BUFFALO

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of the month, September–August, at 7 p.m., Greenfield Health & Rehab Facility, 5949 Broadway, Lancaster.  av*****@gm***.com . 

Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July and August) at 7 p.m., Alden Community Center, West Main St., Alden. New members and guests welcome. Plant sale each May. 716-937-7924.

Amana Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January) at Ebenezer United Church of Christ, 630 Main St., West Seneca. Visitors welcome. 716-844-8543, si*****@ao*.com . 

Amherst Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except December, March, July, and August) at 10 a.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, Main St., Williamsville. New members and guests welcome. 716-836-5397.

Bowmansville Garden Club meets the first Monday of the month (except June, July, August, and December) at 7 p.m., Bowmansville Fire Hall, 36 Main St., Bowmansville. New members and guests welcome. For more information, 716-361-8325.

Buffalo Area Daylily Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. The society is a friendly group who get together to enjoy daylilies. Plant sales in August. Open gardens, June–August. Facebook.

Buffalo Bonsai Society meets every second Saturday at 1 p.m. at ECC North Campus, STEM Bldg., 6205 Main St., Williamsville. Picnic/Auction; 9/14, (Rochester) Penjing Bonsai; 10/12, Mark Arpag; 11/9, Suiseki with Sean Smith. buffalobonsaisociety.com.

East Aurora Garden Club meets at noon on the second Monday of each month, except January. The club meets at Nativity Lutheran Church, 970 E. Main St., East Aurora (just west of the 400 Expressway exit). The club’s objective is to stimulate, create interest, and promote education on horticulture, the art of gardening, flower arranging, and environmental conservation; and to promote the beautification of surrounding areas. For more information about the club or membership call 716-912-1589.

Federated Garden Clubs NYS–District 8. Nancy Kalieta is the director;  na*******@ao*.com . gardenclubsofwny.com.

Forest Stream Garden Club meets the third Thursday of the month (September–May) at 7 p.m., Presbyterian Village, 214 Village Park Dr., Williamsville and other locations. Summer garden teas and tours available. Ongoing projects include beautification of the Williamsville Meeting House, garden therapy at a local nursing home, youth gardening, and Victorian Christmas decorating.  ei******@ma*****.com .

Friends of Kenan Herb Club meets the third Monday of the month at 2 p.m. at the Taylor Theater. New members are always welcome. kenancenter.org/herb-club.

Garden Club of the Tonawanda meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m., Tonawanda City Hall, Community Room. Facebook.

Garden Friends of Clarence meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., September–June, Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main St.,  Cl******************************@ho*****.com .

Gardens Buffalo Niagara open gardens on Thursdays and Fridays in July starts Thursday, July 11. Explore the beauty of gardens spread out in Erie and Niagara counties. Visit gardensbuffaloniagara.com/open-gardens-buffalo for more details and location information.

Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of each month (except July and August) at 10 a.m. at the VFW Post 1419, 2985 Lakeview Rd, Hamburg. Events include a June plant sale and July and August field trips. New members and guests are welcome. Contact lo*********@gm***.com .

Kenmore Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of the month (except July, August, and December) at 10 a.m., Kenmore United Methodist Church, 32 Landers Rd., Kenmore. Activities include guest speakers, floral designs, and community service. New members and guests are welcome.  so*******@ao*.com .

Ken-Sheriton Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of the month (except January) at 7 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 576 Delaware Rd. Kenmore. Monthly programs, artistic design, and horticulture displays. New members and guests welcome. 716-833-8799,  ds********@gm***.com .

Lancaster Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January, July, and August) at 7 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 55 Pleasant Ave., Lancaster. All are welcome. Facebook. 

Lewiston Garden Club meets the fourth Monday of the month. See website for meeting information, lewistongardenfest.com/garden-club.html or contact at PO Box 32, Lewiston, NY 14092.

Niagara Frontier Botanical Society meets the second Tuesday of the month September through May at 7:30 p.m. (except April) at the Harlem Rd. Community Center, 4255 Harlem Rd., Amherst. Entrance is on the north side of the building. Meetings are open to the public.

Niagara Frontier Orchid Society (NFOS) usually meets the first Tuesday following the first Sunday, September–June, Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. niagarafrontierorchids.org.

Orchard Park Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month (except July and December) at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4536 South Buffalo St., Orchard Park. Contact Diana Szczepanski at 716-674-8970 for membership information. Guests are always welcome.

Ransomville Garden Club meets the third Wednesday or Saturday of the month at 5:45 p.m., Ransomville Community Library, 3733 Ransomville Rd., Ransomville. Meetings are open to all. Activities include community gardening projects, educational presentations, and June plant sale.  bb*********@gm***.com .

Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club meets the second Saturday of the month at 11 a.m., Silver Creek Senior Center, 1823 Lake Rd. (Rte. 5), Silver Creek.  sc***************@gm***.com

South Towns Gardeners meets the third Friday of each month (except January) at 9:30 am. Location is the American Legion Post, 5784 Ellis Road, Orchard Park 14127, NY. New members welcome!

Springville Concord Garden Club meets the first Friday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Concord Senior Center, 40 Commerce Dr., Springville. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of gardening and related topics. Annual July Garden Walk. Guests are welcome.

Town and Country Garden Club of LeRoy meets the second Wednesday of the month (except February) at 6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 7 Clay St., LeRoy 14482. Prospective members and guests are welcome. Contact:  le***************@gm***.com . Facebook: facebook.com/GardenClubLeRoyNY. 

Town and Country Garden Club of Williamsville generally meets the second Thursday of the month from 2–4 p.m. at the Ransom Oaks Community Club House, 101 Ransom Oaks Dr., East Amherst. Some meetings are held off site for garden tours and special events. The club maintains a garden at the Clearfield Library, 770 Hopkins Rd. Membership brochures with program information are available in the library. For information, contact  La*******@ro********.com .

Tropical Fish Society of Erie County meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., Lake Erie Italian Club, 3200 South Park Ave., Lackawanna. tropical-fish-club-of-erie-county.com

Western New York Herb Study Group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. Facebook.

Western New York Honey Producers, Inc. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, 21 South Grove St., East Aurora. wnyhpa.org. 

Western New York Hosta Society. The WNYHS was formed to encourage members to appreciate hostas and to provide them with access to quality new varieties. The group meets three times a year at the East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. wnyhosta.com.

Western New York Hosta Society Breakfast Meetings are friendly get-togethers the first Saturday (winter months only) at 10 a.m., Forestview Restaurant, Depew, wnyhosta.com. 

Western New York Iris Society meets at the Julia B. Reinstein Library, 1030 Losson Rd., Cheektowaga, at 1:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.

Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville. Check the Facebook page or website for meeting content: wnyrosesociety.net.

Youngstown Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 100 Church St., Youngstown. Facebook.

FREQUENT HOSTS

BECBG: Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo, NY 14218. 716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com.

REIN: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew, NY 14043. 716-683-5959; reinsteinwoods.org.

CLASSES / EVENTS

F Ongoing: Feed the Fish, 9:30 a.m. Regular admission for the day is included after the event. All tickets must be purchased ahead of time online. Check online for all dates. BECBG

Ongoing: Orchids After Dark, 6 p.m. on select days. See the beautiful blooms of the Orchid Exhibit after the sun sets. Check online for all dates and ticket prices. BECBG

May 4: Mothers Day & Teacher Appreciation Pick-a-Pot, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Create a flower arrangement for the hard-working moms and teachers at any time from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8. All ages are welcome. Cost is $15, registration not required. Badding Farm Market & Garden Center, 10820 Transit Rd, East Amherst, NY 14051

May 9: Basic Tree Identification Course, 10 a.m.–noon. Tom Draves and William Snyder review the basic elements of woody plant identification with Draves Arboretum. Course cost is $25; registration required. Visit dravesarboretum.org for more information.

