Dedication of Peace Garden in Albion New York

Beautiful Day in Albion New York as another Peace Garden is Dedicated

The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Garden Dedication

What a Beautiful time was had by everyone as the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens Society dedicated their Perennial Peace Garden as an Honorary International Peace Garden
Many thanks go out to Erin Grajek and Betsy Webster for putting together such a beautiful event
We want to recognize Paula Savage as she is responsible for bringing to New York her dream for International Peace and being a big part of many International Peace Gardens and the Bicentennial War of 1812 Peace Gardens.  Also we want to again thank Rich Products and Ellicott Development for their leadership in the beautification of this serene and peaceful garden,  If you have not yet had the change to see this garden, you need to make it a priority to go and visit it.

        

2014 Special Programs @ Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Save the date: Summer camps and programs Hair-itage: A Body Beautiful Program APRIL 19 Come to BNHV for a girls' day out! Enjoy a short lecture at 11AM and again at 12:30PM on popular women's 19th century hairstyles with demonstrations following. Make a hair appointment for you and/or your child to get an authentic 19th century updo from our experienced staff! Bring your cameras - photography is encouraged! While waiting for your appointment or while enjoying some light refreshments afterwards, take a walk through our Body Beautiful exhibit to explore how society's changing views on beauty have influenced women from the mid-19th century until today. The rest of the museum's exhibits will also be open. Attendance is limited so call the museum to reserve your appointment! Appointments start at 11:30AM after the first lecture and continue in 15 minute increments until the second lecture at 12:30PM. The rest of the appointments continue in 15 minute increments until 2PM. Once you have made your appointment, a reminder card will be sent to you and will serve as your ticket in to the event. All children must be accompanied by an adult. 11:00am - 2:00pm Adults $8.00, Children $5.00 Behind The Scenes Tour: Historic Preservation JUNE 28 Special guest lecturer and architectural historian, Andrea Rebeck, will guide you through a few of our historic buildings on the museum's grounds and discuss preservation philosophy and producing the historic structure reports for the houses, all while sharing stories about how the buildings were moved to our grounds and what was discovered during her investigations and subsequent work on them. It is sure to be a memorable tour that will change the way you see BNHV's historic homes! Reservations are required in advance. Once your spot is reserved, refunds will not available. Call 689-1440 to reserve your spot today! 1:00pm - 3:00pm Members $15, Non Members $20 School of the Soldier: Civil War Day Encampment JULY 12 A special feature of our Americana Days weekend, BNHV offers School of the Civil War Soldier! During this day camp event, unit commanders will instruct young soldiers (boys and girls welcome!) aged 8 - 14 in the structure, skills and customs of the military during the Civil War. Throughout the day, Civil War reenactors and students will be arranged in groups and will take part in various activities including taking a loyalty oath, learning what's in a haversack, how to make hardtack and campfire food, learning about artillery, seeing a firearms demonstration and participating in a battalion formation drill. Near the end of the day, all students and reenactors will conduct a final military muster and battlefield scenario in front of parents and other spectators at BNHV. This event will open a unique window into our past and allow students and visitors a feel for the life, experiences and hardships of the soldier during America's epic defining moment, the Civil War. Students should dress comfortably in blue jeans, button down shirts, sneakers or shoes with ties (no shorts, t-shirts or sandals, please!). Non-firing wooden muskets, battle flags and free kepis will be provided. Parents are welcome to stay for the day at the museum and enjoy the activities associated with BNHV's Americana Days, which will be from 10:30AM to 4:30PM also on this day. To register, please call 689-1440 10:30am - 4:30pm Ages: 8-14 $25 per child Heritage EDventures: Summer Day Camp JULY 22 & 23 This is a two day program where children will explore how children in the 19th century lived and played. This program is packed full of activities and excitement! Children will play historic games as well as make toys and crafts to take home and share with family and friends. Some activities will include learning the game of croquet, making balance and parachute toys, tin punching, churning butter and much more! Lunch is NOT provided; please bring a bagged lunch. Space is limited to 8-10 children. 9:00am - 5:00pm Ages: 8+ $85 Members, $100 Non Members Fun with Fibers: Summer Day Camp AUGUST 21 & 22 This is a two day program that will give kids an interactive experience with natural fibers. They will explore where they come from, how they are processed and what they are used for. Some of the fibers explored will be flax, sheep's wool, alpaca and hemp. Children will also get hands on experience using a drop spindle, a loom and will learn to felt. An introduction to dying fibers using natural and synthetic dyes will also be provided. Lunch is NOT provided; please bring a bagged lunch. Space is limited to 8 children. 9:00am - 5:00pm Ages: 8+ $85 Members, $100 Non Members Behind the Scenes Tour: Woodworking and Building Styles SEPTEMBER 27 Come learn about the nuts and bolts of building historic structures with the Village's own woodworker, Scott Schotz! He will show you how logs are felled, hewn, how plank and log structures are built and much more! If you love woodworking and historic structures, you won't want to miss this special tour! Reservations are required in advance. Once your spot is reserved, refunds will not available. Call 689-1440 to reserve your spot today! 1:00pm - 3:00pm $15 Members, $20 Non Members

Gardenscapes in Peru - more gardening tips

Our resident gardner Nellie recently visited Peru with her son. Dahlias are pictured here growing wild in the Andes of Peru, among Inca ruins. They are native to Mexico and Central America, as are many of our ornamental flowers and shrubs. The cactus in the background indicates dry conditions, and thin, rocky soils. When buying seeds and plants for your garden, consider where they originated to learn the optimum growth conditions.

Nellie and her son are pictured in a central square in Lima, Peru. Towns and cities had formal plantings of bedding plants in central squares and parks. The landscape in the countryside was beautiful and dramatic with crops, fruit trees, and gardens lining the roadways with little need for ornamental plants.

Evergreens susceptible to foliage burn

With the advent of winter, we are concerned about the drying out of evergreen trees and shrubs. Lack of water, drying winds, and salt spray can all result in foliage burn and plant decline. If you have small evergreen trees or shrubs, boxwood,  or evergreens along the road you can minimize damage by making sure they are watered well(soil is not dry), wrap the plant with burlap, or if it is is small, spray with anti-desiccant such as wilt-pruf. If you still have foliage burn, trim off branches in the spring and fertilize.

Garden Tips: Pest in Your Garden

This is the time of year that plant growth slows down with shortening days and pest damage accumulates on your plants. Always check the undersides of the leaves for small insects such as aphids, mites and leafhoppers as these can really stunt a plant. Only treat if the population is hurting the plant as beneficial insects can do a lot to control pest populations. Praying Mantis, Lacewings, and Ladybugs are the Good Bugs that are on your side!

Nellie Gardner joins the IPGF as Resident Garden Authority

Nellie Gardner

IPGF is pleased to announce that Nellie Gardner has joined our team of professionals as our Resident Garden Authority. Nellie is a graduate of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Science. She is owner and manager of Flower Fields, a reestablished cut flower farm in Spencerport, NY. As a Professional Agricultural Consultant, Nellie consults in speciality garden design including wildflower gardens, perennial, annual and cut flower, educational gardens and children's gardens.