THURSDAY MARCH 13, 2025 

11 am: It’s a Jungle Out There–Floral Design— Dorothy Julius, Along Gardens Path 

Noon: Revisiting the Greats … Perennial Plant of the Year Selections—Sharon Webber, Lifetime CNLP 

1 pm: Do’s & Don’ts of Pruning Trees & Shrubs— Steve Sypniewski, Lifetime CNLP, Buffalo State College 

2 pm: Sex in the Garden (It’s Not What You Think)—Carol Ann Harlos, Master Gardener 

3 pm: Garden Char: Biochar’s Regenerative Impact on Soil—John Maher, Biochar Coalition 

4 pm: Care & Propagation of House Plants— Steve Smith, Lewisberry Gardens 

FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2025 

11 am: How to Succeed in Growing Vegetables— Tom Mitchell, Instructor, SUNY Niagara

Noon: Where have all the Butterflies Gone— David O’Donnell, Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm

1 pm: Thirty-five Years of Gardening—Sally Cunningham, CNLP, AAA/Great Travel, Author 

2 pm: Planning Your Landscape Project & Budget Requirements—Mike Frank, Chevalier Outdoor Living 

3 pm: Outstanding Flowering Perennials— Vicky Jancef, SUNY Niagara 

4 pm: Vines in the Landscape—Tim Zimmerman, CNLP, Robert Baker Company

SATURDAY MARCH 15, 2025 

11 am: Susan Hates Her Neighbors: Using Plants to Solve Problems & Relationships—Nora Saintz, CNLP, Gardenette 

Noon: Growing Awesome Roses in WNY—John Vitale and Steve Styn, Western New York Rose Society 

1 pm: Rewilding your Backyard—Best Native Plants for WNY—Ken Parker, CNLP, The English Gardener 

2 pm: Crash Course of Tropical Plants in the Garden—Clark Janson, CNLP, The Barefoot Gardener 

3 pm: Environmental Factors that Affect Plant Growth—Ron Callea, CNLP, Horticulture Teacher, McKinley High School 

4 pm: Sustainability: Garden Smarter with Less Work & Support Nature at The Same Time— Lyn Chimera, Lessons in Nature 

5 pm: House Plant Care—David Clark, CNLP, Horticulture Speaker 

SUNDAY MARCH 16, 2025 

11 am: Native Flowers & Foliage for WNY Gardens—Lyn Chimera, Lessons in Nature 

Noon: Invasive Insects in Western NY— Tom Mitchell, Instructor SUNY Niagara 

1 pm: Trees for Small Spaces—Tom Draves, Draves Tree Service, Draves Arboretum 

2 pm: Indoor Cultivation of Cannabis at Home— Melissa Moore, Instructor, SUNY Niagara 

3 pm: Natural Landscape Design—Mike Klepp, Teacher, Naturalist

The letters CNLP after a speaker’s name indicate that he or she is a Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional

All seminars to take place in the large seminar room unless otherwise noted. 

Large seminar room is located to the left of the concession stand. 

Small seminar room is located to the right of the concession stand.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

Looking for a new spring carrot recipe? Look no further! Our brown sugar and bourbon glazed carrots are a perfect side dish for early spring. Pair then with ham, roast, fish, or even tofu to round out your meal.

TIME: 1 hour 

INGREDIENTS 

1/2 pound carrots, peeled 

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 

1/4 cup butter 

2 Tbs. bourbon or whiskey (apple juice or cider works as well) 

Olive oil 

Salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Slice carrots in half, then slice again length wise. Carrots should be a little chunkier than a standard carrot stick. 

3. Spread on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Using parchment paper makes cleanup easier. 

4. Roast carrots for about 30 minutes or until desired tenderness. 

5. While the carrots are roasting, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Add brown sugar and stir constantly until melted into the butter. Add bourbon and cook a minute or two more until everything is combined. 

6. Toss the roasted carrots and the sauce in a serving dish. Enjoy!

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

Want to garden comfortably? This padded bucket seat serves double duty as tool storage and a seat for gardening. We used materials we had on hand, with the exception of the bucket and lid. A combination of hot glue and adhesive gives instant hold with longevity and strength. 

SUPPLIES 

5-gallon plastic bucket with lid 

2 pieces of foam, each about 14 inches square 

20-inch square of vinyl; we used an old tablecloth 

Hot glue sticks

Industrial strength adhesive 

Twine, rope or ribbon (optional)

TOOLS 

Marker 

Scissors 

Popsicle stick 

Glue gun

DIRECTIONS 

1. Use marker to trace lid shape on foam. We used two layers of foam to fill in the lid indentation and make the seat more comfortable. Cut foam with scissors along trace lines.

2. Add adhesive and hot glue to top of the bucket lid. Center foam piece on lid and press down. Let dry for 30 seconds. Repeat with second piece of foam on top of the first piece. 

3. Lay vinyl face down on a flat surface. Place lid foamside down in center of vinyl. 

4. Add a line of adhesive then hot glue to a section of lid side as shown in Figure A. Fold vinyl up and press into glue. To prevent burns, use a popsicle stick to press vinyl onto hot glue and adhesive for about 30 seconds. 

5. Repeat Step 4 on opposite side. Go around the entire lid, alterating until vinyl completely covers lid. 

6. Use scissors to cut off excess vinyl close to lid edge. 

7. If desired, trim edge of lid with twine, rope, or ribbon. Follow same method of alternating adhesive and hot glue around lid until desired look is achieved. 

