by Peggy Koppmann, Master Gardener at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County Forget all that hearts-and-flower stuff in February. Even chocolate can’t erase the fact that February is a cruel month. The snow and gray skies go on forever, snow piles are dirty and ugly, and the groundhog is really not much of a weather forecaster. So cherish those little peeks of sunshine, watch for the snowdrops and hellebores, and remember that what is hidden by the gloom of February…...
Here is the newest edition of Digging In, the newsletter published by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. Your January Garden Checklist a Garden planning Houseplants Birds and wildlife Upcoming events Second annual seed swap The Orleans Community Seed Share is hosting its annual seed swap from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Cornell Cooperative Orleans Trolley Building, 12690 Route 31 in Albion. It is free. Take home free seeds for your 2026 garden. Enjoy seed demonstrations and activities…...
“Now is the time to make sure to have nature inside your home,” said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “We all garden, not only for the pleasure that it brings, but also for the aesthetics and the calm that nature provides. “Simple items can remind us of our colorful, fragrant outdoor world when we find ourselves inside more than outside.” Here are just some of the items that you can find at Urban Roots for yourself or…...
Here is the latest edition of Digging In, the newsletter published by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. What our gardens teach us Our gardens keep teaching, even as winter approaches. It’s harder to see the lessons when everything feels cold and dormant, but they’re there. Consider vernalization — the way many plants, from native perennials to fruit trees to spring bulbs, need to experience winter’s chill before they can bloom. It’s what makes the seeds we plant during winter…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Decorate outside with a patio pot from Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The pots hold a variety of fresh evergreen branches that are decorated with pine cones, a bow and artificial berries. In addition to displaying them on porches and patios, many people remember their departed loved ones by setting patio pots in cemeteries, said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s. There is no care needed for the patio pots; they will…...
Here is the newest edition of Diggin In, the newsletter published by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. Articles for November Clean Up in the Toolroom by Nancy Walker, Master Gardener Volunteer November Garden Checklist: A Little More Time to Plant, by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer You can have a mission, too by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer When Julia Bender decided to join the Master Gardener Program in 2024, she came with the specific…...
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society will host their popular biannual Orchid Show on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and 9. Times are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The show will feature hundreds of exotic and award-winning orchids, expert orchid growers and sellers, as well as other orchid vendors. Exhibitors at the Orchid Show include members of the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society. You will have the opportunity to see hundreds of exotic and award-winning orchids from expert growers, and you can shop…...
If your houseplants have been vacationing outside, don’t let them stay out too long. When should you bring them in? Before you turn on your furnace, said David R. Clark, CNLP. That’s just one of many tips he shares in this previous article, “Houseplants on summer vacation? Time to bring them back inside.” Clark also discusses pests in depth: how to keep pests from coming into your house and what to do if you find your houseplant is infested…....
As autumn settles in, it’s tempting to focus solely on the checklist—deadheading, mulching, putting beds to rest. But before we rush into end-of-season tasks, consider taking a different approach this month. Step into your garden not as a worker, but as an observer. Notice the subtle shift in light, the way seeds have scattered in unexpected places, the quiet persistence of late bloomers. Your garden has been telling stories all season long. This month, let’s slow down enough to listen. —From…...
The Orchid Fest by Niagara Frontier Orchid Society will be the big finale of the Orchid Exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Orchid Fest runs from Friday, Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 2. See it during Orchids After Dark on Friday and Saturday or during the day on Saturday and Sunday. This event features award-winning orchids, special displays and showcases, and orchid experts. Vendors are:…...
© 2026 Buffalo-Niagara Gardening. All rights reserved.