Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It has already been a busy gardening season for many garden centers and greenhouses across Western New York. It's about to get even busier this weekend with many people ready to tackle some bigger projects over Memorial Day Weekend.
"It has been completely busy and as steady earlier than it's ever been. This weekend is going to be crazy," said Paul Avery, general manager at Adams Nursery & Garden Center in Lancaster. "A lot of product, a lot of sales going on that we've got coming up. 20% off flats, select trees, evergreens, a lot of different sales. So we're gonna have a lot of people here."
"It has been awesome. It has been like a weekend day every day of the week," added Marcia Totaro, business manager at Lockwood's Greenhouses & Farms in Hamburg. "It's been wonderful, people are coming in after all sorts of things: Perennials, trees and shrubs, their vegetables, annuals, hanging baskets."
An added bonus for those planning to tend to their gardens is the weather finally appears to be making the turn toward the consistent warmer temperatures that summer brings in Western New York.
"We got through the frosts, after that, it basically just opened up," Avery said. "Everybody got stuff in early, and started going from there, just one after another."
Totaro feels the weather has been favorable a bit earlier than normal, which has led to many getting in their gardening needs ahead of schedule.
"Whenever it's a sunny day, we are really busy," Totaro said. "I used to tell people after Memorial Day start planting, now you don't need to wait. The weather is going to be nice."
Both Totaro and Avery agree that the mix of sun and rain has been pleasant, and the weather temperatures recently will get the soil warmed up just right for a good year of gardening.
So what are some of the more popular items for gardeners patroning their local garden centers this weekend?
"Going into Memorial Day Weekend, hanging baskets, New Guinea impatiens, begonias, a ton of them on sale right now, $23.99. Flats, we have Mandevilla hanging baskets coming in, they'll be here Friday, Saturday. But anything with color," Avery noted.
At Lockwood's, Totaro says their hanging baskets are always a huge draw for customers, and that begins in the days leading up to Mother's Day.
"We have a signature type of hanging basket, it's a mixed plant. And we do have sun shade and part shade, and those are very popular. It's hard to keep them stocked," she said.
Totaro adds there's even a selection of plants for anyone wishing to honor a loved one for Memorial Day on Monday.
"Memorial Day Weekend is kind of a big weekend for people that want to remember loved ones, so we do have planters that they can take to the cemetery," Totaro said.
And for anyone looking to tackle a big gardening project, new or current, garden centers like Adams and Lockwood's have got what you need.
"Anything from trees, shrubs, landscaping ideas, annual plantings, planters, anything in those ranges. But we do everything here, so it's not just one thing," Avery noted. "We've got a ton of good people here that can help you, and find what you need and what you're looking for. Whether it's you know, full sun, part sun, shade, morning sun, afternoon sun, there's a ton of different plants here that will carry."
"We have a lot of specialty annuals that we grow here on site. We have a good selection of trees and shrubs, and we have a lot of natives. People are really interested in planning native plants, so we have a lot of different natives. That's always a big draw. And all the tools and fertilizers, and those things that people need to get the job done," added Totaro.
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