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*****@***il.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*****@*ol.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. 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*******@*ol.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******@*****on.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., Clarence. ga*********************@*****il.com. 

Gardens Buffalo Niagara offers open gardens on Thursdays and Fridays in July starts Thursday, July 11. Explore the beauty of gardens spread out in Erie and Niagara counties. Dates and locations: gardensbuffaloniagara.com/open-gardens-buffalo.

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: mf******@********er.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*******@*ol.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********@***il.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 am at the American Legion Post 567 at 5784 Ellis Rd, Orchard Park. Contact Lena Monaco at 716-270-7862 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*********@***il.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***************@***il.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***************@***il.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*******@********er.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

O November 5: Gift Ideas for Gardeners Who Have Everything, noon–1 p.m. This presentation explores garden accessories, including rainwater catchment systems, electronic moisture monitors, hummingbird feeders, and more. Advance registration is required. Attend in person at the Genesee County CCE office, 420 E. Main St., Batavia, or via Zoom. In-person registration: call 585-343-3040, ext. 101. Zoom registration: genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events. 

November 7: Fabulous Fungi, 10 a.m.–noon. A mushroom enthusiast leads this beginner-friendly walk as the group attempts to identify as many mushrooms as possible. For ages 12 and older. The walk goes off-trail; long pants are recommended for tick protection. Registration is required. Dress for the weather. For accessibility accommodations, contact Reinstein Woods in advance. REIN

November 11: Caring for Wildlife, 10 a.m. At the Hamburg Garden Club monthly meeting, Margie Hanrahan, president of Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center, will teach attendees what to do for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Reservations required: mf******@********er.com. VFW Post 1419, 2985 Lakeview Rd., Hamburg, NY.

November 14–15: Orchid Show, Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The Niagara Frontier Orchid Society presents its orchid show at the Botanical Gardens. The show features award-winning orchids from across the region, growing advice from orchid experts, and orchids and supplies for sale. BECBG

November 20–January 4: Poinsettia Exhibit, starting at 10 a.m. daily. Step into the warm embrace of the tropical conservatory, filled to the brim with brilliant poinsettias of all sizes and colors. This year, the train display returns to the Poinsettia Exhibit. There will be a festive G-scale train in the Bonsai House, surrounded by poinsettias and seasonal decorations. BECBG

F November 21: Who Stays for Winter?, 10–11 a.m. Learn which resident birds, mammals, and insects remain active in winter. BECBG

November 27: Poinsettias After Dark, 5–9 p.m. Thousands of twinkling lights will guide visitors through illuminated greenhouses. BECBG

December 17: Floral Design Workshop, 6–7 p.m. Participants learn how to prepare fresh materials for an arrangement, basic design elements, and how to keep an arrangement looking fresh. All floral materials and supplies will be provided. Bring a box to transport the arrangement. Flowers will be based on seasonal availability. BECBG

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**@*****ll.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. 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**@***ps.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. Find on Facebook.

CLASSES / EVENTS 

T December 5: Wreaths and Winter Greens, 10 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m. Start with a tour of the Mullestein Winter Garden and then make an evergreen wreath to take home. Students in the Learning by Leading program will introduce visitors to the Winter Garden, which features a wide variety of evergreens and plants with winter beauty, and guide everyone through making a wreath using cut greens and other decorations. Learn about the cultural lore surrounding evergreen plants and the historical significance of wreaths. Refreshments and all materials will be provided, but students are welcome to bring their own decorative embellishments. Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center, 124 Comstock Knoll Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, cornellbotanicgardens.org 

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******@*sn.com. Barb Festenstein, 585-461-1673, ba*************@*ol.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

Color Webster Green meets on the second Wednesday of the month, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at the Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd, Webster, NY, 14580. All are welcome. Co***************@***il.com. 

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 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*****@***oo.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*******@***il.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********@***il.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******@***oo.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****@*************ty.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 information, email ga*********************@***il.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**********@***il.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******************@***il.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*************@***il.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. For information, visit 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*******@*********et.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**********@*ac.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 is 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**********@***il.com. 

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. on Zoom January, February, and March Email j.*******@***il.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******@**********rr.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**************@***il.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******@**********rr.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*****************@***il.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*********@***il.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. 

