NIAGARA FALLS —
Steve Boka opened a garden center 30 years ago because he got tired of arguing with people.
Boka had originally created a farmer’s market called Boka Farms on the Pendleton site at Lockport Road and Campbell Boulevard. But, he grew weary of people haggling over the price of a few bananas and then walking over to his garden section and happily spending all kinds of money for beautiful flowers and garden accessories. “I found out people would rather spend their money on flowers.”
These days Boka Farms is noted for its gargoyles and other outdoor statues. There are lions and eagles and even a Snow White and several of the dwarfs. “You got to put on a big show,” he says of his huge statue inventory, much of which can be seen from the road. “If you don’t go into it big you should stay out of the business.”
Boka’s been selling garden products for a long time, but the customer he sells to today is different than the customer years ago. “The older generation bought perennials,” he said. They are happy to dig and plant in their gardens, but the younger generation seems to want quicker rewards. “Their concern is about how their patio will look when they have their party this weekend.”
Trends over the past few years have also learned towards the kind of giant, colorful hanging plants that Boka said his center is noted for. And, people like their vegetables to grow in pots — on the backyard patio.
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Over at Alcliff’s Landscaping Nursery, 1975 Military Road, the early spring has kick started everything three to six weeks ahead of schedule, according to owner Marty LaMarca.”This is the earliest we’ve ever shredded dirt,” he said, and the recent 80 degree weather had visitors looking for flowers about two months too soon. Mother’s Day is the recommended date for plantings, but “people have the spring bug,” he said.LaMarca said the temperatures are likely to wreak havoc with fruit trees, which may bloom too soon, and an expected return to seasonal temperatures will mean there are no bees to pollenate them. But, the weather does lure people into readying their gardens earlier each season.
“People are buying more mulch and doing their beds earlier, “ he said, noting they seem to prefer the new dyed mulches, especially mulch dyed black or red.
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Sharon Howarth, landscape designer at Menne’s Nursery on Niagara Falls Boulevard in North Tonawanda said when it comes to flowers, the newest craze is hybrid hydrangeas, a flower popular with gardeners because of its large ornamental flower head. A new line of hydrangeas, the Cityline — which has varieties with names like Berlin, Paris and Venice — is particularly popular because of the ease of maintenance compared to most hydrangeas.
“I think the general trend is towards plants that will bloom for longer periods of time and don’t need a lot of maintenance,” Howarth said. “Most hydrangeas bloom at one point in the year and need special pruning.”
Cityline hydrangeas, though, are in constant bloom from the end of July right up until the frost, she said.
For garden decor, Howarth said she sees an interest in natural looking fountains instead of the more traditional statues of perhaps a woman pouring water from a vase.
“We’re carrying more fountains that look natural … they might look like a log flume or a rock,” she said.
And like many industries, “going green” is a big buzz word in the gardening world. Howarth said Menne’s Nursery has started carrying a line of outdoor furniture made from recycled milk jugs and eucalyptus wood, which is crop-grown and renewable.
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Regardless of the trends, those in the gardening industry know one thing for sure. “You know why people buy flowers,” Steve Boca said. “It makes them feel good.”
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