rabbits on Rader Farm in Grand Island NY

Urban Farm Day: shop, tour & learn

– Visit markets. Learn how growers work in an urban (or suburban) setting. Get tips for your own garden. There’s something for everyone at Urban Farm Day to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 17. It’s free, self-guided, and no tickets are required.  There will be 17 local growers. Download a map in advance or use the Google map. Highlights include: Special ticketed events are: For more information, visit UrbanFarmDay.com…

spinach leaves

Reminder: plant another crop of vegetables, find seed libraries

by Connie Oswald Stofko Second vegetable crop The growing season isn’t over yet. In fact, you can plant a second crop of some herbs and vegetables. It’s called succession planting. In our previous article, Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market explains what to plant and when to plant. It’s all spelled out so you know what vegetables you can plant in your area now. Urban Roots has seeds in stock and will get more. Seed libraries connected to public…

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)….

thyme in pot

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)….

herbs at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville NY

Herbs, pansies & flowers for eclipse at Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s a little early for herbs, “but people were asking for them, so we overwintered some and we planted some from seed,” said Jessica Limardi, staff member at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. This is the time for pansies, and you can also buy a floral arrangement for the total eclipse of the sun. Herbs There are just a few herbs now at Mischler’s; more will come later in the season. Of…

lemon balm illustration from Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz (1885)

Lemon balm & more in newest edition of Optimistic Gardener

Lemon balm, soil science and the many kinds of compost bins are some of the topics 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 (on the lefthand side) and in Cattaraugus (on the righthand side)….

herbs, compost, rose hips, birds in snow

Autumn tips: rose seeds, herbs, new garden, spreading compost & more

by Connie Oswald Stofko Here are six reminders–or perhaps new ideas–for activities that Western New York gardeners can do in autumn. Start roses from seeds Yes, you can actually start roses from seeds, and autumn is the time to do it, said David Clark, CNLP. The seeds are inside the rose hip, which is the fruit of the plant. It’s a green or red ball that forms when the rose flower drops off. See more in the article “How to…

mint tea in cup with sprig of mint copyright Connie Oswald Stofko

Make herbal tea from a variety of plants in Western New York

by Lyn Chimera, owner of Lessons from Nature After a busy day, sitting down with a good cup of herbal tea from the garden is one of the joys of my life. I started growing a few mints and was hooked on the amazing taste of fresh mint tea. The freshness makes a huge difference. Every year my first cup of fresh tea is a cause for celebration. Technically, herbal teas are not teas. Tea comes from the tea plant…

decorative plates in garden in Lewiston NY

Lewiston GardenFest kicks off garden walk season in WNY

The season of garden walks will kick off this weekend with Lewiston GardenFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18 on Center Street in Lewiston. Here are some photos–and tips!–from a couple of the gardeners who will be sharing their landscapes during the Lewiston GardenFest. You can see and learn more during the actual event. “Celebrate summer at Lewiston GardenFest and come away inspired to enhance your own green spaces,” said Mary Ann Yates,…

looking at mint plant in Amherst NY

Garden Talks begin in Batavia & on line

The Genesee County Master Gardeners will hold monthly Garden Talks starting in February. Garden Talk programs start at noon and can be 30 to 60 minutes long, depending on the topic. They will be held on Thursdays. This free series is open to all, but registration is required. You can attend in person at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office, 420 East Main St., Batavia, or online via Zoom. To attend in person, contact Mandy at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or amm532@cornell.edu. For a Zoom…