May 9: World Migratory Bird Day, 9:30 a.m. This is a lesson about seven simple actions to help birds as guests search the woods for all types of feathered friends. Bring binoculars if you have them. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

May 13 & 14: Mother’s Day Plant & Sip, 5–7 p.m. Celebrate Mother's Day with a Plant and Sip at Badding Farm Market & Garden Center. Ticket price is $65; registration is required.

F May 16: Butterfly Experience Opening, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will return on May 16, open daily until July 19. BECBG

May 16: Amphibians: Masters of Two Worlds, 2 p.m. Students will learn about the role that amphibians play in the ecosystem, how to identify them by sight and sound, and how to explore in search of these remarkable animals. Registration required. REIN

S June 6: The Hamburg Garden Club’s 22nd Annual Perennial Plant Sale, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Shop perennials from members’ gardens and previously loved gardening items. Hamburg Farmer’s Market, Moose Lodge #523, 45 Church St, Hamburg.

T June 13: Shaw Guild Garden Tour—The Shaw Guild Garden Tour is an annual self-guided tour of private gardens in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tickets start at $25. Shawguild.ca/garden-tour 

June 20–21: GardenFest 2026, The annual GardenFest will be on Saturday June 20, and Sunday June 21 on Canter Street in historic Lewiston. The free event will feature multiple nurseries, vendors, landscapers, and gardeners. lewistongardenfest.com 

SAVE THE DATE…

F July 6–31: Garden Explorers Summer Camp, 9 a.m.–noon. This half-day program explores various subjects including art, science, botany, and gardening for ages 10–14 at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Cost is $250 a week. Visit www.buffalogardens.com for more information.

T July 11: Annual Arboretum Open House and Tour, 1:30 p.m.– 3:30 p.m. Learn about the story of Draves Arboretum and tour the species collection with Tom Draves. Cost of admission is $12. Visit dravesarboretum.org for more information.

T July 17–18: Ken-Ton GardenTour—Night Lights, 8:30–11 p.m. This evening tour highlights the hard work of community gardeners in Tonawanda and Kenmore. kentongardentour.com 

T July 18–19: Ken-Ton Garden Tour—Day Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors can enjoy community gardens in Tonawanda and Kenmore. kentongardentour.com 
August 15: William “Bill” Hendricks on Woody Plant Selections for the Shade Garden, 1–3 p.m. Horticultural expert Bill Hendricks takes an engaging and practical look at small trees and shrubs that thrive in shaded landscapes. Registration fee is $35. dravesarboretum.org

ITHACA

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (ACNARGS) Meetings are open to all. Check the current newsletter on the website for meeting location: acnargs.org or Facebook.com/acnargs. 

Auraca Herbarists, an herb study group, usually meets the second Tuesday of the month at noon, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Ithaca. Brown bag lunch at noon followed by the program. and herb of the month. Field trips during the growing season. All are welcome. Contact: Pat Curran,  pc**@co*****.edu . 

Elmira Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month, April–December, at 6 p.m., 426 Fulton St., Elmira. Annual plant sale, workshops, monthly meetings, local garden tours and community gardening services. Karen Coletta, 607-731-8320, Facebook.

Finger Lakes Native Plant Society meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of the month September to May. The organization is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of native flora and holds free public field trips and indoor programs, plus provides members a newsletter, seed exchange, native plant sale, and December celebration of native plants. flnps.org,  in**@fl***.org .

Windsor NY Garden Group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10 a.m., members’ homes or Windsor Community House, 107 Main St., Windsor. windsorgardengroup.suerambo.com.

ROCHESTER

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

7th District Federated Garden Clubs New York State, Inc. meets the first Wednesday of the month. 7thdistrictfgcnys.org.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Rochester meets the first Thursday of the month September–November and March–May, 7–9 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 4301 Mt. Read Blvd., Rochester. December and June meetings are social events TBD location. Contacts: Douglas Burdick, 585-313-8674,  db******@ms*.com . Barb Festenstein, 585-461-1673,  ba*************@ao*.com .

Bloomfield Garden Club meets the third Thursday of the month at 11:45 a.m., Veterans Park, 6910 Routes 5 & 20, Bloomfield. Visitors and prospective new members welcome. Marlene Moran, 585-924-8035, Facebook.

Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Brighton Town Park Lodge, Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Rd., Rochester. 585-334-2595, Facebook, bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org.

Canandaigua Botanical Society meets for in-person botanical events. See website for event schedule. canandaiguabotanicalsociety.blogspot.com 

Color Pittsford Green meets on the third Wednesday of the month, 6:45–7:45 p.m. via Zoom. All are welcome. colorpittsfordgreen.org

Conesus Lake Garden Club announces its campaign for new members. Meetings are held March through December at the Watershed Education Center, Vitale Park, Livonia at 7:00 p.m. The primary missions of the club are civic beautification and scholarships for Camp Stella Maris and Livonia Central School. Inquiries can be made to Eleanor Dober, President at:  em*****@ya***.com .

Country Gardeners of Webster This club is for those who like to dig in the dirt, smell the roses, learn about the birds and bees, take a walk in the park, eat, drink, and be merry, or live in Webster. They meet the second Monday of the month. Contact Elaine at 585-350-8270 to try this fun-loving club out.

Creative Gardeners of Penfield meets the second Monday of the month (except July and August) at 9:15 a.m., Penfield United Methodist Church, 1795 Baird Rd., Penfield. Visitors welcome. Contact 585-385-2065 or  09*******@gm***.com  if interested in attending a meeting.

Fairport Garden Club Meets the third Thursday evening of the month (except January, February, March, and August) in members’ homes or in the Perinton Ambulance building. Educational topics are presented through speakers, workshops, local tours, and community gardening i.e., Planter at Johanna Perrin School.  fa********@gm***.com , fairportgardenclub.com.

Finger Lakes Daylily Society members garden in west-central NY, covering an area from Batavia to Syracuse and the Southern Tier. Meetings are held in Rochester or the Canandaigua area. There are generally four regular Saturday meetings held in February, March, May, and September. Visitors and prospective new members are welcome to attend. Contact Deb Lawrence for information,  bi******@ya***.com .

Friends of Ellwanger Garden meet all season long on Tuesday mornings. To volunteer at the garden, please contact Cindy Boyer at 585-546-7029, x12 or  cb****@la*************.org .

Garden Club of Brockport meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., Jubilee Church, 3565 Lake Rd., Brockport. Visitors can learn gardening tips from knowledgeable speakers, make garden ornaments through hands-on classes, and explore beautiful local gardens. For more info please email  ga*********************@gm***.com .

Garden Club of Mendon meets the third Tuesday of the month, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main St., Honeoye Falls. Members work on community gardens and gather new ideas in a casual, social environment. 585-624-8182,  jo**********@gm***.com .

Garden Path of Penfield meets the third Wednesday of the month, September–May at 7 p.m., Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd., Penfield. Members enjoy all aspects of gardening, new members welcome.  ga******************@gm***.com

Gates Garden Club meets the second Thursday of the month (except July and August) at 6:30 p.m., Gates Town Annex, 1605 Buffalo Rd., Rochester. New members and guests welcome.  ga*************@gm***.com

Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meets the first Monday following the first Sunday of the month. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. at the JCC on Edgewood Dr. in Brighton. Please see the website for information, geneseeorchid.org.

Genesee Valley Hosta Society meets the second Thursday of the month, April–October, at Look Up Park, 3850 East Henrietta Rd, Henrietta. Contact 585-889-7678 or  se*******@fr*********.net , or visit geneseevalleyhosta.com for more information.