8. Place lid on bucket and get out in the garden!Christine Green is the managing editor of Upstate Gardeners' Journal. Cathy Monrad is the graphic designer for Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

As the days get longer and the temperatures begin to increase, our resident birds who stayed all winter will start to fill the air with song and look for places to nest. Although most birds don’t begin nesting until April and May, there are still a lot of things you can do to prepare your yard and garden for birds this season. 

If you haven’t already, make sure that any bird houses you have from last year have been cleaned out. Any old nests and debris should be removed from the house to prevent mold or insects from making a home inside of it. The houses can be cleaned with diluted white vinegar or with a mix of water and dish soap. Scrub the house well and let it dry thoroughly before closing it back up. 

Bird feeders can also be cleaned using a water and dish soap solution. Soaking bird feeders in a warm dish soap solution will do most of the work for you. Clean them well with a bottle brush and dip them in a solution of one part beach to nine parts water for best results. (See our “Around the garden” section for more tips)

Birds and other wildlife will be attracted to your yard if there is a source of food, water, and shelter. Water is easy to provide with a birdbath. Make sure the water is changed out often, every day if possible. There are also enzymes that can be added to the water in a birdbath to break up some of the residue that may build up in them. Moving water is always best! You can turn any standing water into a fountain by adding a solar fountain insert. The sight and sound of moving water will attract more birds to the birdbath. Having moving water will also prevent mosquito larvae from being able to develop in the bath. 

Shelter can be provided with bird houses and plants. Consider making a brush pile of the sticks and debris from trees that you may be picking up around the yard this year. Brush piles are very easy to construct and give wildlife a place to hide from predators and from inclement weather.

Food will attract the greatest number of birds to your yard. Food can be provided with bird feeders. Offering a mix of sunflower seed, nyjer, peanuts, and suet is always going to give you the most diversity year-round. When migrants start to arrive in late April and May, you may want to add oranges and grape jelly for Orioles and nectar for Hummingbirds. 

Providing native plants can provide birds with food and shelter, food in the form of seeds, berries, and the insects that are attracted to the plants. Having a selection of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials will give birds the variety of food and cover they need. You may already have some of these plants in your yard.

Native oak trees, for example, are fantastic. They attract a wide variety of insects, especially caterpillars, that birds need to feed their young. American beech, basswood, elm, sycamore, Eastern hemlock, white pine, and flowering dogwood are other trees that are beneficial to birds. Serviceberries offer beautiful spring blooms that attract insects in the spring and will supply berries in the summer. Popular shrubs to attract birds include highbush blueberry, witch hazel, buttonbush, spicebush, pink azalea, and chokeberry. Perennials are often used to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, but their seeds can attract songbirds as well. Cardinal flower, milkweeds, goldenrods, blue lobelia, phlox, asters and native lilies like Michigan lily, turk’s cap lily, and Canadian lily will add a burst of color to your garden while also providing food sources for birds. (See Colleen Nice’s article in this issue for more native plant suggestions).

When planning your garden this spring, consider adding some of these plants to benefit local birds. They are low maintenance, will certainly benefit the wildlife around you, and are a great complement to bird feeders, houses, and baths. The Audubon Society has a vast database of native plants that can be searched by zip code in order to find which plants are recommended for your area. Simply visit audubon.org to explore all of the options! 

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

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

SPONSORED LISTINGS

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. rochesterikebana@ gmail.com, ikebanarochester.org. Visitors can view the chapter’s ikebana exhibit at the Greater Rochester Orchid Society show March 27–30, Fri. 1–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m, Sun 10 a.m–4p.m. Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave., Rochester.

May 17: 15th Annual Garden Faire, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Silver Creek Village Park. This event will feature a variety of craft and plant vendors, along with food available for purchase. Raffles will be available at each of the vendor booths, with tickets for purchase at the gazebo. Sponsored by the Silver Creek Hanover Garden Club. 

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. [email protected].

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, [email protected].

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, NY 14221. Picnic/Auction; 9/14, (Rochester, NY) 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 clubs meets at Nativity Lutheran Church, 970 E. Main St., East Aurora, NY (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; [email protected]. 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. [email protected].

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. [email protected].

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, NY. Events include a June plant sale and July and August field trips. New members and guests are welcome. Contact [email protected].

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. [email protected].

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, [email protected].

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) meets the first Tuesday following the first Sunday (dates sometimes vary due to holidays, etc.), 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. bbonnie2313@ gmail.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. [email protected]

South Towns Gardeners meets the second Friday of the month (except January) at 9:30 a.m., West Seneca Senior Center. New members welcome.

Springville Concord Garden Club meets the second Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center, 40 Commerce Dr., Springville, NY 14141. 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: [email protected]. 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 [email protected].

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, NY 14218. 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 NY 14052. 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, NY 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.

CLASSES / EVENTS

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.

F- Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

T Now–March 9: Orchid Exhibit, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Enjoy over 2,000 orchids of all colors, shapes and sizes in an exciting tropical escape this winter. The Orchid Exhibit will also be open in the evening with special lighting during Orchids After Dark on select nights and during several other special events. Orchids After Dark is open on March 1 and 8 from 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Day tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+), $9.50 for kids ages 3-12, and kids 2 and under and Botanical Gardens members are free but must have a ticket. Orchids After Dark Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for students and seniors (62+), $10 for kids ages 3-12, and kids 2 and under are free. Botanical Gardens Members save $2 on adult, student, and senior tickets. Tickets can be pre-purchased online for all exhibits and events at buffalogardens.com. BECBG

O March 6: Berry 101, 3 p.m. Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering a virtual session on berry gardening with Harvest NY Small Fruit Extension Specialist Anya Stansell. Registration required. https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/ register/6rgMeUorQlub_UAeJksNhg

