by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s hard to keep up with the weather in Western New York. Yesterday it was sunny and hot, around 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Amherst, and I was focusing this article on drought and the possibility of fires. Today it’s been raining off and on, so we have to look at the rain when we look at the drought. And tomorrow we can expect frost, so we need to squeeze that in, too. Let’s take these one…...
Diggin In newsletter: resilience
The October edition of Diggin In newsletter includes an essay on resilience in gardening, an introduction into galls and a garden checklist. Diggin In is published by the Master Gardeners in Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer As gardeners, one of the most important things we grow is resilience. Season after season, we learn, we adapt and we try again. Whether we see ourselves as optimists or pessimists in life, we are hopeful in…...
It’s time to choose new spring bulbs–and new autumn bulbs!
by Connie Oswald Stofko This is just a sample of the bulbs you can find at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. If you’ve never planted bulbs, keep reading–there’s a list of previous articles that you’ll find helpful. But if you’re still stumped, stop in to Urban Roots to get the gardening advice you need. Tulip wildflower mixture (species) These wild tulips (also called species tulips) are shorter than the hybrid tulips you usually see, but…...
Sassafras & spicebush trees are at risk; how you can help
Two native species of trees, sassafras and spicebush, are at risk of an invasive fungal disease called laurel wilt. The disease has been detected on Long Island. It’s the first detection of the disease in New York State. Note: Mountain laurel, despite its name, is not in the same family and isn’t impacted by the disease. Also, spicebush is relatively small; it can be grouped as a shrub or as a small tree. The groups working on this are: Why we don’t want…...