Greater Rochester Iris Society (GRIS) is an affiliate of the American Iris Society, meets on a Sunday during the months of March, April, September, and October at 2 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 11 Episcopal Ave., Honeoye Falls. Public welcome. Plant Sales, guest speakers or location visits, Volunteer Opportunities. Honeoye Falls. 585-266-0302,  th**********@ma*.com .

Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) Ongoing meetings (April through October) provide a variety of plant sales and member-only virtual lectures and on-site garden tours. A calendar of 2026 events in on the website Greater Rochester Perennial Society: rochesterperennial.com or the Greater Rochester Perennial Society Facebook page: facebook.com/GreaterRochesterPerennialSociety. To become a member, you can download our membership form: rochesterperennial.com or contact us via email: ro**********@gm***.com .


Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. on Zoom January, February, and March Email  j.*******@gm***.com  for meeting link. Questions: 585-694-8430. Facebook: Greater Rochester Rose Society.

Henrietta Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month, except May-August and December. At 6:30 pm at The Henrietta Town Hall, Lower level, 475 Calkins Rd. Henrietta. Handicap accessible. Guests and nonresidents are welcome. Call 585-442-8634 or Sites.google.com/site/henriettagardenclub.

Hilton Garden Club Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month from February-December. At the Hilton Baptist Church, 50 Lake Ave from 7-9 p.m. Meetings are offsite in July and August. Facebook: The Hilton Garden Club.

Holley Garden Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., Holley Presbyterian Church. 585-638-6973. 

Hubbard Springs Garden Club of Chili meets the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Chili Community Center, 3237 Chili Ave., Rochester.  dt******@ro*******.com

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets on zoom February to April at 10 a.m. the third Thursday of each month. Beginning in April, meetings are in-person. There are no meetings in December and January. Attendees will participate in an ikebana workshop, enjoy fellowship with your own brown-bag lunch, and have a short culture program following lunch. Ikebana International is a non-profit cultural organization whose objective is to stimulate and perpetuate the study of ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging) and related arts throughout the world. In-person meetings are at First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Rd., Rochester.  ro**************@gm***.com , ikebanarochester.org.

Kendall Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., Kendall Town Hall. 585-370-8964.

Klemwood Garden Club of Webster meets the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. (except January and February) in members’ homes or local libraries. Accepting new members. 585-671-1961.

Lakeview Garden Club (Greece) meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January and February) at 7 p.m., meeting location varies depending on activity. Meetings may include a speaker, project or visits to local garden-related sites. New members always welcome. Contact, Darlene Markham,  dm******@ro*******.com .

Newark Garden Club meets the first Friday of the month at 1 p.m., Park Presbyterian Church, Newark. Guests are welcome.

Pittsford Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Spiegel Center on Lincoln Ave. in the Village of Pittsford. The club usually meets in Room 18, but visitors should confirm at the front desk. New members are always welcomed. Annual plant sale on the third Saturday in May, parking lot behind the library.  pi*****************@gm***.com

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of the month (except August and September) at 12:30 p.m., 2025 Rochester Dahlia Society Show and Sale Sept. 13-14 Aldersgate Methodist Church, 4115 Dewey Ave.; details at rochesterdahlias.org Visitors welcome. See website for up-to-date information concerning meetings and shows. 585-865-2291, Facebook, rochesterdahlias.org.

Rochester Herb Society meets the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January, February, and July) at noon, Pittsford Community Center, 35 Lincoln Ave., Pittsford. Summer garden tours and day trips. New members welcome.  rh*********@gm***.com

Rochester Permaculture Center meets monthly to discuss topics such as edible landscapes, gardening, farming, renewable energy, green building, rainwater harvesting, composting, local food, forest gardening, herbalism, green living, etc. Meeting location and details: meetup.com/rochesterpermaculture.

Seabreeze Bloomers Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except January) at 7 p.m., location varies depending on activity. Meetings may include a speaker, project, or visit to local garden-related site. Monthly newsletter. New members welcome. Meetings are currently canceled, contact Bonnie Arnold with any questions. Bonnie Arnold, 585-230-5356,  bo**********@fr*********.net .

Stafford Garden Club meets the third Wednesday of the month (except December and January) at 7 p.m., Stafford Town Hall, 8903 Morganville Rd. (Route 237), Stafford. All are welcome. 585-343-4494.

Urban Agriculture Working Group (UAWG) meets via Zoom on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. UAWG is a collection of gardeners, community gardens, and individuals who garden/farm in the city or support such activities. UAWG offers a Spring Conference each year and sponsors the Urban Gardens ROC garden crawl in the fall. In addition, the group advocates for City policies that make urban gardening more accessible for people who want to grow fresh vegetables for themselves or their neighbors. If you are interested in getting on the email list, contact Mallory Hohl,  md****@co*****.edu . You do not have to live in the city to participate.

Victor Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January and February) at 6 p.m. New members welcome. Meeting and location details: victorgardenclubny2.com, victorgardenclub.org.  The Webster Arboretum. 1700 Schlegel Road, Webster. thewebsterarboretum.org

The Webster Arboretum. 1700 Schlegel Road, Webster. thewebsterarboretum.org 

Williamson Garden Club. On-going community projects and free monthly lectures to educate the community about gardening. Open to all. 315-524-4204,  gr*******@gm***.com , GROW-thewilliamsongardenclub.blogspot.com. 

FREQUENT HOSTS

BFF: B-friendly Farm and Garden, 2755 Penfield Road, Fairport 14450. 585-424-4476; broccolotreeandlawn.com. 

CCE/GC: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee County, 420 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020. 585-343-3040, ext. 132; genesee.cce.cornell.edu. 

CCE/MON: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, 2449 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY 14617. 585-753-2550; monroe.cce.cornell.edu. 

CLASSES / EVENTS

S/O Ongoing Fridays & Saturdays: Lunch time with Lili, 11:30 a.m.–2p.m. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts can participate in exclusive, online flash sales of orchids and carnivorous plants from Bergen Water Gardens. In April and May a few sales will feature lotus plants. bit.ly/BergenSale 

Ongoing: Wander & Wonder Walks, Friday mornings 9–10 a.m. Takes place at the FLCC Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake. MFS staff and friends take the channel trail loop, noting seasonal changes with a fresh perspective of an ever-changing special guest. Free to attend. No registration required.

May 5: Jumping Worms, 7 p.m. Sophie Pedzich will speak on jumping worms with Canandaigua Botanical Society at Wood Library, 134 N Main St, Canandaigua,

S May 5 & 8: Mother’s Day Plant Sale and Nursery Auction, Expect a variety of hanging baskets, flowers, vegetable plants, flowering trees, shrubs, and much more. Orleans County Produce Auction, 12590 Ridge Rd., Albion, NY 14411, auctioneer Caleb Nicodemus, 585-322-6331

O May 7: Garden Talk “Native Bees & How You Can Help” Noon–1 p.m., New York is home to more than 400 native bee species. They are important pollinators for gardens, crops, and natural environments. In this class students will learn about native bees, and how people can help them around the house by creating a welcoming habitat. Registration required. This is a hybrid event; join online or in-person at the Genesee CCE office. CCE/GC

S May 8–17: Monroe County Master Gardener Volunteers Tent Sale, 10:30 a.m. CCE will be at the Highland Park Lilac Festival, located in the vicinity of the Lilac Adventure Zone children’s playground. Featuring a variety of lilacs, plus an opportunity to “Ask a Master Gardener.” 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester.