March 8: Erie Master Gardener Education Day, 8:30 a.m–3 p.m. The Cornell Cooperative Extension celebrated gardening with two keynote speakers Kim Eierman and Margaret Lapp. Lunch is included in the cost of attendance. Registration required. Register online by March 5. Classics V Banquet Center 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd Amherst, NY 14228. erie.cce.cornell.edu

March 8: Early Birds, 10 a.m. Which birds have already arrived for the spring and which ones are on their way? Take a walk to learn bird ID tips and see who’s flying in the woods. Registration required; call 716- 683-5959. REIN

March 12: Senior Stroll, 10 a.m. Experience nature at your own pace and enjoy a leisurely hour-long guided walk through the woods. For adults only. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

T March 13–16: Plantasia Garden & Landscape Show, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. WNY’s premier garden and landscape show will be “Welcome to the Jungle” themed this year. Explore the Event Center for beautiful gardens and vendors, as well as the Artisan Hall for unique artisans and educational organizations. Event ends at 7 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets must be purchased online. Fairgrounds Event Center and Artisan Hall, 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075. plantasiany.com

March 13: Full Moon Walk, 8 p.m. This is a full moon walk where attendees learn about the sap moon and explore what the animals of Reinstein Woods are up to at night! Registration required; call 716- 683-5959. REIN

March 15: Owl Ecology, 10 a.m. Learn the life history of owls at Reinstein Woods and dissect owl pellets to understand how owls fit into local food chains. Material fee: $5/person, free for Friends members. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

March 15: Woods Walk: On the March for Bark, 11 a.m. Visitors can attend a guided walk where we will look for variations in tree bark in the woods. No registration required. REIN

March 21: Friends Member Hike, 6:30 p.m. New and long-time Friends of Reinstein Woods members can join this evening walk to celebrate the start of spring. Not a member yet? Join at reinsteinwoods.org. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

March 22: Springtime Welcome Walk, 11 a.m. If you are new to Reinstein Woods or want to bring a friend who has never visited, this walk is for you. Walkers will learn about about Reinstein Woods and explore how its plants and animals are waking up to spring. No registration required. REIN

March 28: Friends Member Event: Astronomy at Reinstein Woods, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of stargazing and night sky adventure with the Buffalo Astronomical Association (BAA). After a brief introduction to astronomy, we’ll take a short walk to a pond where BAA experts will guide you in viewing stars, planets, and galaxies through telescopes. For Friends of Reinstein Woods members and their guests. Not a member yet? Join at reinsteinwoods.org. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN 

March 29: Misunderstood Mammals, 10 a.m. Learn about some of the misunderstood mammals in Reinstein Woods. There will be talks about the history, folklore, and current environmental status of bats, beavers, and coyotes, and then go for a walk and look for some signs of these animals. For ages 14 and older. Registration required; call 716-683- 5959. REIN

March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility Stroll, 6 p.m. Nature is for everybody. On this stroll through the woods, Reinstein Wood will celebrate the lives of transgender people, family, and friends while learning some interesting nature facts. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 5: How To Volunteer at Reinstein Woods, 10:30 a.m. Are you interested in helping behind the scenes at Reinstein Woods? There are always looking for volunteers to help remove invasive species, set up for an event, guide nature tours, and more. At the end of the presentation, optional volunteer applications will be available. Please bring a picture ID, such as a driver’s license. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 5: Woods Walk: The Beauty of Small Things, 11 a.m. This is a guided nature walk searching for the “small things:” bugs, buds, and creatures, which are not as obvious as the deer. No registration required. REIN

April 7: Busy Beavers, 7 p.m. Celebrate International Beaver Day by learning about these amazing rodents, which are also our official New York State mammal. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 9: Senior Stroll, 10 a.m. Experience nature at your own pace and enjoy a leisurely hour-long guided walk through the woods. For adults only. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 12: Birding By Beginners for Beginners, 10 a.m. Spread your wings in the world of birding! Take a walk around the woods while learning how to identify common birds. For ages 13 and older. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 12: Friends Member Event: The Unseen Creatures of Reinstein Woods, 1 p.m. What is a microbe and what are they doing at Reinstein Woods? Learn the answers and observe microbes collected from the ponds and soils. For Friends of Reinstein Woods members and their guests. Not a member yet? Join at reinsteinwoods.org. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 16: The Most Delicious Climate Solution, 6:30 pm. What if one of the most effective climate solutions was also one of the most delicious? Dig into the latest science about how our food system impacts the environment and taste the delicious possibilities. Discuss all things needed to cook up joy in a sustainable kitchen. Coffee and dessert provided. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 17: Nature at Night, 7:30 p.m. Listen to the nocturnal sounds of spring on this evening wetland walk. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 19: Early Earth Day, 8:30 a.m. Start Earth Week off right with a morning guided walk at Reinstein Woods. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

April 19: Woods Walk: What’s Springing Up, 1 p.m. Walkers will look for signs of the spring season. No registration required. REIN 

O April 22: Earth Day Travel Planner, 12 p.m. There are tools available to help travelers design a “greener” adventure. This is a lunchtime webinar to help start the next journey on more environmentally sustainable ground. Registration required; register online at reinsteinwoods.org/events. REIN

April 22: Earth Day Sunset Stroll, 7:30 p.m. Join us in celebration of the fifty-fifth Earth Day with a guided evening stroll through sunset and twilight at Reinstein Woods. Registration required; call 716- 683-5959. REIN

April 26: Name That Tree, 10 a.m. What better way to celebrate Arbor Day than by taking a hike in the woods and identifying common trees? Learn the tricks to tree identification as well as fun tree facts along the way. Registration required; call 716-683- 5959. REIN

SAVE THE DATE...

