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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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Calendar

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., …

Elderberry syrup

In the late summer and early autumn, I have an abundance of elderberries to harvest and process. My favorite elderberry recipe is simple, tasty, and full of vitamin C. This lightly spiced elderberry syrup is delicious served over ice cream or yogurt and adds plenty of flavor to a cocktail or some sparkling water.  Here’s …

Fledglings and feather abnormalities

This time of the year I get a lot of calls and questions from concerned people seeing birds that are looking or acting strange. This can be for a variety of reasons—the bird isn’t flying well, their feathers don’t look right, or their coloration could be off. Although this can be alarming and may look …

Easy upcycling…with a Chihuly influence!

How do I get a Dale Chihuly glass masterpiece in my garden for under $175,000? That is the question I asked myself after visiting the renowned American glass artist’s museum and garden in Seattle, Washington. And yes, one of Mr. Chihuly’s glass chandeliers sold for $175,000.  With a burst of creativity and a little upcycling, …

The plants that accompany us: our shared story

“Sorrow helps us remember something long intuited by Indigenous people across the planet: our lives are intricately comingled with one another, with animals, plants, watersheds, and soil.” —Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow My mother and I used to get coffee and donuts along Poughkeepsie’s Route 9, then park alongside an abandoned warehouse. We …

Around the garden

THE BIRD HOUSE  Birds are an almost universal presence. We hear and see them often, but many people can’t identify the specific species. If you want to learn more about your avian neighbors or expand your birdwatching arsenal, look no further than the Bird House on Monroe Avenue in Rochester. Celebrating its thirtieth year in …

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