May 8–17: Lilac Festival, 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. The 128th Rochester Lilac Festival showcases 500 varieties of lilacs. Guest can also enjoy music, food, and craft vendors. roclilacfest.com 

S May 9: Webster Arboretum 26th Annual Plant Sale, 8 a.m.–Noon. For sale: perennials from standard to common, annuals, dwarf conifers, geraniums, dahlia and more. Find the uncommon, unusual, and odd plant at this sale. thewebsterarboretum.org 

S May 9: Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale, 8:30–11 a.m. Held at the Wayne County Cooperative Extension, the sale features a selection of perennials, herbs, and vegetable plants suited to our area. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions and offer guidance. 1581 Route 88, Newark.

May 12: Companion Planting with Kasha Grisley, Master Gardener, 7 p.m. Companion planting is a gardening practice where plants are grown together for mutual benefit, such as deterring pests, attracting beneficial insects, improving soil health, and maximizing space. This natural method can lead to stronger, more productive crops by creating a balanced and supportive garden ecosystem. thewebsterarboretum.org 

S May 16: Ontario Garden Club Plant Sale, 9 a.m.–Noon. The Town of Ontario Garden Club hosts its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 16 at the Casey Park Lodge, 6551 Knickerbocker Rd, Ontario, NY 14519. Only cash or check payment is accepted.

S May 16: Spring Garden Gala, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Join Genesee County Master Gardeners for its annual Spring Garden Gala—plant sale featuring a selection of perennial plants and houseplants, chance auction, and garden garage sale. Plant sale starts promptly at 10 a.m. CCE/GC

S May 16: Bloomfield Garden Club Plant Sale, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. The Bloomfield Garden Club’s fifty-second Annual Plant Sale will be on Saturday, May 16 at the Bloomfield Historical Academy Building. The sale features annuals, hanging baskets, herbs, gently used garden shed items, and home-grown perennials. Proceeds support many charitable and garden projects. The public is invited. For more information: Laurie O’Mara 585-406-3457; 8 South Ave., Bloomfield, NY 14469.

S May 22: Memorial Day Special Sale and Nursery Auction—Expect a variety of hanging baskets, flowers, vegetable plants, flowering trees, shrubs, and much more. Orleans County Produce Auction, 12590 Ridge Rd., Albion, NY 14411, auctioneer Caleb Nicodemus, 585-322-6331

S May 23: Market in the Park, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., At the 7th Annual Market in the Park, Local vendors will have locally grown perennials, herbs, vegetables, annuals, trees, and shrubs and garden ornaments. Located at Warner Castle in Highland Park, 5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY. CCE/MON

T May 27: Guided Tour of Linwood Gardens, 10:30 a.m. Guests will enjoy a private tour and learn about the history, family, and peonies of the Linwood Gardens. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $25 per person, be paid directly to Linwood Gardens by cash, check, or Venmo upon arrival. linwoodgardens.org 

S June 6: Annual Garden Expo & Plant Sale, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Shoppers will find a selection of affordable, high-quality plants. Also, they can connect with local gardening organizations and get expert advice to help your garden thrive. Every purchase supports local programming, so you can grow your garden while giving back to the community. CCE/MON

F June 6: Two-gether Time Kids Windchime and Pot, 9–10 a.m. A fun, hands-on class where kids become artists. Kids color and assemble their own wind chime and paint a pre-stenciled pot. Kids will pick flowers to plant in the pot. Ages five and up with adult present Cost of attendance is $25; register online. BFF

June 13: Mini-conference on pollinators and native plants, 10 a.m.–Noon. The Duryea Room, Seymour Library, East Ave., Brockport. Meet and Greet: 10–10:30 a.m. Welcome and Workshops: 10:30 a.m.–Noon. Wrap up: Noon-12:15 p.m. Fee: None. Donations accepted. Capacity: Limited to fifty participants. Reserve your space by contacting Gary Skoog at sk*******@ro*******.com . 

T June 27: Kiwanis 4th Annual Garden Tour, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Rain or Shine (Pittsford area), this tour features six extraordinary gardens Tickets: $20. Day of the event. Pre-sale tickets or tickets with a coupon are $18. Purchase tickets at Canandaigua National Bank (CNB) locations: Pittsford, Perinton, Penfield, Brighton & Henrietta.

SAVE THE DATE…

F July 14: Life Cycle of the Bees and Butterflies, 10–11a.m. Registrants will explore the life cycles of bees and butterflies and make a wildflower seed bomb. (Ages eight and up) $25; registration required. BFF

T July 15: Great Gardens of Wayne County Tour, 4–8 p.m. Presented by Master Gardeners, this self-guided tour in the Macedon area will feature a variety of garden styles, from established landscapes to more personal backyard designs. Tickets will be available starting in mid-June. For more information, contact the Wayne County Cornell Cooperative Extension office at (315) 331-8415.

F July 16: Make a leaf puzzle and owl from recycled cans, 10–11 a.m. Make a leaf puzzle and race your teammates to figure out each other’s puzzles. Make and decorate an owl from recycled cans. (Ages 8 and up) $25; register online. BFF

July 21: Milk Carton Birdhouse; Toad House, 10–11 a.m. Upcycle a milk carton to create your one-of-a-kind birdhouse. Make a toad house to give shelter for your garden toads. (Ages 8 and up) $25; register online. BFF

July 23: Christmas in July, 1–5 p.m., A flower show sponsored by the FGCNY 7th District. Step into a winter wonderland in the heat of summer at Damascus Shrine Center 979 Bay Road, Webster 14580. Admission and parking free.

F July 23: Land art, Coffee cup bird feeder, 10–11 a.m. Make artwork from objects you find around the Garden Center. Create a refillable cup bird feeder to hang in your tree at home. (Ages 8 and up) $25; register online. BFF

F July 28: Treasure hunt with decoder, ice cream cone bird feeder, 10–11 a.m. Kids will use a decoder to find hidden treasures around the Garden Center then make an Ice cream cone bird feeder. (Ages 8 and up) $25; register online. BFF

July 30: Learn about chickens, wind chimes, 10–11 a.m. Learn about chickens and visit a coop. Color your own set of wind chimes. (Ages 8 and up) $25; register online. BFF

September 14: Flowering Outdoors: Gardens & Parties, 9:30 a.m. Founder and editor-in-chief of FLOWER Magazine Margot Shaw will present “Flowering Outdoors” at the Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum. Tickets are required. Visit rochestergardenclub.com for more information.

SYRACUSE

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Syracuse. The chapter meets at 7:00 p.m., on the second Thursday of the month, September to December and March to May, there are no meetings in January or February due to weather conditions. The meeting place is Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Road, North Syracuse. More information is available on the chapter website (avsofsyracuse.wixsite.com/avgss) or via email  pe************@gm***.com

Baldwinsville Women’s Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month except January at St Marks’ Lutheran Church in Baldwinsville at 7 p.m. The club plants the village flower barrels, raises money for the village flower hanging baskets, maintains the Pointe Garden, donates Arbor Day trees to schools, and gets involved in village improvement projects. Perennial sale yearly on Memorial Saturday morning in the village. See more information at Facebook, Women’s Garden Club of Baldwinsville.

Bonsai Club of CNY (BCCNY) meets the first Saturday of the month 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Rd., North Syracuse. Contact Dave Taylor,  da*******@ya***.com  or 315-395-3018. cnybonsai.com, Bonsai Club of CNY on Facebook.

Cazenovia Garden Club usually meets the first Tuesday of the month at 10:15 a.m. at the Cazenovia Public Library. With an active membership, their objective is to stimulate interest in horticulture, develop skills in the beautification of community and home, and create awareness of national and local conservation issues. Meetings feature guest speakers and field trips are planned throughout the year. For more information contact  ca***********@gm***.com .