May 3: Earth Day in May/I Love My Park Day, 10 a.m. Keep the Earth Day spirit alive by caring for Reinstein Woods’ trails on I Love My Park Day. Small groups will venture out to work on projects. Scouts and other organizations are welcome, but please note that large groups will be split into multiple parties. Online registration will open in March; check reinsteinwoods.org/events for more details. REIN

May 3: Woods Walk: History Meets Nature, 1 p.m. This event is a guided walk through centuries of history, from the early days of the 16th century to the transformations brought about by Dr. Victor Reinstein in the twentieth century. Explore a landscape shaped by both nature and human hands. No registration required. REIN

S May 3–October 4: Hamburg Farmers’ Market, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Presented by the Southtowns Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Hamburg Farmers Market has been a Southtowns staple since 1977. Attendees are free to explore a variety of agricultural products from more than 120 local farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders that rotate throughout the season. Held every Saturday. Located at the Hamburg Moose Lodge. 45 Church St., Hamburg, NY 14075.

S May 3–4: African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Syracuse Show and Sale, 1 p.m.–6 p.m. and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. No registration required. Parking fee of $5. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Rd. Baldwinsville, NY 13027. For more information, visit avsofsyracuse.wixsite.com/avgss.

May 10: Amphibians: Masters of Two Worlds, 10:30 a.m. Wrap up Amphibians Week 2025 with an indoor presentation on the important role amphibians play in the ecosystem, followed by a guided walk to spot some amphibians at Reinstein Woods. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

May 12: Full Moon Walk, 8:30 p.m. This stroll is a springtime full moon walk where walkers learn about the flower moon and explore what the animals of Reinstein Woods are up to at night. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

May 14: Senior Stroll, 10 a.m. Experience nature at your own pace and enjoy a leisurely hour-long guided walk through the woods. For adults only. Registration required; call 716-683-5959. REIN

May 17: 15th Annual Garden Faire, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Silver Creek Village Park. This event will feature a variety of craft and plant vendors, along with food available for purchase. Raffles will be available at each of the vendor booths, with tickets for purchase at the gazebo. Sponsored by the Silver Creek Hanover Garden Club.

S May 23–24: Master Gardener Plant Sale, 8:30 p.m.–3 p.m. Enjoy a huge selection of quality plants from the gardens of Master Gardeners Brought to you by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Event goes until 3 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday. First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Cir. Buffalo, NY. 716-652-5400

S June 28–29: Garden Art Sale, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Gardens Buffalo Niagara invites passionate artisans and vendors to showcase their creativity at the fifteenth annual Garden Art Sale in partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The Garden Art Sale, a beloved summer tradition, offers a prime platform for artisans to share their garden and nature-themed creations with an ever-growing and enthusiastic gardening community. Event ends at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Applications to become a vendor can be found at gardensbuffaloniagara.com/vendors and are due March 25. 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, [email protected].

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. They are an organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation of native flora and hold free public field trips, free indoor programs, and provide members a newsletter, seed exchange, native plant sale, and a December celebration of native plants. flnps.org, [email protected].

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.

CLASSES/EVENTS

O March 21: Ithaca Native Landscape Symposium 2025, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. With guest speakers Jamie Vannucchi, Amanda Rodewald, and Kevin Grieser, this symposium is a multi-presentation event with the option of zoom for those who can’t make it in person. Registration is required, and now open. Registration is $150 per person. The symposium will be held in the Cinemapolis Theater. For information on registration and the presentations being held, visit ithacanativelandscape.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, NY 14616. December and June meetings are social events TBD location. Contacts: Douglas Burdick, 585-313-8674, [email protected]. Barb Festenstein, 585-461-1673, [email protected].

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 meets the third Wednesday of the month (April–December) at 7 p.m., Chip Holt Nature Center, Vitale Park, Lakeville. Welcoming new members. Contact Dottie Connelly, 585-703-1748.

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 [email protected] 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. [email protected], 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, [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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, [email protected].

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. [email protected].

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. 585-247-1248, [email protected].

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 Eli Fagan American Legion Post, 260 Middle Rd., Henrietta. 585-889-7678, [email protected], geneseevalleyhosta.com.

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, NY. Public welcome. Plant Sales, guest speakers or location visits, Volunteer Opportunities. Honeoye Falls, NY. 585-266-0302, [email protected].

Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 1200 South Winton Rd., Rochester, except in summer when it tours members’ gardens. Lectures are held virtually, and garden tours are being scheduled. See website or Facebook for updates. cap704@ frontiernet.net, rochesterperennial.com, facebook.com/GreaterRochesterPerennialSociety.

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. on Zoom January, February, and March Email [email protected] for meeting link. Questions: 585-694-8430. Facebook: Greater Rochester Rose Society.

Henrietta Garden Club meets the second Wednesday each month (except May-August and December) at 6:30 p.m. A presenter will speak on a gardening related subject at 7:15 p.m. Guests and nonresidents are welcome. Handicap accessible. Call 585-442-8634. Lower level of the Henrietta Town Hall, 475 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. sites.google.com/site/henriettagardenclub. Facebook page. [email protected].

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. [email protected]

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. rochesterikebana@ gmail.com, ikebanarochester.org. Visitors can view the chapter’s ikebana exhibit at the Greater Rochester Orchid Society show March 27–30, Fri. 1–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m, Sun 10 a.m–4p.m. Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave., Rochester.

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, [email protected].