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. To join the email list, contact Mallory Hohl, md****@*****ll.edu. Participation is open to residents and nonresidents.

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 

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

FREQUENT HOSTS

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

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

TBH: The Bird House, 3035 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14618. 585-264-1550 thebirdhouseny.com/events 

VPG: Van Putte Gardens, 136 North Avenue Rochester, NY 14626, 585-225-7770, vanputte.com 

CLASSES / EVENTS

S/O Ongoing Fridays & Saturdays: Lunch time with Lili, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts can participate in exclusive, online flash sales of orchids and carnivorous plants from Bergen Water Gardens. bergenwatergardens.com 

November 7: Tabletop Tree Display & Online Auction. Tabletop trees decorated by local businesses and organizations are displayed throughout the historic mansion. The trees are available through an online silent auction. Free to members; included with museum admission. Trees (plus wreaths and gingerbread houses, as well!) will be on display through January 3. Auction runs through December 31. George Eastman Museum, 900 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 327-4800, eastman.org 

November 11: Earth Explorers: Toddler Edition at Maplewood Nature Center, 10–10:45 a.m. Hands-on activities for children and caregivers include songs, rhymes, reading, and exploration of Maplewood Nature Center and the surrounding park. This event is for ages 3–5. Maplewood Nature Center, 107 Bridge View Dr., Rochester, cityofrochester.gov 

November 14: Composting in Action: Explore Different Methods, 10–11 a.m. Explore composting methods, suitable materials, and how to get started. The program explores options for different spaces and needs, including traditional outdoor composting and alternatives for smaller spaces. Free. 2449 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY 14617 CCE/MC 

November 14: Don Alhart Book Release and Signing, 1:30–3 p.m. Don Alhart signs his book McCurdy’s Christmas Surprise, inspired by memories of downtown Rochester. Proceeds from this book benefit the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp. TBH

November 14: Sugar Pine Chandelier Workshop, 11 a.m.–noon. Design a sugar pinecone chandelier in this hands-on workshop featuring three oversized pinecones, fresh greens, berries, and a bold holiday bow. Registration required. VPG

November 21: Book Signing with Debi Bower, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Author Debi Bower signs her Rochester area–themed books, including Highland Park, 104 Day Trips Around Rochester, NY, and Hidden Places Around Rochester, NY. TBH

November 24: Prevent Food Waste in Your Daily Cooking Routine, 5–6 p.m. Learn to make butternut squash soup and reduce food waste with budget- friendly techniques. 611 Winton Rd., Rochester, NY 14609. CCE/MC

November 28: Small Business Saturday at The Bird House, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. The Bird House marks Small Business Saturday with sales, giveaways while supplies last, hot mulled cider, and holiday treats. TBH

December 5: Andrea’s Trivets Show and Sale, 10 a.m. Meet Ron and Shirley of Andrea’s Trivets, makers of silicone trivets, jar openers, and other items featuring birds, pets, and food designs. TBH

December 5: Holiday Greens Workshop, 9 a.m.–noon. This class is presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County Master Gardeners. Participants will make three holiday decorations: a wreath, a tabletop display, and a swag. Registration is $45; space is limited and reserved upon payment. Bring small pruners and gloves. Register by sending payment to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County, 1581 Rte. 88 N., Newark, NY 14513, or in person Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Include a phone number and email address. Refunds for cancellations are available if the spot can be filled; one week’s notice is requested. Questions: 315-331-8415.

December 12: Randi Minetor Book Signing, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Randi and Nic Minetor discuss and sign books, including Backyard Birding and Butterfly Gardening, Best Easy Day Hikes: Rochester, Hiking Waterfalls New York, The Complete Language of Birds, and more. TBH

December 12: Holiday Houseplant Basket, 11 a.m. Design a holiday houseplant arrangement with festive flair. Choose a container, live plants, ribbon, and decorative accents. Registration required. VPG

December 19: Book Signing with Robin Flanigan, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Robin Flanigan signs books including Secret Rochester: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure and 100 Things to Do in Rochester Before You Die. TBH

SYRACUSE                     

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Syracuse. The chapter meets at 7 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************@***il.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*******@***oo.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***********@***il.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**********@***oo.com. 