Central New York Orchid Society meets the first Sunday of the month, September–May, St. Augustine’s Church, 7333 O’Brien Rd., Baldwinsville. Dates may vary due to holidays. 315-633-2437, cnyos.org. 

Fairmount Garden Club meets the third Thursday of the month (March–November) at 6:30 p.m., Camillus Senior Center, 25 First St., Camillus. Speakers and community projects. All are welcome. to**********@ya***.com .

Federated Garden Clubs NYS–District 6. 315-481-4005,  di******@gm***.com .

Gardening Friends Club meets the third Tuesday of the month, March–December, at 6:30 p.m., Wesleyan Church, 4591 US Route 11, Pulaski. 315-298-1276, Facebook: Gardening Friends of Pulaski, NY, Vi********@fr*********.net .

Gardeners in Thyme (a women’s herb club) meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville. 315-635-6481,  hb****@tw***.com .

Habitat Gardening in CNY (HGCNY) meets the last Sunday of most months at 2 p.m. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. HGCNY is a chapter of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes; wildones.org. Free and open to the public. hgcny.org and ourhabitatgarden.org. Subscribe to the free e-newsletter by emailing  in**@hg***.org .

Home Garden Club of Syracuse usually meets the first Tuesday morning of the month. Members are active in educating the community about gardening, horticulture, and floral design and are involved with several civic projects in the Syracuse area. New members welcome. ho**********************@gm***.com , homegardenclubofsyracuse.org.

Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. See website for meeting locations. 315-458-3199, cnykoi.com.

The Men and Women’s Garden Club of Syracuse meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Ave., Syracuse. Meetings feature activities and/or guest speakers on gardening-related topics. The club also plans tours for its members. Members maintain gardens at Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Ronald McDonald House plus host annual flower shows. Regular club meetings at the church will take place in the months of March, April, May, August, September, and November. More information at  facebook.com/MWGardenClubOfSyracuse and mw********************@gm***.com .

Southern Hills Garden meets the third Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise noted), February through November at the LaFayette Firehouse, 2444 US Route 11, LaFayette, NY. Meetings usually begin at 7:00 pm. Offsite meetings typically have an earlier start time. Guests are welcome and membership is open to anyone interested in gardening. For info regarding meetings or membership, please email Kathie Forrest at ka************@gm***.com  

Spade & Trowel Garden Club of Manlius & Fayetteville usually meets the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Members enjoy education in horticulture, conservation, gardening, floral design and civic beautification. For more information contact ma*******@gm***.com . 

Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of the month (except December) at 7 p.m., Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Ave., Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Ave. Club members maintain the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, Thornden Park, Syracuse. Public welcome. syracuserosesociety.org.

Seneca County Community Garden Club members meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Seneca Falls Recreation Center, 35 Water St., Seneca Falls, NY $20 individual/family plots available. New members always welcome, and you don’t have to be a Seneca Falls resident to join.

CLASSES / EVENTS

S May 9-10: HGCNY Spring Sale, Hosted by Wild Ones, browse plants from various nurseries at 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, and 12–3 p.m. Sunday, May 10. hgcny.wildones.org. 

S May 16: Spade & Trowel Garden Club Plant Sale, 8 a.m.–Noon, Sale will take place at the Manlius Gazebo, Rt. 173 in Manlius, next to St. Ann’s Church. For more information contact ma*******@gm***.com . 

T June 13: Tour John Rybinski’s Property. Learn about recognizing and removing invasive species, and the efforts Rybinski is taking to manage his property. Visit hgcny.wildones.org for more information.

T June 14: Tour of Go Native Perennials, 1p.m. Tour native perennials at Limeridge Botanical Garden and Arboretum with Janice Wiles and Philip Crim. Visit hgcny.wildones.org for more information.

Deadline for calendar listings for the next issue (July-August 2026) is June 10, 2026. Please send your submissions to ca******@up*********************.com . 

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

The Dutch Connection at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY is a February flower display of spring annuals, daffodils, tulips, and more. This annual floral event comes just as Rochesterians are getting weary of cold winter days. Every year thousands of visitors flock to the museum to get a taste of the coming spring.

The display is a celebration of George Eastman’s appreciation of the tulips he saw during a 1895 trip to Holland. Eastman ordered tens of thousands of bulbs from Holland every year between 1905 and 1932. Learn more at eastman.org. 

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Are you looking for simple ideas to elevate your garden in spring, summer, and fall? With a little creativity, you can highlight garden elements you already possess. By combining flower blooms and foliage from your garden with a watertight container, you can create a floating flower garden. Think birdbaths, a fountain, or a tall terracotta urn. Then select a palette of colors and interesting textures that are complementary and create a garden feature that is uniquely yours. Add an unexpected punch of color to your woodland garden, front porch, or meandering pathway. Whether you are expecting friends and family for a garden soirée or just relaxing on your patio, you can enjoy a zen moment using greenery and blooms from your patch of paradise. 

In early spring, hellebore blossoms look lovely floating in a birdbath outdoors. This menagerie includes several varieties, colors, and forms. Most hellebore flowers have a nodding habit, which makes it difficult to see the intricacy of the blooms. By floating the flowers in water, you can enjoy all the details up close. Hellebores are easy to grow in part shade and will tolerate dryish soil once they are established. One of the first perennials to flower in the spring, their leaves are evergreen and deer resistant.

Both Seneca Greenhouse in West Seneca (senecagreenhouse.com) and Wayside Garden Center in Macedon (waysidegardencenter.com) offer a large selection of annuals and perennials, including hellebores. Both nurseries are open year-round with greenhouses packed with houseplants.

For all those readers passionate about native growing early blooming hepaticas, snip the perfect mix of colors, shapes and bloom sizes for a captivating water garden. Both sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) and round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica Americana) are natives in several Western New York counties.

Buy local from Amanda’s Native Garden (amandasnativeplants.com) in Dansville. Co-owners Ellen Folts and daughter Amanda Stolte specialize in woodland native perennials propagated in-house from seed, division, cuttings, and spores. According to Folts, “gardeners can pick up hepaticas at the nursery beginning when we open in April. We also ship bare-root hepaticas from April through mid-May and from September through to the end of October.”

Pansies and hellebores sparkle in an antique pressed glass dish. Experience small garden moments by bringing a touch of spring indoors with this colorful composition.

For a large selection of pansies and violas, visit Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouse (mischlersflorist.com) in Williamsville. The garden center is open from April through November, with a perennial sale every year in April.

Van Putte Gardens (vanputte.com) in Greece sells pansies and violas in flats, six packs, and larger decorative containers. Van Putte offers a ten percent discount to seniors every Wednesday and post specials on the website.

A brunnera leaf acts as a mini surfboard on the water to support a tender clematis bloom. The clematis seems to hold up longer especially if a firm leaf is placed under it. Quick and simple, yet elegant!

Visit Sara’s Garden Center in Brockport (sarasgardencenter.com) for native plants, hard-to-find perennials, and the latest new plant varieties. According to Kathleen Kepler, “We grow at least thirty varieties of clematis and stock a good selection of containers, bird baths, troughs, and bowls that are watertight.”

Traditional pond plants like water lettuce and water hyacinths work well in deep containers and birdbaths. They multiply quickly when the outdoor temperature rises. By mid-summer you will have extra plants to share with gardening friends. Both water lettuce and water hyacinths have long root systems that filter the water and fight algae by soaking up the nutrients algae feed on.

