Carnivorous plants are fascinating because they do something so unusual: They eat animals. You can grow carnivorous plants in your Buffalo-area home if you pay attention to their needs in three areas: water, minerals and food, said Kenny Coogan of Kenmore. Coogan, along with Ryan McGhee, co-founded the Western New York Carnivorous Plant Club. The club will meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Menne Nursery, 3100 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst. The topic will be the butterwort,…...
Autumn keeps hanging on in the Buffalo area. My niece Carrie picked a rose from her garden last week! Unfortunately, we know that wintry weather is inevitable, and our outdoor gardening will soon come to an end. Don’t let it get you down, though. When we lose our outdoor flowers, it just means we have more time for our indoor blooms, such as African violets. If you’ve never grown African violets, or if you haven’t grown them well, check out…...
“All plants are sensitive to smoke,” David Clark said in answer to a question during a recent horticulture class at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Thursday, Nov. 17 is the 36th Great American Smokeout. Protecting your houseplants is one more reason for you to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. If you smoke, you probably notice that you have to wash your windows and mirrors…...
Plants that turn the tables on the animal kingdom and get their nutrients from insects are fascinating. If you are a fan, or if you would just like to learn more, check out the Western New York Carnivorous Plant Club that is being formed. The new organization is for amateurs as well as professionals. Kenny Coogan, one of the founders, said the group’s mission is “to function as an educational organization interested in all phases of cultivating carnivorous plants and…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko “Singing in the Rain” was an appropriate name for the Holland Garden Club’s standard flower show, held during soggy weather Friday evening and Saturday. But what a delight to step inside! The show included a horticulture division, and the smell of so many spring blossoms was wonderful. At left is one of the entries in the design category called “A Stormy Weather Getaway.” Entrants were asked to create an expressive design in an Oriental manner, staged…...
By Ruth Syron Does your African violet look dull? Do its leaves droop? Does it lack blooms and have a long neck? It is time to repot. African violets require rich, well drained soil to flourish. Bagged specialty soil made for violets is good, and it’s better if blended with equal parts of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite. If you have a long neck on the plant, select a 5- to 6-inch pot. Otherwise, a 4- or 5-inch pot that is…...
by Ruth Syron Good grooming will help keep your African violets looking beautiful for nine months out of the year. (African violets rest for three months. The rest period is usually January through March, but it can be December through February.) Here are nine tips to keep your African violet looking its best: Any leaf with a dried edge or a spot should be removed. Keep the leaves free of dirt and dust by brushing with a soft makeup brush…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Even if you already know how to root a plant in water, you can make the process more successful with great tips from David Clark, professional horticulturist. He also shares tips on two easy methods for starting plants that you may not have used before. Clark recently gave two hands-on workshops on plant propagation at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. He shared a wealth of information, including these five great tips: 1. Create a…...
The Niagara Frontier Orchid Society Display and Sale will be held this weekend at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. The times are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27. Orchid workshops will be held at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. Orchid plants and supplies will be on sale. Learn more about orchids and find out…...
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