Federated Garden Clubs NYS–District 6. 315-481-4005, di******@***il.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********@*********et.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****@******rr.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. Free e-newsletter: in**@***ny.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**********************@***il.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 7p.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********************@***il.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, 13084. Meetings with a guest speaker 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************@***il.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*******@***il.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. The public is 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

O November 18: The Habitat Check-up with Wildr Places, 7–8 p.m. This free webinar explores a science-informed approach to evaluating a home landscape. Presenter Zoe Evans will introduce five key areas to consider when assessing habitat and share how thoughtful observations can help guide next steps. Registration: wildones.org/thehabitatcheckin

Deadline for calendar listings for the next issue (January-February 2027) is December 10, 2026. Please send your submissions to ca******@*********************al.com.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

When I came across this roasted vegetable galette online (cravingtasty.com/vegetable-galette), I knew I had to recreate it. The combination of the colorful root vegetables, savory cheeses, and flaky pastry was too good to pass up. I added my own touches and brought it to life in my kitchen. The result was well worth the effort.

INGREDIENTS

Pie crust:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced

1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

3–5 tablespoons ice-cold water

Filling:

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 medium red onion, diced small

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 ounces softened cream cheese

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons of crumbled blue cheese

Teaspoon salt

Pinch nutmeg

Pinch smoked paprika

Vegetable layer:

1 sweet potato

2 cups heirloom carrots

3 red beets

2 cups butternut squash

1 Tablespoon flat leaf parsley

Salt to taste

Egg wash (1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk, whisked together)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the pie crust dry ingredients in a large bowl. Work the butter cubes into the flour with your fingers or a pastry cutter until you have a mix of different sized butter pieces remaining. Those pieces help with the flakiness.

2. Stir the vinegar into three tablespoons of ice water. Sprinkle it over the flour mixture and toss gently. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together when pressed.

3. Shape into a flat disk, wrap, and chill for 45 minutes to an hour. After it has chilled, roll it into a 16-inch circle that is roughly an 1/8 inch thick and add to a pie pan. I recommend chilling the prepared dough again before assembling.

4. Melt the two tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat and adding the onion. Let that cook for about a minute before adding the red wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, salt, and pinch of nutmeg.

5. After the vinegar reduces almost completely, add the cream cheese and the crumbly bleu cheese and cook until melted into a sauce. Put it into a separate bowl and chill it. After the sauce has chilled, add it to the prepared pie crust.

6. Peel and slice the vegetables into 1/4 inch, half-moon slices. Arrange slices in an alternating pattern angled up toward the top of the crust in an inward spiral until the tart is completely full. Drizzle the top with a generous amount of olive oil, the parsley, and salt. Finish by brushing the crust with egg wash.

7. Bake at 375 degrees for 45–50 minutes. You will want to place the tart on the middle rack of the oven. Ovens times may vary, so check from time to time to make sure the crust does not burn.

Sam Tabone runs a Wegmans pizza shop in Rochester and has a been working in the culinary industry since 2010. He has worked his way up from doing dishes at a diner in his hometown to becoming a sous chef at a restaurant in Buffalo to now managing an entire team. “Everyone loves great food and the joy it can bring to people. It’s the reason I still love cooking and executing recipes to this day.”

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Ornament making was my first craft with dried flowers, and it has become tradition to give them as Christmas gifts to close friends and family. The fillable ornaments can be found at craft stores or ordered online. I enjoy making a few carefully curated ones by myself with layers and delicate precision, but they are also a simple craft to do with young children.

If you don’t have any dried flowers, forage your garden for seed heads, acorn caps, and other bits of nature to create a unique memory capsule of the outdoors. Just ensure all items are dry before filling to avoid condensation and mold.

SUPPLIES:

Clear plastic fillable ornament ball

Dried panicle hydrangea flower cluster

Scissors

Sewing pin

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Carefully snip all the blooms off of the hydrangea cluster. Use the sewing pin to gently push flowers into the ornament. This is best done by placing the flower flat on top of the opening and pushing the center of the flower through. This way the petals can flex inward with less breakage.

2. Fill ornament to desired capacity. Sometimes less is better to see the petals best!

3. Accessorize your ornament with a ribbon for hanging. This craft can be done with any dried flower. One year I added the seeds for the flower in the ornament for an extra fun ornament gift.