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

Pittsford Garden Club 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. [email protected] 

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of the month (except August and September) at 12:30 p.m., Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Rd. North, Rochester. 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, NY. Summer garden tours and day trips. New members welcome. rocherbsociety.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 gardenrelated site. Monthly newsletter. New members welcome. Meetings are currently canceled, contact Bonnie Arnold with any questions. Bonnie Arnold, 585-230-5356, [email protected].

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, [email protected]. 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.

Williamson Garden Club. On-going community projects and free monthly lectures to educate the community about gardening. Open to all. 315-524-4204, [email protected], growthewilliamsongardenclub.blogspot.com.

CLASSES / EVENTS

S- Indicates plant sales/swaps. 

T- Indicates garden tours. 

O- Online event.

March 6: Garden Talk “Adaptive Garden Tools” 12 p.m.–1 p.m. This is a free class that talks about how adaptive garden tools can help make gardening easier and more comfortable for people with physical limitations. Held in-person at CCE Genesee office, 420 E. Main St, Batavia or register at genesee. cce.cornell.edu/events for a Zoom link. Questions? 585-343-3040 x101. CCE/GC

March 6: Master Gardener Native Plants Workshop 5:30 p.m.–6 p.m. The Master Gardener Workshop Series is a series of four workshops given once a month on the first Thursday in the Abundance Community Room. I this workshop, John Nelson describes the benefits of gardening with native plants. Native plants suggestions for sun, shade, wet and dry locations will be provided. Registration required. 571 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620. swpc.org/calendar

March 9: Greater Rochester Iris Society talk— Presenting Iris for a Show 2 p.m. Presented by Cara Hutchings. St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 12 Episcopal Ave., Honeoye Falls, NY

March 17–21: Agricultural Literacy Week In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students, with a focus on second grade classrooms. Farmers, FFA and 4-H members, adults engaged in a career in agriculture and engaged in our food system volunteer to enthusiastically engage your students in a paired hands-on activity related to the book to extend learning. CCE/GC; CCE/MON

March 20: Invasive Insects 7 p.m. Presentation by the Invasive Species Project Coordinator with Finger Lakes PRISM. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to the environment, and as scientific professionals, hobbyists, or passersby, we encounter them almost every day. But what makes a species invasive? How many are there? The presentation will take place in the Curry Building, 1700 Schlegel Rd, Webster, NY.

March 27–30: Genesee Region Orchid Society Annual Orchid Show Fri. 1–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m, Sun 10 a.m–4p.m. Rochester Museum and Science Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave., Rochester, NY geneseeorchid.org, Tickets $10, $5 for student, children are free.

April 3: Garden Talk “Diagnostic Tips for Gardeners,”12 p.m.–1 p.m. This free class discusses how the art of plant disease diagnosis is a bit like being your own garden CSI. We’ll help you hone your skills so that you can use your powers of observation and reasoning to identify plant disease problems. Held in-person at CCE Genesee office, 420 E. Main St, Batavia or register at genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events for a Zoom link. Questions? 585- 343-3040 x101. CCE/GC

April 3: Master Gardener Combat Climate Change Workshop, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. The Master Gardener Workshop Series is a series of four workshops given once a month on the first Thursday in the Abundance Community Room. During this workshop, Suzanne Feather shares her expertise on small ways one can combat climate change in your own garden. Registration required. 571 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620. swpc.org/calendar 

April 12: Pressed Flowers Class, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Taught by Jeanine Fyfe. Create an 8” x 10” glass framed piece of art with artsy and fun flowers. Learn how to layer natural dried cuttings to make a beautiful wall hanging. Bring any embellishments like script, verses, or other additions to make it unique and personal. (Ages 16 and up) BCG

S April 12: African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Rochester Display and Sale “Once Upon a Violet,” 10 am.–3 p.m. Solstice Senior Living, 55 Ayrault Rd. Fairport, NY 14450

April 13: Beardless Iris talk—Types, Cultivation, and Care, 2 p.m. This talk will be given by Wendy Roller. St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 12 Episcopal Ave. Honeoye Falls, NY

F April 25: 42nd Arbor Day Celebration, 11 a.m. Meet at the canal to celebrate Arbor day, as well as the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. Genesee Valley Park Curtis Point / North Side of the park (parking at Round House Shelter)

April 26: “How, When, and Why of Proper Pruning” Class, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Taught by Laurie Broccolo and Jeanine Fyfe, learn tried and true techniques Laurie Broccolo has perfected for trees, shrubs, and perennials. See what tools are required, what time of year is best, and what to do in tough situations. BCG

April 29: Orioles and Hummingbirds, 7 p.m. Presented by Liz Magnanti, the owner of The Bird House in Pittsford, NY. Orioles and Hummingbirds spend their winters in Central and South America and migrate back to North America in the spring for breeding season. Learn all about these beautiful birds and how to attract them to your backyard! The presentation will take place in the Curry Building, 1700 Schlegel Rd, Webster, NY.

SAVE THE DATE...

May 1: Master Gardener Houseplant Care Workshop, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. The Master Gardener Workshop Series is a series of four workshops given once a month on the first Thursday in the Abundance Community Room. This workshop, learn how to choose the best plants for your environment and how to keep them happy and healthy. Speaker Suzanne Feather of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County will share her expertise with us. Registration required. 571 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620. swpc.org/calendar

May 1: Master Gardener Invasive Plants Workshop, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. The Master Gardener Workshop Series is a series of four workshops given once a month on the first Thursday in the Abundance Community Room. This presentation will cover what invasive plants are, which invasive plants you are likely to find in your garden as weeds, how you can control them, New York State’s regulations for invasive plants, and which common garden landscape pests are now considered invasive. It will also provide suggestions for replacing them with native plants. Speaker John Nelson of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County will share his expertise. Registration required. 571 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620. swpc.org/calendar

S May 9–18: Monroe County Master Gardener Volunteers Tent Sale, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.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, greeting cards and specialty item teacups for sale. Plus an opportunity to “Ask a Master Gardener.” 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, NY

S May 10: The Webster Arboretum’s 25th annual spring plant sale, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. 1700 Schlegel Rd, Webster, NY. 

