by Connie Oswald Stofko I’m beginning to harvest my sunchokes, which I think are the coolest plants ever, and I’ll give some to anyone who wants to plant them. You can plant them now in Western New York. The only catch is that I don’t want to mail them, so I ask you to arrange to pick them up. If you don’t live near me (I’m in the Eggertsville area of Amherst), you probably work with someone whose cousin lives…
Tag: Native plants
Watch local cooking challenge & learn to cook with native plants
Sumac, a native plant, is pretty this time of year with its large red, cone-shaped flowers. You can see these small trees in parks or in the wild, and they make a great landscape plant. But did you know sumac is edible? There are quite a few native plants you might want to start growing for food– If you know how to cook with them. In this article we’ll tell you about two events where you can get ideas on…
Sept. 13 is deadline to enter veggies, flowers in Genesee Country Village fair
You can enter plants, flowers, heirloom vegetables and fruits in the Agricultural Fair to be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 6 at the Genesee Country Village and Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford. The competitions include one for largest pumpkin. Prior registration is required. Entry forms must be received by Friday, Sept. 13. Find the entry form and rules here. Entrants will receive one day free admission to the fair. The competitions are…
Cooperative Extension in Erie County sets gardening classes
Three gardening classes will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 21 South Grove Street, East Aurora. The cost is $15 per class or all three classes for $40. Send a check made out to MG of Erie County to CUCE Erie County, ATTN: Carol Ann Harlos, 21 South Grove St., East Aurora NY 14052. The classes are: Sept. 10: Lyn Chimera will speak on “Why Native Plants?” Sept. 17: Carol Ann Harlos will speak…
Land Conservancy gets $500,000 to create Stella Niagara Preserve
An ecologically important parcel of land in Lewiston that supports rare plants is several steps closer to being protected as the Stella Niagara Preserve, thanks to work by the Western New York Land Conservancy. The Niagara River Greenway Commission on July 16 voted unanimously that the proposed preserve was consistent with the Niagara River Greenway Plan. Less than a week later, the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee of the New York Power Authority approved a $500,000 funding request. This grant is…
See monarch butterflies up close, buy milkweed plants at festival
Monarchs in every stage of their life cycle can be seen during the Monarch Butterfly Festival to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Audubon Center and Sanctuary, 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, NY, and Warren, PA. The event will include a plant sale aimed at getting more milkweed, the only food of monarch caterpillars, into the community. “Despite a huge drop in the monarch population, we have…
Sunchokes are available now, update on celery & more
Surprise– I have sunchokes to share Normally I don’t share sunchokes until fall when the tubers are ready to harvest. But I happen to have a few plants popping up in a spot where I’ve decided to plant something else this year, so they all have to find new homes. I am offering the plants for free, but I don’t want to mail them. If you’d like one, you must arrange to pick it up at my house– I’m in…
Rain barrels, bee festival & wildflower series
It’s time to set out your rain barrel or buy a rain barrel If you brought your rain barrel in over the winter, now is a good time to set it out again. And if you don’t have a rain barrel, now is a good time to get one. Not only do rain barrels help the environment, they can provide a convenient source of water in parts of your garden where a hose connected to a tap on the house…
Plant now for spectacular fall garden; here are 6 great options
Let me start out by saying that the gardening season isn’t over. You can have flowers and color in your Western New York garden in autumn. If your garden isn’t all you’d like it to be, you can plant things now! (Find out why fall is a great time to start a garden or add to your garden.) In this article, Sally Cunningham, CNLP, a well known gardening expert and consultant for Lockwood’s Greenhouses in Hamburg, shares suggestions for perennials,…
Q&A: roses, black-eyed Susans & sunchokes
Every so often, I get questions from readers that I can’t answer. That’s no surprise; when it comes to gardening, I am just a hobbyist. I’m able to bring you great information each week because I can interview people who know more than I do. So when I get questions I can’t answer, I turn to my readers for help. If you can offer advice on any of the questions below, please leave a comment below. And if you’re interested…