At Bergen Water Garden & Nursery (bergenwatergardens.com) in Churchville you will find a plethora of unusual plants for your floating garden including Chinese micro lotus and miniature water lilies. Owner Larry Nau says, “The best choice for a water lily is Nymphaea x helvola.” It is a miniature lily prized for its petite, lemon-yellow, star shaped flowers and mottled maroon-green lily pads. It spreads 1 to 2 feet, so it is perfect for a patio pot, water feature, or other confined space. It thrives in shallow water (minimum of 4 inches deep), is a prolific bloomer in full sun, and is winter hardy in USDA zones 3 to 11. Nau says that “for smaller containers I often suggest water poppies (Hydrocleys nymphoides) or water snowflakes (Nymphoides indica), which send out floating runners with plantlets at the nodes and produce white flowers.” Nau also sells red ludwigia (Ludwigia repens), rotala (Rotala rotundifolia) and creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia). “Do not overlook some basic aquarium plants, says Nau. “Most will grow emergent [above the water] and bear small flowers.”

In East Aurora, visit Masterson’s Garden Center (mastersons.net) for floating aquatic plants like water lettuce, water hyacinths, salvinia, azolla, and duckweed. Marginal aquatic plants like water iris, rush, cattails, arrowhead, and marsh marigold work for deeper water gardens.

The Artful Gardener (theartfulgardenerny.com) in Rochester, is owned by Jean Westcott, a horticulturalist and professional landscape designer. She has been sharing her knowledge with gardeners for forty years. At her shop near Highland Park, Westcott curates frost-proof pottery, statuary, fountains, sculpture, and birdbaths. The European bowls on display are water-tight and nearly thirty inches wide. They are made from polyethylene, designed to give the appearance of grey stone, but are extremely lightweight. The bowls are 100 percent recyclable.

Vibrant zinnias, orange nasturtiums, deep purple salvias and jewel-toned dahlias are highlighted by the tiny lilac blooms of ageratum. This breathtaking combination greeted me at Chanticleer, a pleasure garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, last October.

Weeks Nursery and Greenhouse (weeksnursery.com) in Clarence, is known for classic favorites, as well as new introductions of bold, blooming annuals. All plants grown at Weeks, including perennials, annuals, vegetables, and herbs are selected for strong growth and reliable performance in upstate gardens.

Wayside Garden Center (waysidegardencenter.com) in Macedon offers a large selection of concrete, resin and ceramic fountains and birdbaths, ideal for your floating flower garden. Take time to check out its hydrangea collection of more than 100 different varieties.

At Chanticleer, a large terracotta bowl is packed with yellow strawflowers, red zinnias, purple ageratum, red-orange marigolds, white cosmos, lavender asters, and the tubular orange flowers of hyssops.

Fenton’s Bloom & Basket (formerly Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden Center) in Batavia, is a year-round greenhouse, garden supply store, and produce market. There are houseplants along with outdoor seasonal favorites including annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, and trees.

A footed stone urn displays a water garden of simple purple asters floating petal to petal. A copper dish of chestnuts and seed pods completes this charming fall vignette at the 425-acre Scott Arboretum & Garden at Swarthmore College just outside Philadelphia.

Lavocats’s Family Greenhouse and Nursery (lavocatsnursery.com) in East Amherst, NY sells unique houseplants, annuals and perennials in their 19,000 square foot state-of-the-art garden center. Lavocat's offers an impressive array of pots from 2 to 20 inches in a spectrum of colors and a variety of textures. The traditional, porous terra cotta, usually orange in color, is also available in both white and gray at Lavocat’s.

Using just three annuals of various colors—dahlias, zinnias, and marigolds—this container transitions from hot to pastel hues. The imaginative, contemporary design was displayed at Chanticleer within the forty-eight-acre historic Rosengarten Estate. 

Henry’s Garden in Eden (henrysgardens.com) grows several varieties of zinnias perfect for floating. Barbara Henry says, “if you don’t want to cut flowers from your own garden, we host a seasonal U-pick usually the last two weeks in July until mid-September. Here, you can cut a rainbow of dazzling blooms to float in one of our distinctive birdbaths!”

Floating flower gardens have been around for years, adding beauty to gardens in unexpected spaces. Put your own spin on aquatic gardening by choosing the perfect vessel, selecting unusual plant material, or just picking a favorite blossom from your own garden. Experience a calm and uplifting sensation, while relaxing near your new creative water feature.

Colleen O’Neill Nice is a horticulturalist who is passionate about plant propagation and enjoys nurturing her garden in Clarence, New York.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Birds of prey are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. They are characterized by their strong, hooked beaks and sharp talons and can be found in a variety of habitats, including backyards and cities. Some species are common, while others have more specific habitat requirements and might require a bit of searching to find, but there is usually a bird of prey nearby.

Backyards provide an abundance of food for birds of prey. Chipmunks, squirrels, and even songbirds are sources of food for birds like Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks. Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest hawks in North America, with males only getting slightly bigger than a Blue Jay and females growing to be about one third-larger than the male. They have a blue-gray colored back and rusty-colored bars on their breast. Juveniles are covered in brown streaks. Cooper’s Hawks have very similar coloration to the Sharp-shinned Hawk, but they are a larger bird. Both species are known to visit backyards with bird feeders, where they are notorious for ambushing songbird prey. Red-tailed Hawks are the most common hawk in our area. They can often be seen perched on trees or even telephone poles along highways and streets where they search the ground for mammals or snakes. Although not as common in neighborhoods, they are sometimes seen going after small mammals in backyards.

There are some birds of prey that specialize in catching fish. Bald Eagles and Ospreys can be seen flying over open water on their hunt for prey. Once uncommon, Bald Eagles have made a remarkable comeback in the United States. These large birds are found by most large bodies of water. Their diet is mostly fish, but they are opportunistic and will go after mammals and waterfowl and even scavenge off carcasses. Their bright white head and tail is their signature plumage, but they do not get this coloration until they are five years old. Juvenile Bald Eagles are a mottled brown and white but still have the wingspan of more than six feet and the large head and beak that are found on adults. The Osprey also has a large wingspan that can be more than five feet long, but its wings are thinner than that of the Bald Eagle. Ospreys and Bald Eagles both nest along water, building huge nests out of sticks. Osprey are known to nest on platforms and utility poles while Bald Eagles prefer trees. Bald Eagles and Ospreys can be seen competing over fish, especially due to the Bald Eagle’s habit of trying to steal fish from other predators, a behavior known as kleptoparasitism.

Open fields are another place to look for birds of prey. The Northern Harrier can be found flying low over fields and marshes as it actively hunts for its prey of small mammals. Males are gray and females brown, but both exhibit a bright white rump patch that can easily be seen above their tail feathers while in flight. The American Kestrel is a small falcon that will sometimes hover over a field as they pinpoint their prey before they strike. This small bird hunts small mammals as well as insects. They can be seen perched on phone wires along roadways and especially fields. Males and females have different plumage and the female is not as brightly colored, but they both have two vertical black bars that run down their face and a blueish-gray crown on the top of their heads.

Some birds of prey are found in towns and cities. Peregrine Falcons and Merlins are found even in the most urban environments. Peregrine Falcons will readily nest on bridges and buildings as well as on cliffs. These avid aerial hunters are often seen seen chasing after pigeons and starlings, which are both common in city environments, but are known to hunt a variety of birds. While in an aerial dive, Peregrine Falcons can hit prey at a speed of 240 mph, making them the fastest animal on earth. Merlins are aerial hunters that go after smaller prey such as shorebirds and house sparrows. House sparrows are often common in cities and backyards, giving Merlins an ample source of food. Merlins are smaller falcons than Peregrines and are stockier and lack the dark, helmeted head Peregrines exhibit.