S May 17: Ontario Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Choose from many homegrown perennial plants donated by members, as well as a few shrubs and small trees donated by a nursery. Annuals will be available as well. There will be raffles to benefit Dig Deep & water for South Sudan. Casey Park Lodge. 6551 Knickerbocker Rd Ontario, NY. 

S May 17: Spring Garden Gala, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Genesee County Master Gardeners is hosting 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. Held at 420 East Main Street, Batavia. 585-343-3040, ext. 132. CCE/GC

S May 17: The Henrietta Garden Club Annual Plant Sale. Saturday, May 17, 9:00 a.m.–3 p.m or until sold out. Hansen Nature Center, Tinker Nature Park, 1525 Calkins Rd. Henrietta. Many perennials, some annuals, and houseplants will be offered for sale. The plants are donations from club members, their families and friends. Proceeds go towards supporting the club’s educational programs, speakers, and community service.

S May 24: Market in the Park, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. This is the Master Gardeners of the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s seventh annual “Market in the Park.” Local vendors will be selling locally grown perennials, herbs, vegetables, annuals, trees and shrubs and garden ornaments. The market will be held at Warner Castle in Highland Park, located at the corner of Mt. Hope and Reservoir Ave.

SYRACUSE 

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Syracuse meets at 7:00 pm, 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, NY 13212. More information is available on the chapter website (avsofsyracuse.wixsite.com/avgss) or via email [email protected] or call 315-633-2437 

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, [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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. [email protected].

Federated Garden Clubs NYS–District 6. 315-481- 4005, [email protected].

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, [email protected].

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, [email protected]. 

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 [email protected].

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. [email protected], 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, NY. 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 [email protected].

Southern Hills Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of each month, February through November, at the LaFayette Firehouse, 2444 US Route 11, LaFayette NY 13084. Meetings 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 information regarding meetings or membership, please contact Cathy Nagel, 315-677-9342 or Email [email protected]

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.

FREQUENT HOST 

HGCNY: Habitat Gardening in Central New York, hgcny.org, [email protected], 315-487-5742.

CLASSES / EVENTS

O March 30: The Need for Seed: Efforts to Boost the Supply of Native Plant Seeds, 1:30 p.m. Presented by Janice Wiles, owner of Go Native! Both in-person and on Zoom (Contact [email protected] for Zoom link.) Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Wild Ones Habitat Gardening in CNY chapter, hgcny.org and ourhabitatgarden.org. Liverpool Library 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool, NY. Subscribe to our free e-newsletter by sending a request to info@ hgcny.org.

Deadline for calendar listings for the next issue (May-June 2025) is April 11, 2025. Please send your submissions to [email protected].

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

Spring is a great time to evaluate your garden and research native plants that boost pollen and nectar availability. By including natives in your landscape, you provide pollinators with the plant species that they prefer to eat. Native plants thrive here in Western New York because they are adapted to our local climate and soils. They require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance.

POLLEN, NECTAR, MORE INSECTS—WHO CARES? 

Nearly all pollinators drink nectar, which is basically sugar water. Consequentially, growing nectar-rich plants in your garden boosts pollination. The sugar provides insects with energy to fly, build nests, and reproduce. 

Pollen (a fine dust produced by the male part of a plant) is necessary for sexual reproduction of flowering plants. Without pollination, plants cannot produce seeds. As a result, plant communities, food production, and the global ecosystem are all negatively impacted.

Bees are unique in that they use both nectar and pollen. The nectar provides energy for adult bees while the pollen delivers protein their young. Butterflies, the second most important pollinators after bees, almost entirely feed on nectar. Unlike the adults, butterfly and moth caterpillars (larval stage) feed on leaves. Butterflies, moths and hoverflies transfer pollen from flower to flower as they fly around helping plants reproduce.  

When pollinators have access to food and shelter throughout spring and summer, your garden will attract and support wildlife, which is a key part of a healthy ecosystem. According to Douglas W. Tallamy, American entomologist, ecologist, conservationist and author, and professor in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. “People know next to nothing about the most diverse group of organisms ever to evolve.” Tallamy states. “Of the four million insect species on earth a mere one percent interacts with humans in negative ways. The other ninety-nine percent of the insect species pollinate plants; return the nutrients tied up in dead plants and animals to the soil; keep populations of insect herbivores in check; aerate and enrich the soil; and … provide food either directly or indirectly for most other animals.”

“If insects were to disappear ... our own extinction would not be far behind. We need healthy insect populations to ensure our own survival,” stresses Tallamy. “The more natives you incorporate into your garden, the happier the little creatures in your neighborhood will be.”

SPRING BLOOMING NATIVE PLANTS 

Wild columbine or Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) flaunts several attributes that make it attractive to pollinators. The red color and elongated spurs are filled with sweet nectar that, amazingly, has twice the sugar content of other North American columbines. Long-tongued bees, butterflies, hawk moths, and the ruby-throated hummingbirds are fond of the flowers’ nectar. The caterpillars of the rare native Columbine Duskywing Butterfly feed exclusively on the columbine leaves. 

