by Connie Oswald Stofko We will experience only a partial solar eclipse here in Western New York, but it should still be impressive. “If it’s a nice sunny day, you’ll definitely notice it,” said Gene Timothy of the Buffalo Astronomical Association. He is co-director of their observatory at Beaver Meadows in North Java. The eclipse will occur here on Monday, Aug. 21. It will happen gradually over a period of 2 hours and 39 minutes. The moon will begin to…
When it comes to invasive species, it’s great to hear some good news for a change. The Audubon Community Nature Center (ACNC) is nearing the finish line in eradicating the European water chestnut that first appeared in 2013. It took hundreds of volunteers over five summers to get to this point, with a major pull by volunteers on June 24. Soon after that, staff from Western New York PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) dressed in waders and moved…
by Connie Oswald Stofko If you like to talk to people and have an interest in gardening and plants, consider becoming a docent at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. And if you’re available on weekends, “that’s a big plus, said Kristy Schmitt, director of education. “We really need docents on weekends.” To cater to those who are available on weekends, this round of docent training will be held on Saturdays. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to…
by Connie Oswald Stofko Your front yard doesn’t have to be the fanciest one on the block to be recognized by Buffalo in Bloom. “If it’s weeded and tended and makes the city look good” it can be recognized, said Linda Garwol, a volunteer with Buffalo in Bloom. Even front porches with potted plants can be recognized. See the criteria here. If you are recognized, you’ll receive a discount card to many of the area’s best nurseries as well as…
by Connie Oswald Stofko I didn’t know what information I could bring back for my readers when I visited Atlanta last year for the annual conference of GWA: The Association of Garden Communicators. I knew I would see lovely gardens, but since the climate is so different down south, what would interest gardeners in Western New York? Then I talked with Mike Dunn, a gardener desperate to keep deer from devouring his plants. In addition to fencing in his large…
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is holding a Travel Raffle with three amazing prizes: The grand prize is a dream vacation of the winner’s choosing, the second prize is a relaxing weekend getaway to Ellicottville, and the third prize will make its winner a Botanical Gardens VIP for 2018. Travel Raffle tickets are $20 each and are available June 1 through Sept. 1. The grand prize winner will be able to choose their dream vacation. The prize includes…
Colorful flowers and plants now greet patients, visitors and staff as they arrive at at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. A healing garden was blessed and dedicated on Friday, May 12. The garden was made possible by a donation to the Kenmore Mercy Foundation by the late John M. Repetski. Open to all hospital patients, visitors and community members, the 2,225-square-foot healing garden is located on the north end of the hospital next to its new Ambulatory Surgery Unit. The garden features…
The PLANT WNY Foundation is offering scholarships for students to study horticulture. The scholarships are available to high school and college students. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 16 for the fall semester. The scholarships are awarded twice a year. Get the applications and more details here. The recipents of the spring 2017 PLANT WNY Foundation Scholarships are: Bryce Gossel, Niagara County Community College – Fred Howarth Memorial Scholarship Marie Myers Shearing, University at Buffalo – The George O….
The first organizational meeting of a new group, the Green Sun Seed Library/Bank, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 4 in the auditorium of the Niagara Branch Library, 280 Porter Ave., Buffalo. There is a small parking lot next to the library and plenty of parking spaces on the street. The library is on the #5 Niagara bus line. The group intends to hold seed/plant swaps, organic growing workshops and other educational events. During the meeting,…
by Connie Oswald Stofko The photos here give you a glimpse of the new Asian exhibits at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, but it’s something you really should experience in person. The first thing you notice on entering the space is a new water feature, which creates a rhythmic pattern as it swirls the water. In the distance you can see the tall waterfall that has been transformed to look like a mountainous outcropping. To the left is…
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