Sept. 21 that the fundraising goal of $600,000 was surpassed. The property features two magnificent waterfalls that were formed by a 2,000-foot long…

wildflower trail in Bentley Sanctuary

Wildflower area transferred to Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

The Bentley Sanctuary, a wildlife preserve known for its ephemeral spring wildflowers and winding trails, has been transferred to the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy from the Audubon Community Nature Center. Even before the transfer was complete, work was begun by conservancy volunteers and Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant employees to improve existing trails and build new board walks for the newly designated Pamela A. Westrom Wildflower Trail. The Bentley Sanctuary is in the Jamestown area, located at the end of Bentley Road,…

removing palm tree at Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

Rare palm—it may be carnivorous—will replace ones cut down at Botanical Gardens

New palm trees, including a rare palm that may be carnivorous, will be installed this fall in the Main Palm Dome at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens after two palms had to be removed last week because they had outgrown the space. The two palms that were removed were actually touching the ceiling and would have died. “If the new growth at the very top breaks, the entire tree dies,” explained Erin Grajek, associate vice president of Marketing…

photo illustration of soil

Landscape foundation awards scholarship; applications for spring due Nov. 16

Bryce Gossel, horticulture student at Niagara County Community College, has received a scholarship from the WNY Nurserymen’s Association Foundation, which is the foundation of PLANT WNY, the trade association for the professional landscape and nursery trades in our area. Scholarships are awarded twice a year. The deadline is Nov. 16 to apply for the spring semester. See the details on the scholarships and the application forms here. Gossel received George O. Adams and Kenneth E. Isaac Memorial Scholarship, which is…

volunteers on green roof at Springville Center for the Arts

Tour green roof project in Springville

The Springville Center for the Arts will host a Hard Hat Tour of its construction project, including the green roof, at 5 East Main St., Springville at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Anyone may attend the tour, but it does require the use of stairs. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to scaseth@gmail.com or (716) 592-9038. The project centers around Art’s Cafe, a counter service coffee shop-type establishment with a small performance space, artwork sales, workshop, artist residencies and a…

Sandy beach

The Botanical Gardens’ travel raffle ends soon

The Botanical Gardens is about to end its travel raffle. The grand prize is a customized “dream vacation” where you choose the destination. Only 700 tickets are being sold, so your chances to win one of three prizes are good. There are three chances to win on each ticket, and the cost is $20 per ticket. The winners will be drawn on Sept. 1. Winners don’t need to be present. To claim the grand prize and second prize, you must…

daylily closeup

You’re reading the best gardening e-newsletter in the country!

by Connie Oswald Stofko Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com has been judged the best gardening e-newsletter by GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators. The online gardening magazine for Western New York, Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com received a Silver Medal of Achievement, the top award in the category of E-newsletter Overall, in GWA’s 2016 Media Awards. The award will be presented in September at the GWA 68th Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta, GA. Recipients of the Silver Medal in the various categories will now compete for best…