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 November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Often this article is about birds and how to attract them. However, if you’ve ever tried attracting birds by feeding them, you’ve probably had experiences with another creature that visits bird feeders—squirrels! Squirrels are one of the most common and entertaining animals found in the area. They are extremely acrobatic, can be found in a variety of habitats, and have continuously growing incisors (which grow about six inches per year) that require them to have to consistently nibble and chew on things. Between their relentless hunt for food and range of habitats you’ve probably had at least one experience with a squirrel.

There are several squirrel species that can be found in New York. Red Squirrels are often found in pine forests but are also becoming increasingly common in backyards. These squirrels are smaller than the very common gray squirrel and have reddish fur and a white ring around their eye. They eat a lot of conifer cones and also like nuts, seeds, and fungi. These small squirrels are very vocal, and it is not uncommon to hear a chorus of their chatter as you walk through coniferous forests.

The Eastern Chipmunk is a small, active ground squirrel who creates elaborate burrows underground. These burrows can be up to thirty feet long and contain multiple chambers and escape hatches. They will have chambers for sleeping, food storage, and waste. Chipmunks feed on seeds, nuts, insects, fruit, and even bird eggs. During the winter, chipmunks go into a state of torpor where their body temperature drops, their heart slows, and they only wake up periodically to eat from the food they have stored away. Because their food is cached underground, you will rarely see a chipmunk above ground during the winter.

You may also have a very large ground squirrel, the groundhog, or woodchuck, visiting your yard—yes, groundhogs are in the squirrel family. They feed on herbaceous plants like grass, clover, dandelion, and sometimes our garden plants. Although usually seen on the ground, woodchucks can climb trees and swim quite well! Woodchucks are considered “true hibernators.” They will go to sleep for about three months of the year. During this time, their heart rate drops to about four to five beats per minute and they only take about two breaths per minute. Like the chipmunk, they also build elaborate underground tunnels. Their tunnels can be twenty feet long or more and have chambers for waste, raising young, and sleeping.

Not all squirrel species are diurnal, or active during the day. Flying squirrels will visit backyards at night, foraging for lichens, fungi, seeds, nuts, insects, and more. New York has two species of flying squirrel—the Northern and the Southern Flying Squirrel. They don’t truly fly like a bat but use the large furry membrane of skin that stretches from their wrist to their ankle to glide from tree to tree. They also have very large, dark eyes which help them see in the dark. Listen for their chatter in your trees at night. Like gray squirrels, flying squirrels can cling to bird feeders and will readily eat from them. During the day, flying squirrels will live in tree cavities, large nest boxes, and other secluded spaces that provide cover and shelter.

Gray squirrels are the mammal most seen in the Eastern United States and can be found in habitats ranging from forests to backyards and city parks. They feed on acorns, nuts, seeds, flowers, fungi, bark, and more. Gray squirrels also have well-known and sometimes common color morphs, some being all black or all white. Gray squirrels are also very vocal and will chatter and flick their tails as a form of communication.

Gray squirrels are often found in backyards and their aerial acrobatics are second to none. They can jump five feet straight up, seven feet across from one thing to another, and nine feet down from something high to low. Their long bushy tails act as a parachute, allowing them to leap from a great height to something below while avoiding injury. Because of this, they can usually get to a backyard feeder if it’s not defended properly. But squirrels can be fun to feed, too. They will eat corn, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, among other things. Sometimes leaving food out for the squirrels will distract them from bird feeders. Squirrel feeders can be very basic ground platform trays but there are also really fun squirrel feeder designs. Some look like a little table with chairs or a picnic table that the squirrel sits on, and there is even one that is a bungee cord with corn attached to it which makes the squirrel bounce up and down when feeding! Of course, nothing beats providing squirrels with the natural food they can find on their own. Planting native plants and trees like oak, hickory, beech, and walnut will provide squirrels with plenty of food to cache. In the fall they can often be seen digging in the ground hiding, or “caching,” food for later in a behavior known as scatter hoarding. The squirrels will cache food in many different locations in their territory instead of one single place. Squirrels don’t recover everything cached, making them an integral part of forest regeneration.

Water is another simple way to make your yard more squirrel- friendly. Like all wildlife, squirrels need a reliable water source. As temperatures drop, a heated birdbath can provide squirrels and other animals with water throughout the winter.