The Northern spice bush (Lindera benzoin), a shrub native to eastern North America, is an important source of nectar and pollen for small flies and bees. Its leaves are a larval host for the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly. Clusters of tiny, fragrant, yellow-green flowers bloom from April to May. Shiny red fruit ripen later in the season and entice voracious songbirds. The northern spice bush prefers full sun but can also tolerate heavy shade. 

Several serviceberry including the downy shadbush (Amelanchier arborea) and round-leaved shadbush (A. sanguinea) are native to Western New York. They produce nectar-rich, drooping clusters of white flowers in early spring that attract honeybees and mining bees. A slow-growing, small tree, the shadbush can eventually reach fifteen to twenty-five feet tall.

HEAT UP YOUR SUMMER GARDEN WITH COLORFUL NATIVES 

Plants popular with pollinators during the summer are usually the easiest to find and grow. Most thrive in full sun. Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a native perennial that grows two to six feet tall and attracts large numbers of native bees with candelabralike white flower spikes. (Staking may be necessary to keep veronicastrum’s architectural flower spikes erect.) The larvae of the Culver’s Root Borer Moth feed on its roots. The narrow-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) boasts silvery foliage and a long bloom period. Dainty white flower clusters sit atop branching stems and exude a refreshing, minty scent when cut or crushed. Mountain mint attracts and nourishes hundreds of insect species including many native bees, bee flies, beneficial flies, butterflies, skippers, moths, beetles and wasps. Numerous animals eat its seeds. Since mountain mint is vigorous and travels by rhizomes, pick your site carefully, giving it plenty of room to spread out.

Bees, bumblebees, wasps, hummingbirds, and hawk moths are all attracted to the purple-pink flowers of wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). It grows two to four feet tall and tolerates a variety of soils. Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is easy to grow and thrives in full sun or partial shade. Its red blooms and nectar entice hummingbirds. Several moths depend on bee balm for food including the Orange Mint Moth, Hermit Sphinx Moth, Gray Marvel Moth, and the Meal Moth.

The flower structure and abundant nectar make milkweed a crucial plant for supporting diverse pollinator populations. Monarch butterflies use milkweed flowers as a nectar source and a host plant for laying eggs. Bumblebees are able to skillfully reach the pollen sacs of milkweed because of their body proportions and habits. Flies, beetles, and wasps also frequent milkweed flowers. Native milkweeds include common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and forest or poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata).

The Viburnaceae family includes the native mapleleaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), a shrub that grows from three to six feet tall and tolerates full shade and dry soils. Butterflies are attracted to its white flowers and birds nibble on the reddish-purple fruits. V. acerifolium is a larval host for the spring azure butterfly. Additional native viburnums include the hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) with fragrant, flattopped clusters of small white flowers, and nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) with a mixture of light green, pale yellow, and red-pink fruit which slowly ripens into blue-black berries. 

Several dogwoods are native to areas in Western New York including pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa). The flowering dogwood is a slow-growing, resilient tree known for its showy white bracts, petite yellow flowers, and red berries. It is a small deciduous tree that typically grows fifteen to thirty feet tall with a broadly pyramidal habit.

Consider planting pollinator-loving annuals (yes, native annuals) interspersed amongst the native perennials. Annuals grow quickly and bloom over many weeks while attracting pollinators galore.  

Spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and pale jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) produce beautiful, complex flowers with long nectar spurs that jut out the back of the blossoms. The flowers of the two species are orange with reddish spots and yellow with rosy speckles, respectively. They are perfectly designed for hummingbirds, but also loved by the common Eastern Bumblebee. Both are self-seeding, grow two to five feet tall, and prefer moist soil in partial shade. The seeds erupt and are ejected away from the plant (explosively dehiscent) when they are ripe.

In Erie, Cattaraugus, and Oneida counties, the partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata) is a true native annual that germinates quickly. Bright yellow flowers thrive in full-to-part sun growing about two feet tall. Its long bloom period lasts from June through October. Attractive, narrow, thin, maroon seed pods split open in the fall and launch the seeds. Like jewelweed, it is explosively dehiscent.

The partridge pea is a larval host plant for the gray hairstreak, a gossamer-winged butterfly in the Lycanidae family, the second largest family of butterflies. It is a source of pollen for native bees. The dried seeds of the partridge pea are gobbled up by goldfinches and mourning doves. The partridge pea readily self-sows in moist to dry soil and forms a thicket creating a long-lasting wildlife habitat. It flourishes in hot dry areas with lean soil but also adapts well to containers.

TIME FOR CHANGE 

For many years, I thought a beautiful garden meant creating a “sterile” environment that was free of plant-eating pests. I have since learned that gardens need to function as balanced communities to support all organisms. According to Tallamy, “a plant that has fed nothing has not done its job.”  

I challenge you to plant just one spring or summer-blooming native in your garden this year. When a non-native plant dies, replace it with a native. Try to assemble a diverse plant collection by layering groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Create an environment rich in habitats using leaf litter, logs, branches, and mulch to support insects, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.  

The value of native plants will become evident as you spend time in your garden—captivated by the relationships that exist between plants and insects. 

Note: Part two of this series will include native pollinator plants for fall and winter.

