BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of the month, September–August, at 7 p.m., Greenfield Health & Rehab Facility, 5949 Broadway, Lancaster.  av*****@gm***.com .  Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July and August) at 7 p.m., Alden Community Center, West Main St., Alden. New members and guests welcome. Plant sale each…
6.05.2026
The Dutch Connection at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY is a February flower display of spring annuals, daffodils, tulips, and more. This annual floral event comes just as Rochesterians are getting weary of cold winter days. Every year thousands of visitors flock to the museum to get a taste of the coming spring. The display is a celebration…
6.05.2026
Photo by Karen Gimson, garden blogger at bramblegarden.com Are you looking for simple ideas to elevate your garden in spring, summer, and fall? With a little creativity, you can highlight garden elements you already possess. By combining flower blooms and foliage from your garden with a watertight container, you can create a floating flower garden. Think birdbaths, a fountain, or…
6.05.2026
Bald Eagle. Photo courtesy Wikicommons CCSA 3.0: Michael Gäbler Birds of prey are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. They are characterized by their strong, hooked beaks and sharp talons and can be found in a variety of habitats, including backyards and cities. Some species are common, while others have more specific habitat requirements and might require a bit of…
5.05.2026
INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium sweet onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 pound asparagus, chopped 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream A pinch each of salt, pepper, and nutmeg Optional: Olive oil for garnish; sour cream thinned out with a bit of milk or water until a drizzling consistency…
5.05.2026
Philadelphus spp. (mock orange) When it comes to pruning your woody plants, timing can be intimidating. Am I cutting the right branch at the right time? Did I take too much, not enough? Did I kill it? We can talk pruning dos and don’ts and there’s scores of literature out there to read. For me, gardening is about relieving stress,…
5.05.2026
A butterfly at the Butterfly Experience. Photo provided by the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. LIVE BUTTERFLY EXPERIENCE RETURNS TO BUFFALO’S BOTANICAL GARDENS The Butterfly Experience will be returning to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens this spring and summer starting on May 16. Hundreds of butterflies will take flight in the Tropical Orchard greenhouse. The live butterfly…
5.05.2026
Christine Green next to Echium wildpretii, “tower-of-jewels,” at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania on a very rainy May day a few years ago.  I just returned from a fabulous tour of the Edward Steichen and the Garden exhibition at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester. To say I was blown away is an understatement. Steichen was a painter, photographer, and a…
5.05.2026
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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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