Two environmental holidays are coming up next week: Earth Day is on Wednesday, April 22 and Arbor Day is on Friday, April 24. There are a lot of ways to celebrate and help our communities. Take a look at the events listed here. What events have we missed? What do you do to help the environment? Please leave a comment below. Earth Day on the East Side Community Clean-Up Earth Day on the East Side: Community Clean-Up will take place from 9…...
Wooded backyard & flower gardens make this large area appealing
by Connie Oswald Stofko Large trees tower over the front lawn of John Dyster and his wife Lyn in Lewiston: a river birch, a redbud and two maples. But that’s nothing compared to the back of the house, which looks like a forest. “It’s always been wooded,” Dyster said, noting that the area has been like that ever since the house was built in 1950. The entire lot size is .62 of an acre, about 116 feet wide and 232…...
‘Digging In’ newsletter from MG in Orleans County
Get gardening tips for March in the Digging In newsletter. It’s published by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, Survey your yard and garden Check your houseplants Your houseplants will begin perking up as we have longer daylight. They will need a little more water, and it’s a good time to start fertilizing them again. This is also a good time to consider pruning your houseplants and repotting any that have outgrown their containers. Get ready to…...
Tree & shrub sales are here
Trees are important in so many ways. They can shelter your house in summer, provide food for insects and birds, purify our air and so much more. That’s why New York State has set a goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033. If you plant even one tree, your tree can count toward the state’s goal. Enter your tree or trees into the Tree Tracker here. Now is a great time to shop for trees. You can buy tree…...
Caring for fresh Christmas tree; consider buying local
Consider choosing a locally grown and cut Christmas tree this year. “Supporting our local farms is a great way to purchase quality goods and contribute to our local economy,” said Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program. “For every $1 spent on local agricultural products, $2.29 is generated in the community. “Shop local, not only for Christmas trees, but also delicious food gifts, holiday meal supplies and more.” Visit Chautauqua Grown, the local…...
What gardens teach us in winter: ‘Digging In’ newsletter
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…...
What should you do with fallen leaves?
by Connie Oswald Stofko What happens when you rake leaves in fall? That’s what Max Ferlauto, a Maryland State entomologist, wanted to find out. In particular, he wanted to explore what happens to insects in the soil, according to this article from the College of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland. Ferlauto was one of the researchers who wanted to answer this question: If you remove the leaves from a lawn in autumn, would that reduce…...
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…...
Sassafras & spicebush trees are at risk; how you can help
Two native species of trees, sassafras and spicebush, are at risk of an invasive fungal disease called laurel wilt. The disease has been detected on Long Island. It’s the first detection of the disease in New York State. Note: Mountain laurel, despite its name, is not in the same family and isn’t impacted by the disease. Also, spicebush is relatively small; it can be grouped as a shrub or as a small tree. The groups working on this are: Why we don’t want…
Enter 2026 Arbor Day poster contest; deadline is Nov. 30
“Trees for the Future” is the theme of the 2026 Arbor Day poster contest in New York State. The 2026 theme expresses connections between people and trees, the importance of planting trees for future generations, and the role of trees in providing resilience in a changing climate. “Trees are powerful allies in building resilient communities, ecosystems, and a healthier future,” said Amanda Lefton, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). “As we work together towards our goal…...