If you spend any time looking to the skies this summer, you are very likely to see Turkey Vultures. They are known to glide the thermal waves on warm, sunny days and rarely flap their wings. The underside of their six-foot wingspan is a stark black and white contrast, another easily identifiable characteristic. Turkey Vultures are scavengers and are often seen feeding from carcasses they find with their advanced sense of smell.

Making your yard friendly for birds of prey is possible. Rodents are a big part of their diet, so never put out any rodenticides that kill the rodents birds of prey feed upon. Kestrels will make their homes nest boxes mounted high in trees near or in fields. Having a bird of prey in the neighborhood is a sign of a balanced ecosystem. While some may just be passing by, especially during migration season, others are resident birds that will stay all year long to patrol their territories for prey.

Liz Magnanti is co-owner of the Bird House in Brighton.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 pound asparagus, chopped

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream

A pinch each of salt, pepper, and nutmeg

Optional: Olive oil for garnish; sour cream thinned out with a bit of milk or water until a drizzling consistency is reached

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat olive oil in heavy bottom pot. Add onion and sauté until onion is soft and translucent. Add garlic and sauté for another minute.

2. Add asparagus and broth to pot and bring to boil. Turn heat down and simmer for 15–20 minutes until asparagus is tender.

3. Carefully transfer soup to a blender and blend until completely smooth, then pour back into pot. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender if you have one.

4. Stir in cream or half and half, then season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

5. Serve soup with a drizzle of olive oil and/or thinned sour cream, if desired.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

When it comes to pruning your woody plants, timing can be intimidating. Am I cutting the right branch at the right time? Did I take too much, not enough? Did I kill it? We can talk pruning dos and don’ts and there’s scores of literature out there to read. For me, gardening is about relieving stress, not causing more. I am a less-is-more type of pruner. When it comes to a plant that can thrive without me, I do my best to adapt to my plant’s style, rather than shove them into a box—or a meatball shape.

TECHNIQUES

I don’t like to say what I recommend is the way you must do it. As plantsmen wiser than I have taught, there’s no single best way, but more a series of best practices for targeted goals. First things first. You don’t have to prune a shrub. Don’t gasp; it’s true. Now, if you’d like to maintain a certain shape, size, train for aesthetics, or maximize plant health and overall blooming, pruning is a valuable maintenance skill and one worth honing with classes, research, and reference guides. I’d like to take some mystery out of pruning during the spring and early summer. I am a firm believer that anyone with common sense can do it.

I realize that I said I don’t like to finger-wag when talking techniques, but I’m going to give two rules I follow for every pruning job.

One: I don’t prune a plant I haven’t positively identified. Know your plant before you start hacking at it randomly. If you aren’t sure, take a picture or a live sample to a plant nursery or your local Cooperative Extension for identification. Green industry folks love a good ID challenge. I don’t trust plant apps; I’m over forty so I have to be a dinosaur about something, and I’ve seen apps misidentify too many times.

Two: I never take more than one-third of the plant mass off during one session. Trust me on this—one-third is a lot less than it looks. When it comes to cutting, less is more. Take a before picture to reference as you go, sometimes it’s hard to recall how much you’ve cut once you’re all up in the shrub’s business. Pruning, while beneficial, is still removing life from a plant and will cause a certain amount of stress as well as stimulating the plant to put out more growth. Less stress is best. Take breaks, walk away, and take a new look after hydrating to evaluate your work. It’s ok to do a pruning job in stages.

Every shrub has its natural shape, or habit; it’s good to familiarize yourself with what your shrub’s ultimate shape and potential dimensions would be with no human intervention. If you’ve always pruned a shrub into a specific shape or height, you might be surprised at its natural characteristics. A great place to do this is during a walk through an arboretum. It is an arboretum’s general practice to allow their specimens to grow with minimal intervention, showcasing their natural shapes and growth.

LET’S TALK TIMING

There is one type of pruning you should do as soon as possible and regardless of season: removing broken branches. Broken branches can invite disease and pests, as breaks are rarely clean, often involving tearing, and can take much longer to heal than a correctly angled, clean cut.

Corrective pruning is all I do to help a woody plant towards healing a broken branch; placing tar, paint, or a fabric will hinder the plant’s natural healing abilities and is not recommended. In these situations, I prune the broken or damaged branch back to the next outwardly facing bud before the breakage.

Next, are there branches rubbing together or starting to compete for the same space? Again, we look to the buds for where to cut. To help visualize this future direction of growth I locate the bud I think I’m going to prune back to and line my finger up with its direction. Then I visualize the direction the future branch will grow. Every time you prune a branch, you are changing the trajectory of its growth based on the bud furthest out on the branch. A woody plant doesn’t grow from a branch tip; it grows from the bud on the branch tip. This is why if a branch is pruned between buds the results are often a leafless, lifeless stump. You see these most often in hedges, where the objective is a solid wall of plants. This precision sacrifices a natural growth habit but can work for a thick living fence or wall. Again, it’s all about your objectives.

Late spring to early summer is an active growing period, so it may not seem like the ideal time for pruning, however there are some shrubs that respond best if pruned in this window. Shrubs that have one blooming period in springtime, such as lilac, forsythia, and fothergilla, will begin setting next year’s flower buds a few weeks after this year’s flowers fade. This is what’s meant by blooming on “old wood.” Those flower buds are formed and persist through winter dormancy to burst open next spring. Pruning these types of shrubs is best done soon after the flowers fade to avoid removing next year’s flowers.

Big-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is another shrub that blooms on old wood and is one of the last shrubs to “wake up” in the spring. In our Western New York climate, extremely cold winters can result in significant stem dieback. Many an eager gardener, desiring to remove all the dead-looking sticks from their otherwise greened up landscape, have unknowingly removed sleepy hydrangea branches and thereby lost their blooms for the season. I prefer to wait until the leaves have begun to unfurl from the buds before deciding what to remove as dead wood. This can mean waiting until early June some years. I find looking at hydrangea sticks an extra month in spring worth the wait for maximum blooms later that summer.

HOW MUCH TO REMOVE

Do I prune branches to the ground or remove part of the branch? Look at the base of your shrub. Is there one main trunk or many growth points from the ground? Cane shrubs, such as red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea), forsythia, and pussy willow (Salix discolor) can have a portion (again, no more than one-third) of the oldest canes, or stems, removed completely or pruned to the ground. Sometimes a cane shrub has been highly trained. I’ve seen single trunk lilacs, for instance, so here’s an example of why you positively identify your shrub by more than its apparent habit. Lilac shrubs can be very sentimental for some people, and cutting big, old trunks can seem painful, but I assure you, those young shoots you keep nipping in favor of the old trunk are fast-growing, and essential for replacing the older parts of the shrub which will eventually stop producing blooms and ultimately die off.

If you are working with a severely overgrown tangle of shoots and old growth, and you don’t want to make drastic changes to the shrub’s overall appearance; make it a multi-year pruning project. Often starting by removing dead, damaged, and rubbing branches can drastically improve a shrubs appearance and health, with little need for additional pruning. In summary, don’t be intimidated by pruning. While it can seem complicated, it’s a skill that grows with practice. If you’re looking for more hands-on training, look through the calendar in this magazine at the different events held throughout the region. There’s often a pruning class hosted by a local garden club, green industry professional, or Cooperative Extension near you. Most importantly, enjoy the process, and, when in doubt, don’t stress, just cut a little less!

Bonnie Warriner is a horticulturalist and budding flower farmer with a love for capturing beauty in pictures and words. You can find her among the wildflowers and goats on her family’s 150 acre farm in Jasper, New York.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

LIVE BUTTERFLY EXPERIENCE RETURNS TO BUFFALO’S BOTANICAL GARDENS

The Butterfly Experience will be returning to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens this spring and summer starting on May 16. Hundreds of butterflies will take flight in the Tropical Orchard greenhouse. The live butterfly exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will run through July 19. Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with hundreds of different butterflies native to the continental United States and take in in the beauty while learning about the important role pollinators play in their ecosystems.