One of the most low-maintenance things you can do if you want to give the squirrels in your neighborhood a place to live is add some shelter in the form of a squirrel box or even an owl box. In the winter, squirrels will spend their time in hollow trees or abandoned nest cavities, staying out of the elements. In the spring, they will build leafy nests called dreys high up in trees. Both gray and red squirrels will have two rounds of babies each year. The first babies can be born as early as February, and the second round of young are born sometime in the summer. It is always fun to watch these young squirrels learn how to navigate their surroundings.

Gray and red squirrels are active all year long, so expect to see them all winter, although during times of bad weather they will hunker down until conditions improve. With their Cirque du Soleil– style moves and big personalities, squirrels can be an entertaining and welcome presence in any backyard.

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

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Recently I received some pictures from a woman who was both concerned and mystified at the strange growth pattern of some flowers. (I was delighted.) The blossoms looked squished … the stems were thicker than normal. Instead of a single flower at the top of a stem, individual flowers were replaced with multiple (usually double) flowers. The tops of the flower stems were wider than usual to accommodate the flowerheads.

They were exhibiting fasciation (from the Latin fascia which means stripe), an uncommon but fascinating growth change which usually affects stems and/or flowers. Fasciation only occurs in vascular plants but never in non-vascular plants such as liverworts or mosses.

What causes this? There are many things that can go wrong when plants grow, but they seldom occur—probably because nature has a way of keeping these conditions in check. The cells (apical meristem) located at the tips of stems and roots divide, causing growth in those areas. Sometimes the normal growth becomes distorted even to the point of multiple flowerheads emerging from on the same point. This is “fasciation.” Oddly enough fasciation doesn’t seem to hurt the plant itself. It doesn’t die. It simply looks strange!

Fasciation can also be caused by a sudden plant mutation or by tiny insects that interfere with the plant hormones that control growth. Fasciation can also be induced by a plant’s response to indiscriminate pruning. I remember being in a local plaza one summer when workers cut back all the container plants in flower in the middle of the summer with power tools. I assume this was to keep them from growing taller. I was upset and revisited that plaza several weeks later. The plants lived. Some plants grew new but deformed flowers … yes fasciation! (The rest simply looked horrible.)

Fasciation in lilies has been linked to the bacterium Rhodococcus fascians and occasionally to viruses. The bacterium is considered a pathogen because it also causes leafy gall disease. In lilies, the stems are flattened and the flowers distorted, making them unmarketable.

Many times, fasciation occurs for no reason that we know. Cockscomb celosia exhibits fasciation. The growing tip grows sideways instead of upward. The flowers resemble a rooster’s comb. In this case the condition is caused by an inherited trait that many people like.

Looking for fasciation? Look for many small leaves or stems resembling (and called) witch’s brooms. You may observe many flowerheads at one point instead of a single flowerhead. Look for stems that are flat instead of round in cross section. Look for weird stems that have ribs. If you see it in your garden, appreciate it. It is unique! Don’t like it? Remove it.

Fasciation has been recorded in many different species. Some collectors of cactus collect plants that exhibit fasciation. They are propagated vegetatively to continue their uniqueness. It has been found in both conifers and broad-leafed trees. Other plant groups that have exhibited fasciation include rose, willow family members, asters, daisies, and succulents. Its unpredictable appearance and the unusual forms it creates make it an intriguing phenomenon. Fasciation is truly fascinating!

Carol Ann Harlos is a Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

It’s a bittersweet goodbye to the growing season for me. There’s always just one more flower about to bloom, and I’ll gather bouquets every day until the season’s frosty end. Then my knees remind me that watching snowflakes with a good book and a mug of hot cocoa can be a welcome respite.

If you’re a gardener like me who gathers seeds for saving and starts plants indoors, there really isn’t too much of a gap to struggle through without working on a garden-related project. It seems that the seed catalogs come earlier and earlier every year, and I try my best not to crack them open until after the New Year. Once the hard frosts take the last of the zinnias, it can be a long time until we have abundant color in the garden again. I think that’s what I miss most during wintertime, the bright colors. From the bright green grass and tree canopies to the rainbow of blooming colors, the contrasting dull hues of winter can leave me restless for the growing season’s brightness.