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 March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

Mosses and lichens, though unobtrusive, are all around us—in the cracks of sidewalks and driveways, creating miniature gardens in mall and gas station blacktop, and greening our roofs. Gardeners have likely observed mosses in their garden beds and lichens on their garden furniture, and both on stones and trees. Some may see earth-dwelling mosses as nuisance intruders and lichens as odd scraps of indeterminant heritage. They are, however, sophisticated organisms working on behalf of the planet wherever they are, fixing carbon through photosynthesis, preventing erosion, and building soil. They are both flowerless, a state of affairs that caused Linnaeus consternation because he based his taxonomic system on the reproductive parts of the flower—the numbers of petals, stamens, and pistils. Indeed, it took several hundred years of close observation to figure out how the cryptogams, Linnaeus’ name for mosses and lichens, reproduce (cryptogam comes from the Greek word for “hidden marriage”). However, mosses, members of the plant kingdom, do have egg cells and sperm and reproduce sexually, while lichens, which are not members of the plant kingdom, proliferate in various ways, most of them asexual. Lichens are best defined as complex ecosystems—a symbiotic collection of a green alga, a dominant fungus (after which the lichen is named), sometimes a cyanobacterium, sometimes yeast fungi, and various other microscopic organisms. Fragments of moss and lichen circulate in the atmosphere finding niches in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth where higher plants cannot survive.

For this reason, they are often termed “cosmopolitan extremophiles.” Endowed with a superpower called desiccation tolerance, they can withstand extreme cold, at the poles, and extreme heat, in deserts worldwide, and long periods of drought. Facing poor conditions, they quickly shut off metabolism, entering a state of suspended animation. Just as importantly, they are able to almost immediately turn on the metabolic machinery of life in order to optimize capacity for growth when there is a change in conditions. How they redeploy enzymatic machinery so quickly is under study.

Identification of mosses and lichens is an art. The details of their ecological preferences and of their shapes, forms, and color, which are so appealing to our eyes, have taxonomic significance. It is advisable to carry a 10x hand lens, around the neck or in a pocket, when going on a moss-and-lichen walk. The hand lens will reveal the kinds of details of the leaf tip, the leaf edge, the midrib, etc. that distinguish different species. But even without a hand lens the three main groups of mosses can be distinguished—the upright, clump-forming types (acrocarps), the feathery, carpet-forming types (pleurocarps), and the water-loving sphagnum mosses. Lichens fall into a number of groups that vary considerably—the mint-green dust lichens that cover shady embankments, the crustose lichens that form barely perceptible mosaics on rocks and boulders, the foliose lichens that have leafy lobes, the fruticose lichens that are like little shrubs, and others.

Identification of mosses and lichens to species level requires dedication and persistence, and often higher magnifications only possible with dissecting and compound microscopes. Reading guides give one a sense of all the details that need to be considered for species identification. For mosses I suggest starting with Jerry Jenkins’s Mosses of the Northern Forest: A Photographic Guide, Sue Alix Williams’s Ecological Guide to the Mosses and Common Liverworts of the Northeast, and Karl B. McKnight et al.’s Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Also, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s A Natural History of Mosses: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses, while not precisely an identification guide, gives readers a feeling for how and where they live. For lichens, I suggest Jessica Allen and James Lendemer’s Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America and Troy McMullin and Frances Anderson’s Common Lichens of the Northeastern North America.

Gardeners can encourage their presence in the garden by simply allowing them to remain where they have settled, and supplying rocks that have cracks and crevices to act as magnets. The great temple moss gardens of Japan are thought to have been serendipitous. During several centuries of neglect as temples fell into disrepair, mosses moved in and flourished. Deliberately planting moss while expecting a magnificent outcome is problematical as species have very specific preferences for soil, light, and moisture. Also, both mosses and lichens grow slowly, lichens sometimes only a millimetre a year. The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin (aka Mossin’ Annie) and Moss Gardening: including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures by George Schenk will inspire those who want to use mosses and lichens in their gardens. Lichens cannot be grown in the horticultural sense. If they appear in your garden, do no harm and maintain their current conditions. Gardeners are perfectly positioned to be guardians of these valuable organisms.

Elizabeth Lawson is the author of Primrose (Reaktion Books 2019) and Moss and Lichen (Reaktion Books, 2025). Learn more about Lawson and her work at elizabethwinpennylawson.com.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

TERRA NOVA Nurseries released its “Terra Nova Colors of the Year,” a list of twenty-three plants that correspond with the 2025 color trends by Behr, Sherwin-Williams, Minwax, Pantone, and Valspar.

Behr’s “Rumors”:

Heuchera ‘Berry Marmalade’ 

Heuchera Northern Exposure ‘Red’ 

Begonia T Rex ‘Stardust’ 

Coreopsis ‘Ruby Frost’ 

Sedum ‘Dark Magic’ 

Coreopsis ‘Bengal Tiger’ 

Heuchera ‘Fire Alarm’ 

Heucherella ‘Peach Tea’ 

Sedum ‘Dark Magic’ 

Redstone Falls’

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ “Quietude”:

Pulmonaria ‘Silver Scimitar’ 

Pulmonaria ‘Raspberry Frost’ 

Brunnera ‘Alexandria’ 

Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ 

Centaurea ‘Snowy Owl’ 

Artemisia Makana ‘Silver’ 

Sedum ‘Marina’ 

Minwax’s “Violet”: 

Veronica Venture ‘Blue’ 

Nepeta ‘Blue Dragon’ 

Plectranthus ‘Velvet Elvis’ 

Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’

Pantone’s “Mocha Mousse”: 

Sedum ‘Mocha Magic’ 

Sedum ‘Dark Magic’ 

Rodgersia ‘Bronze Peacock’ 

Heucherella ‘Brass Lantern’

Valspar’s Encore: 

Lithodora ‘Gold ‘n Sapphires’ 

Corydalis ‘Blue Heron’ 

Pulmonaria Nova ‘Cobalt’

Lucy Crounse is a journalism and broadcasting major at SUNY Brockport.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners' Journal.