Various species including swallowtails, monarchs, painted ladies, and red admirals will fill the 1,200-square-foot greenhouse, along with dozens of fruit-producing and nectar-rich plants and for them to feed on. The space will also feature a pupa—also known as an emergence case—display. Here visitors will get to witness the third stage of a butterfly’s metamorphosis, when caterpillars finally emerge as butterflies from their hard outer casings called chrysalides.

For those looking for an even more in-depth visit with the butterflies, a limited number of tickets will be available for the new Butterfly Release encounters held on select Saturdays. These exclusive events offer early access to the Botanical Gardens before they open to the public. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about butterflies’ life cycle, behavior, and role in our larger ecosystem. The encounter ends with participants taking part in releasing new butterflies into the exhibit.The Butterfly Releases will take place on May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, and July 18 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Tickets for both the Butterfly Experience and the Butterfly Release are on sale now at buffalogardens.com. 

DELPHINIUMS FOR DAYS

The company 1-800-Flowers has recently named Delphiniums as the 2026 flower of the year. These perennials are named after the Greek word for dolphin, delphis, because the shape of the unopened flower buds closely resembles a dolphin. Delphiniums are known as one of the few true blue flowers, most commonly blooming in hues of blues and purples, but can they be found in shades of pink, red, yellow, and white.

For gardeners in western New York, delphiniums are a perfect fit thanks to our region’s climate. Unlike many flowering plants, they prefer mild summers and can struggle in extreme heat, which gives local gardeners an advantage. Planting in the spring, after the last frost, gives them the best start. Whether you’re using transplants or starting from seed, choosing a sunny location with rich, well-draining soil is key to helping them thrive.

Because delphiniums can grow several feet tall, they make a striking addition to any garden, but they do need a little extra care. Strong winds can easily knock them over, so staking them early or planting them in a more sheltered spot can help protect them. Keeping the soil consistently moist and adding compost or fertilizer throughout the growing season will also encourage stronger growth and fuller blooms.

Delphiniums should begin to bloom in early-to mid-summer, adding striking elegance to the garden. Cutting them back after the first bloom can encourage a second round of flowers later in the season, allowing gardeners to enjoy their color and height all summer long. Delphiniums are a great choice for any local gardener looking to bring color, height, and a classic garden feel to their outdoor space.

EDWARD STEICHEN IN THE GARDEN

On view from March 27 to September 6, the exhibition Edward Steichen in the Garden at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester is centered around his fascinating work in the horticultural world. Spanning his work in painting, photography, and plant breeding the exhibition examines the complex story of a revolutionary artist of the twentieth century.

Between 1923 and 1938, Edward Steichen was the highest-paid photographer in the world. Working as chief photographer for Condé Nast’s Vogue and Vanity Fair, Steichen produced work that was particularly captivating, blending Pictorialism with modern fashion. Aside from fashion photography, Steichen’s work in the horticultural world was also revolutionary, specifically in plant breeding. His fascination with the delphinium inspired a decades-long mission to cultivate the perfect blue variety, which Steichen would later name the ‘Connecticut Yankee.’

Author of Edward Steichen in the Garden, Sarah Anne McNear, says few gardeners have taken up plant hybridization as a hobby in the way Steichen did. “Once we become gardeners, we all have things that interest us, but Steichen went right for that,” says McNear. Steichen sought to create enduring beauty through genetic manipulation. Believing that plant hybridization was a creative art form, Steichen said he was as much an “author of his delphiniums” as he was of his photographs, McNear explains.

The idea of gardening as a refuge plays a monumental role in the exhibition. The gallery moves chronologically, presenting Steichen’s return to gardening after traumatic events. Eastman photography curator Daniel Peacock notes that the gallery tracks the moments when he returns to the garden. “In his work with plants and in the creative endeavor of hybridization and [in] the immersion of gardening—which took his attention away [from strife]—helped him process difficult events.” Experiencing two world wars, a divorce, and the death of his parents, Steichen consistently returned to the garden, whether in New York, France, or Connecticut.”

According to Peacock, a particular draw of the exhibition is how viewers notice the transformation of Steichen’s work across mediums over time. “For an institution so focused on photography, I don’t think we’ve ever shown this many paintings at once,” says Peacock. “I’ve heard from painters who have come to see the show who have been really interested in the way his painting style changes over the years and at the same time how his photographs are changing,” he adds.

Steichen’s appreciation for nature was often reflected in his photography and paintings, but it wasn’t until he developed a love for gardening that his plant hybridization work truly began. As an aesthetic, scientific, and experimental gardener, Steichen’s endeavor to create the ‘Connecticut Yankee’ delphinium reflects an almost obsessive dedication. Byron Smith, landscape manager at the museum, notes that Steichen’s process of breeding thousands of delphiniums, and discarding more than 900 of them because they just “weren’t right,” suggests an extreme level of commitment. “But to do all of that labor as an art form is impressive,” Smith adds.

Edward Steichen in the Garden invites visitors to an inspirational display of what it means to be a gardener. For Steichen, his work in the garden was not separate from his artistic practices; it was an extension. For any gardener who has taken chances in their garden and understands the patience cultivation takes, the exhibition offers more than history—it offers recognition. Learn more information about the exhibition at eastman.org. 

AWARD-WINNING GARDEN

Ted and Yudelka Jordans’ Rochester-area backyard landscape is a standout example of thoughtful design and transformation. The property is a featured stop along the Kiwanis Garden Tour on June 27. The landscape design was honored with two New York State Landscape Awards in 2025. Purchased just before the COVID pandemic, the property’s original twenty-five-year-old landscape had deteriorating retaining walls, overgrown plantings, and a steep slope that directed runoff toward the home. In collaboration with local engineers, these challenges were resolved with new retaining walls, improved drainage, and permeable pavement all while preserving mature trees and transplanting cherished plants. The clients’ vision—an outdoor fireplace, space for football games, a dining area, outdoor kitchen, waterfall, spa, and fire pit—is seamlessly integrated to create a cohesive, functional outdoor living space ideal for both relaxation and entertaining. The garden was designed by Ann Hubregsen and installed by Josh Landscape Co.

The Kiwanis Garden Tour is on June 27 and begins at 11 a.m., rain or shine. Learn more and purchase tickets at bushnellsbasinpittsfordkiwanis.org. 

Jayme Seiple is studying sociology with a minor journalism major and Keith Docherty is a journalism and broadcasting major, both at SUNY Brockport.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

I just returned from a fabulous tour of the Edward Steichen and the Garden exhibition at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester. To say I was blown away is an understatement. Steichen was a painter, photographer, and a veteran of World Wars I and II. He was also a gardener. As a young man he rejected gardening in order to distance himself from his immigrant family’s toil on the family farm. But the pull of flowers and soil led him back to his roots, so to speak. His delphinium farm—and the hybrids he developed—became the link that united his art and his gardening.

Sarah Anne McNear, the author of the book Edward Steichen and the Garden and the exhibition curator, emphasized how this exhibition is important to gardeners everywhere. Anyone who plunges their hands in the dirt to plant a flower knows that gardening can change how you look at the world. This was certainly true of Steichen, and seeing the world of gardening and art through his eyes took my breath away. His art captures not only the complex beauty of the botanical world but also the deep emotional connection a gardener has with the land, the dirt, and the plant. That is a connection is one that we as fellow gardeners feel deep in our hearts.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.