We do our best to prolong the season, from taking cuttings to root in the sunroom to bulbs to force on the windowsill. However, I have never been very good at keeping things alive inside during winter, and other than seed starting, indoor growing in the off-season is not for me. Cue my latest winter plant hobby that dovetailed with my recent cutting garden focus: dried flowers. The best part? You can’t kill a drying plant in the winter by over- or under-watering it, bad lighting, or other pesky live-plant-maintenance needs. 

When I began my cutting garden, one of the most reliable filler flowers also happened to be the easiest flower to dry: statice (Limonium sinuatum). Not only does it come in a rainbow of colors including deep purple, bright yellow, and creamy white, it’s easy to tell when statice is ready to harvest. The colorful parts of the plant are actually the calyx, or sepals, which are outer modified leaves that protect and support a flower, while the true flowers are small and white, nestled inside the sepals. Wait to harvest for drying until a third of the true flowers are open. A secondary sign that statice is ready to cut is the sound of the plant. It will turn more papery and rustle the more it matures. As with most cutting flowers, the more you cut, the more you get, so I gather every stem I can and begin drying flowers in late summer.

HOW TO DRY

The easiest method for drying flowers is to tie a bunch of stalks with twine (I also use floral wire) and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, dry location. I strip off all leaves and side buds from each stalk to expedite the drying process and prevent mold on some of the fleshier flowers. I tend to bundle in groups of a dozen stalks to ensure good air flow. I watched in horror our first winter when I was in a building heated by an old coal stove and most of my houseplants turned to dust. The upside? What my houseplants hated, my dried flowers love.

Within a month in these conditions, most bundles will be dry. Check for dryness by bending the stems; if they snap, they’re dry! If you don’t plan on using the flowers immediately, it’s a good idea to store them to retain maximum color. I store my bundles in cardboard boxes wrapped in tissue paper. While this is a practical step to prevent fading, opening a box full of purple statice in the dead of winter is like a gardener’s Christmas morning!

MY DRIED FLOWER PLANT LIST

I didn’t plan to be a lover of dried flowers. It started as most gardening hobbies do, curiosity and a fun experiment. One winter while looking through seed catalogs, I spotted a plant that caught my eye: sweet Annie (Artemisia annua). The write-up talked about its foliage making a dependable filler flower, with a sweet, old fashioned fragrance that made it a great base for autumn wreaths. I can’t say I put much more thought into growing it other than, “I wonder what that would look like in my garden?” Three years later it’s a dried flower garden staple, providing me loads of fragrant branches to serve as greenery filler, wreath base, and its fragrance makes it an excellent sachet and potpourri filler. In addition to statice and sweet Annie, the dried flowers I grow from seed include celosia (Celosia spp.), gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa), giant orange marigolds (Tagetes erecta) strawflowers (Helichrysum bracteatum) yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and red spike amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are a fantastic dried flower—just ensure you give them enough time to mature before cutting without waiting too long, as they will turn from that beautiful creamy-maroon to brown rather quickly, I’ve found. 

Herbs make great dried flowers, and their fragrance adds a lovely sensory dimension to dried flower arrangements. Two of my favorites are anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) and lavender (Lavendula spp.) As with other aspects of gardening, experimenting is part of the fun. This year I hung up a bunch of almost everything I grew to watch how it dried. I found that China asters look darling when dried but need a protectant spray to hold their delicate petals.

DRIED FLOWER PROJECTS

I find that gardeners are some of the most generous people I know, and drying flowers helps carry that generosity into the holidays. Aside from bouquets, dried flowers can be made into centerpieces, wreaths, swags, potpourri, and ornaments, just to name a few. One year I used dried hydrangea flowers as decorative filler inside cellophane-wrapped gifts. The possibilities are endless! Homemade gifts add that extra thoughtfulness that makes it a creative treasure. With a dried flower gift, the season-long care of a plant from tiny seedling to colorful art form is the ultimate creative curation.

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 November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

STORING WINTER SQUASH AND ROOT VEGETABLES

Can you really just park that butternut squash on the counter? And what are the best ways to store root vegetables?

When it comes to winter squash, “ideally, your basement is likely the better choice,” for storage, “as long as the squash is safe from rodents and it isn’t too humid down there,” says Chris Krivanek, farm director at Homesteads for Hope in Rochester. The cool air and slight humidity in the basement, usually 60% or so, should keep squash from drying out. “But a cool, drafty spot by a kitchen window works just as well.”

