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.…
8.07.2026
Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.) are known as a weed nowadays, but this member of the Asteraceae family has been used as an herb and for food throughout much of history. For detailed information about dandelions, see the May-June 2025 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. A few notes for this recipe: – Make sure you are using true dandelions—for instance, cat's ear…
8.07.2026
Male house Sparrow; photo courtesy Wikicommons CCSA 4.0: Rhododendrites Common Grackle at feeder; photo courtesy Wikicommons CCSA 3.0: Geoff Clarke One common question I receive is how to keep “bully” birds out of feeders and birdhouses. What makes a bird a “bully” tends to be in the eye of the beholder, but usually people are talking about Starlings, Grackles, and…
8.07.2026
Here are two of three cottages tucked away behind the “Disney-esque” quaint cottages of Little Summer Street. Back in 1995, no one knew that Garden Walk Buffalo would take on a life of its own. Jim Charlier, a Buffalo art director and designer who has been involved since the event’s humble beginnings, took an out-of-town friend on the walk that…
8.07.2026
Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop) is a heat-loving perennial herb that brings in the pollinators. Persian Carpet (Mexican) zinnias (Zinnia haageana), a delightful mini-size zinnia that looks terrific in summer bouquets. It’s gearing up to be another steamy summer day, and in temperatures more than seventy-eight degrees Fahrenheit, my ambitions far exceed my energy for gardening. I find my habits in…
8.07.2026
Aerial view of the Floating Garden on the Erie Canal in Medina, NY. Photo by Amanda Reis STANDS BY ME APP The idea for the Stands By Me app took root during a bike ride through the back roads of the Finger Lakes. Many farm stands have wonderful things for sale, says app creator Brent Bivona, but often they only…
5.07.2026
Christine Green at the Isabella Stewart Gardener museum in Boston. Photo by Kelly Myers My garden is doing wonderfully this summer. The flowers are stunning due to the extra sun they get since we removed a large diseased maple tree. I made a small little container pond that I cannot get enough of—having coffee in the garden listening to the…
5.07.2026
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Annual Winter Photo Contest is back!

It’s officially winter… and time for our annual winter photo contest! After a hiatus last year, we are pleased to roll out a new online submission process. See contest rules and enter here: UGJ Winter Photo Contest page

Upstate Pairing: November-December 2016

Brussel Sprout Carbonara with Fettuccini Yield: 4 servings 8 ounces of dry fettuccini 2 tbsp olive oil 1 lb brussel sprouts, cleaned and chopped (but not too small) 2 shallots, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 ounces smoked bacon, chopped into small pieces 2 eggs, slightly beaten 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese 1. …

Arborvitae Stamped Gift Tags

MATERIALS Pre-made blank gift tags, about 2 by 3 inches Ink pad in desired color; I used “pine” Arborvitae cutting about 2–3 inches long A few pieces of scrap paper Piece of wax paper, slightly larger than arborvitae cutting Fine tip marker in desired color STEPS 1. Remove a few rows of foliage from bottom …

Near or Far: November-December 2016

Location: Bovara, a village nestled in the olive groves on the slopes near Trevi, Italy. Name: Sant’ Emiliano (that’s the name of this individual tree—it’s a thing, in Umbria) Genus/species: Olea europaea Common name: Olive tree Age: 1,000 years (Or 700 years, or 1,700 years. Or something) Submitted by: Reynolds Kelly Reynolds says: Umbria in …

Creature Comforts

by Liz Magnanti It’s inevitable: snow, ice, sleet, and cold. Winter will be here before we know it. The days become short and the nights are long. Sometimes I think of how rough we have it here in Upstate New York, but in the winter I take one look out the window and see all …

Almanac: November-December 2016

Preparing for Holiday Decorating Now that you have put your outdoor gardens to bed, it is time to prepare for the upcoming Holiday Season.  Indoor plants can add beauty to your home during the cold and snowy months ahead. Amaryllis:  To plant a newly acquired Amaryllis bulb, place a piece of clay shard over the …

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