drawings of garden tools and leaves

Diggin In: Clean your tools & more

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…...

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backyard garden in Tonawanda NY

Terry Brummett, winner in Celebrity Level drawing, shows her garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Although this garden isn’t particularly large, it appears spacious because of the many plants and decorative items throughout the area. I had the pleasure to visit the landscape of Terry and Mike Brummett in July. Terry was one of the two winners in our Celebrity Level drawing earlier this year, and I enjoyed what they have created. Tip: If you want a chance of being featured in Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com next year, sign up for the Celebrity Level…....

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Joe pye weed in autumn by Connie Oswald Stofko

Diggin In newsletter: resilience

The October edition of Diggin In newsletter includes an essay on resilience in gardening, an introduction into galls and a garden checklist. Diggin In is published by the Master Gardeners in Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer As gardeners, one of the most important things we grow is resilience. Season after season, we learn, we adapt and we try again. Whether we see ourselves as optimists or pessimists in life, we are hopeful in…...

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species tulips

It’s time to choose new spring bulbs–and new autumn bulbs!

by Connie Oswald Stofko This is just a sample of the bulbs you can find at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. If you’ve never planted bulbs, keep reading–there’s a list of previous articles that you’ll find helpful. But if you’re still stumped, stop in to Urban Roots to get the gardening advice you need. Tulip wildflower mixture (species) These wild tulips (also called species tulips) are shorter than the hybrid tulips you usually see, but…...

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dianthus gratianopollitanus or 'Firewitch Cheddar Pink' at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville NY

Talks, sales & more: Learn at Mischler’s back-to-school event

It’s the time to go back to school–even for gardeners! You can learn a lot at the Back-to-School event at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. It will take place from Friday, Sept. 5 to Saturday, Sept. 13. Times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. There will be talks, a tour of Mischler’s cutting gardens (gardens where flowers are grown to be cut and placed in a vase), people to…...

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soil with trowel in Amherst NY

Moving into autumn: tips from Master Gardeners in Orleans County

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…...

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daylily, daisies going to seed, black-eyed Susans in Amherst NY

Your garden now: It’s not a failure, it’s just August

These articles come from the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez and Julia Bender August gardens can feel overwhelming. Everything’s either thriving or dying, weeds are winning battles you thought you’d won, and half your plans have gone sideways. The tomatoes are finally coming in, but the lettuce bolted weeks ago, and don’t even mention the aphids. This late-summer fatigue is real, and it hits most of us. But it’s not failure—it’s just August…....

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delphinium flowers at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouse

Color your garden with perennials from Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Four reasons why you should buy perennials now: Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville has a great selection of perennials now. Below are just a few. Delphinium: tall The delphinium is a grand perennial that can grow three or four feet high. It makes a good cut flower, said Jessica Limardi, a staff member at Mischler’s. The plant has a huge flower spike, and it also has side shoots coming out of the stem. The side…...

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lavender in Niagara Falls garden

Scent of flowers brings us joy, brings pollinators to food

This information is from Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners in Orleans County. In June, the rush is on to get our gardens in top shape. But with roses, peonies and other plants soon to bloom, it’s also a great time to stop and actually smell the flowers. Scent is an important feature of flowering plants. Because they cannot get up and relocate themselves, plants use scent to attract pollinators and to deter hungry creatures. Researchers at Purdue University say that plants emit…...

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