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BUFFALO  REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of the month, September–August, at 7 p.m., Greenfield Health & Rehab Facility, 5949 Broadway, Lancaster. av*****@gm***.com . Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July and August) at 7 p.m., Alden Community Center, West Main St., Alden. New members and guests welcome.…
2.11.2024
As the leaves start to fall and the wind grows stronger, the urge to curl up inside with a warm soup and good book also grows stronger. This savory soup has all the coziness you crave with in-season autumn vegetables that are within reach, so it’s perfect for a rainy night in. TIME  1 hour INGREDIENTS  1 medium butternut squash …
2.11.2024
Whit’s End Gardens is a popular destination in Hamburg, New York, during Open Gardens. Would you like to visit a new garden every Friday, rain or shine, snow or sleet? Jay Jinge Hu makes it possible on his YouTube channel “Whispers in the Garden” where he posts videos of his visits to private gardens in Western New York (WNY). Jay…
2.11.2024
If you’ve been looking for small ways to decorate your home for fall and show off your creativity, we have the perfect craft for you. These small ornaments can make charming gifts as well as centerpiece garnishes— the possibilities are endless. Plus, you’ll be getting rid of some of those pesky acorns from all over your lawn. WHAT YOU NEED …
2.11.2024
Red-bellied woodpecker. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons: Rhododendrites CC BY-SA 4.0. As we get into the cooler months there are many birds that have flown south for the winter. Woodpeckers, however, are one group of birds we have locally whose residence does not change much throughout the year. Regionally, we have seven woodpecker species, six of which you can easily find…
2.11.2024
Spongy moth caterpillar. Photo courtesycals.cornell.edu A “spent” spongymoth egg mass. Frass: noun. The excrement of insect larvae. Insects are excreting all the time, but it usually doesn’t negatively impact our human lives. When we started to see little caterpillars (aka larvae) on our porch in late April, we took a magnifying glass to one. It was gray and bristly, with…
2.11.2024
WINTERIZING YOUR GARDEN As the cold inevitably creeps in, the chill in the wind serves as a reminder to get your garden ready for the winter. Here are a few tips to get you set on the right path for success and healthy growth when the final frost thaws in the spring.  There’s still time before the ground freezes to…
2.11.2024
Hello, gardening friends!  As I picked the very last of the rhubarb and the autumn raspberries, I became a little sad like I always do at this time of year. All the summer fun of gardening and being outside is coming to an end soon, and the snow will come hard and fast. Of course, some people love a winter…
2.11.2024
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May/June, 2019 – Upstate Gardeners’ Journal

Flower Meets Flour

Fun Spring Things

by Valerie Shaw It’s spring! For moms everywhere, this is a triumphant announcement for many reasons—no more itchy, smothered kids complaining about winter coats, the games of tag and pinch your brother can move outside, and the gardening season is in full swing! But how do you convince your tween to switch from building square …

Lilac Facial Toner

by Cathy Monrad Mother’s Day is here. And in Rochester, especially, lilacs are synonymous with this special day. I decided to make a large batch of this lilac facial toner to give as gifts to all the special mothers in my life. This toner can also be added to a bath, used as a hair …

A Brief History of the Delicate and Fragrant Lilac: Highland Park in Bloom

by Donna De Palma Syringa vulgaris (common Lilac) cultivar ‘Flower City’, at Highland Park in Rochester, New York. The information plaque next to this plant reads: “This variety was developed at Highland Park by horticulturist Richard Finicchia. It is a unique variety that has cupped, dark violet-purple florets with a silvery reverse. Some florets display …

Salt City’s Hardy Hostas– Like those of its Perennials, Lan’s Flower Farm’s Roots Run Deep

story by John Ernst; photos provided by Mark Weiss Aerial view of Lan’s Flower Farm Here’s a fact—one of New York’s largest flower farms started with a twelve-year-old girl from China trying to learn English. Today, Lan’s Flower Farm spans four acres managed by five employees. That girl—the daughter of Mark Weiss and Xiao Lan— …

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