We are thrilled to welcome you to the garden center this season! Here you’ll find our current schedule of classes and events. Please note, many classes require pre-registration as space is limited.
Learn how you can get started on your beekeeping journey with Dan Masterson and Erin Masterson Holko.
We often get the question, "What do bees do in the winter?" It's a great question! In this class, we'll talk about what our bees are naturally inclined to do to prepare for and survive the cold months ahead and what we can do to help them through.
Join us for the 13th annual Honey Harvest Festival! Vendors, classes, demonstrations, and so much honey…
Check out the event webpage for more info.
To get the most out of your pollinator garden, it’s important (and way more fun!) to understand how bees and other pollinators interact with our gardens. Join the beekeepers from Masterson’s for a glimpse into successful pollinator gardens from the honeybees’ perspective. You’ll learn about the bees’ favorite colors and flower shapes, what they are actually doing when they are visiting, and how they communicate with their friends about great stuff they find in your garden. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the work our pollinators do, and new inspiration and knowledge about the role you can play in helping them.
From herbal teas to salves and tinctures, there are a variety of ways that we can harness the power of plants to create herbal remedies right at home! In this hands-on class, we’ll learn to combine the power of plants with the medicines that come from a beehive by practicing a few simple techniques. Participants will leave with a custom herbal infusion and supplies to craft an herbal salve at home.
Join Dan and Erin to learn all about inviting nature to your own backyard! Creating wildlife habitat is incredibly important, but it can seem overwhelming when we don’t know where to start. Dan and Erin will help to break it down and show you how anyone, no matter how big or small the space, can help to promote a healthy habitat.
This class is held at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
Join Ken Parker for this fun and tasty class!
Hosted at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens! This workshop is focused on educating participants about the diverse range of edible wild native plants found in Western New York. Attendees will learn to identify, harvest, and prepare these plants, enhancing their appreciation for local biodiversity and promoting sustainable foraging practices.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
Join Ken Parker for this fun and fascinating class!
This workshop is focused on educating participants about the diverse range of edible wild native plants found in Western New York. Attendees will learn to identify, harvest, and prepare these plants, enhancing their appreciation for local biodiversity and promoting sustainable foraging practices.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
Interested in learning more about the plants we encounter in our forests and fields? Join us for an educational walk in the woods as we learn tips for identifying native trees and shrubs, and we'll learn to take cues from nature to determine how to incorporate these species in our home landscapes. This is a hands-on program, so bring your hiking boots, binoculars and questions!
We’re excited to partner with Buffalo’s favorite summer festival, the Taste of Buffalo! Along with our friends at Fariytale Farms, we’ll be hosting the Kid Zone this year, talking all about how important bees are when it comes to producing delicious food.
We’re excited to partner with Buffalo’s favorite summer festival, the Taste of Buffalo! Along with our friends at Fariytale Farms, we’ll be hosting the Kid Zone this year, talking all about how important bees are when it comes to producing delicious food.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
Well, obviously we’re going to be a part of this super cool event! Join us and the beekeepers from Fairytale Farms at the Blueberry Treehouse in West Falls to talk all about bees, pollinators, and honey. We’ll have a live honeybee observation hive and lots of other “bee stuff” with us. Whether you are interested in bees, honey, or just learning more about this super special place, come on by!
Join local native plant expert Ken Parker for a class we're really excited to host! Ken will take you through a selection of his favorite native plants for the home garden. You'll learn why these plants are not just pretty to look at, but incredibly important to restoring our local ecosystem. We're sure you'll leave feeling inspired to add a few of these beauties to your landscape!
There is no fee for this class, but please register so we can save you a seat.
Meet members of our local Wild Ones chapter and talk native plants here at Masterson’s! We’re thrilled that WNY has our very own Wild Ones chapter. If you’re into native plants, or WANT to be, this group is an amazing resource for our community.
In this class, we'll cover everyone's least favorite part of beekeeping: hive health issues. While we will certainly touch on other pests, this class will focus on the varroa mite. Varroa mites are one of the biggest threats to the health of honeybee colonies, and having a plan in place for managing these pests is an important part of keeping healthy colonies.
Swarming is part of being a bee. Dealing with swarms is part of being a beekeeper! Knowing what to do and when to do it can be tricky, even for experienced beekeepers.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
We all know that we're supposed to inspect our hives. But what the heck are we looking for in there?
Join us in the apiary for a hand-on experience. We'll open up a hive together and see what the bees can teach us. From suiting up and lighting a smoker to proper hive etiquette to locating the queen, we'll share what we've picked up over the years.
Spring Native Plant Day!
If you’ve pre-ordered Plants from our Spring Native Collection, they will be ready for pick-up. Plan to spend some extra time checking out our huge selection of other native trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Planting Demo: 12:00pm with Bryan Jackson. Learn proper planting techniques and ask the experts any questions you might have about bringing your new native friends home.
Join Erie County Parks and BWELL in our first annual Pollinator Festival! This event is geared toward anyone looking to learn about native plants, discover how to make a pollinator friendly habitat and what you can do to help our native pollinators! Come join us for fun nature walks, informational workshops and vendors all supporting and encouraging you to start your very own pollinator friendly garden!!
Notes: Family Friendly, Free, and Picnicking Encouraged.
If you’ve been wanting to support local wildlife on your property, but don’t know where to start, then this is the class for you. Join Master Naturalist trainee Bryan Jackson as he simplifies the recipe. Learn how to choose the right plants for the right areas, how they will support wildlife and how to care for them.
What is the difference between a nuc and a package? What do you need to have ready when your bees come home? We'll get you ready to install your nuc or package an hopefully calm some new beekeeper jitters.
Pre-registration is required. Register today so we can save you a seat!
Come on out and get a taste of spring! We’ll be set up at the Plantasia show this year, featuring native plants, gardening info, and of course honey!
Thinking of becoming a beekeeper in 2025? This is the place to start! We’ll cover all of the basics you need to know before deciding to get your first hive, plus everything you’ll want to know before you bring your bees home.
Thinking of becoming a beekeeper in 2025? This is the place to start! We’ll cover all of the basics you need to know before deciding to get your first hive, plus everything you’ll want to know before you bring your bees home.
We often get the question, "What do bees do in the winter?" It's a great question! In this class, we'll talk about what our bees are naturally inclined to do to prepare for and survive the cold months ahead and what we can do to help them through.
Join local beekeepers, mead makers and crafters for a fun-filled day!
Details are still being finalized, so check the Festival page for more info.
Western New York’s largest specialty garden center