What about storing root vegetables in the refrigerator? Krivanek recommends storing root vegetables in a plastic bag in the fridge that is left open “so they can breathe a little” while keeping the humidity high—avoid the mesh storage bags. Remove any green tops from vegetables like carrots—the leaves are still alive and will pull moisture out of the root. 

What if you have an old home with an actual root cellar? “I would check conditions in an old root cellar first,” Krivanek says. Inspect the cellar for signs of rodents and get a temperature reading—the root cellar should not drop below freezing. “Also check humidity, if possible. Otherwise, go for it.”

EXPLORING GARDENING PODCASTS

You may already be listening to news or crime podcasts, but have you checked out podcasts for gardeners? “I love the intersection of storytelling and learning,” says Kelsey Segaloff, whose Garden Like podcast launched this year. Just like her podcast, her gardener origin story is unique. “I first wanted to garden because of the movie Practical Magic,” she recalls. She later learned to garden in a virtual space, the video game Stardew Valley. The game taught her about “seasonal planting, fertilizer, irrigation, and crop planning” long before she ever had a real garden. The idea is that garden inspiration can come from anywhere—and that was the genesis of the podcast. New episodes of Garden Like come out every other week, and episodes in season one include “Garden Like a Giant Pumpkin Grower,” “Garden Like a Witch,” and “Garden Like a Sustainable Urban Flower Farm.”

“We’ll even be doing ‘Garden Like Christmas 1899’ in December,” Segaloff says. When it comes to the podcasts she listens to, Segaloff has many favorites. The Dirt on Gardening with Andre the Farmer features a botanist and a master gardener, she explains, so “I think advanced gardeners will also like it and enjoy asking more detailed questions.” Garden Girls with Meg and Dagny is both informational and “soothing,” she says, because listeners feel like part of the hosts’ friendship. Another favorite is Urban Gardening with Gray. Derek Haynes’s The Chocolate Botanist is also great for advanced and beginning gardeners alike, she says; it’s “very conversational with high levels of expertise, and they record live, so viewers can submit questions to be answered during the show.” The Cultivating Place radio program and podcast are thoughtful and well researched projects “about natural history and the human impulse to garden.”

You can find gardening podcasts on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. Garden Like is a video podcast on YouTube, and the audio is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

FIERCE, FIERY HYBRID HEUCHERAS

For those who like a little fantasy in the garden, the new “Fyre Wing” series hybrid heucheras from Terra Nova could deliver some botanical escapism. These whimsical plants are “the first lace-leaf heuchera collection in the world,” says Chuck Pavlich, director of new product development at Terra Nova. The collection is non-GMO and protected by utility-patented genetics. They have “leaves that appear to unfurl like finely laced dragon wings,” and the inspiration for this collection was lore around dragons from the East and West. “Dragons are notorious for hoarding treasures, specifically gold and gems, which form the shells of their eggs,” Pavlich explains. Each of the seven varieties in the collection is named after a precious gemstone and boasts foliage that might remind you of a mythical beast. The “Fyre Wing” heucheras do best in full sun to partial shade and moderately well-drained, organic soil. They have average water needs, Pavlich explains, and it is better to let them be too dry than too wet once established. USDA Hardiness Zones for the series are 4–9. tnn.s.gy/HEUFYREWING 

Carolyn Sperry is a freelance writer in Rochester. She has published nationwide, won the Gotham Writers Stories Everywhere competition, and writes poetry featured in several journals.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

In our last issue I shared that I was able to dry lots of lavender this season. But then I looked at Bonnie Warriner’s articles in this issue and realized my few bundles are really nothing compared to her dried flowers! I am constantly impressed by Bonnie’s gardening, crafting, and writing. We are pretty lucky to have her on our team.

And don’t forget to read Sam Tabone’s recipe—his vegetable galette looks absolutely mouthwatering, and I’ll be making it next time we have guests over.

Of course, our other articles about fasciation, squirrels, and garden events are also exciting reads. Every article taught me something new, and that is one of the things I love best about working on the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. I am always learning new information about gardening, recipes, crafts, and the people and places that make our Western New York garden community so wonderful.

If you make the craft or bake the galette send us photos or tag us on social media.

–Managing Editor, Christine Green

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.