See great landscapes like this on Open Gardens, garden walks starting in July!

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decorative fence with trellis and gate in Hamburg NY
Deep gardens of perennials line the outside of the lovely fence at the home of Margaret Sardinia in Hamburg. The trellis and gate welcomed visitors on the Hamburg Garden Walk in 2019. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
magnolia flower in Hamburg NY
This gorgeous bloom was on a magnolia tree, one of several trees Margaret Sardinia had in containers on her deck when I visited last summer. She also had a lemon tree and fig tree, which she overwintered in the basement. Both the fig and lemon have produced fruit. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

by Connie Oswald Stofko

Here’s something to look forward to: Open Gardens and some garden walks this summer!

You can see a list of which gardening events are open and which are canceled at the end of this article. There may still be changes, so to get the most up-to-date information, go to the calendar page of Gardens Buffalo Niagara.

One of the garden walks that has been canceled is the The Hamburg Garden Walk, but organizers plan to offer virtual tours of some beautiful village gardens this summer. If you live in the Village of Hamburg and would like to show off your garden, contact them.

In the meantime, you can see photos of Margaret Sardinia’s gorgeous landscape here. I visited in 2019.

Sardinia uses some very formal elements in her landscape. She also pulls in elements you might find in a cottage garden design, softening the feel of the design.

Take a look at the flowers along the outside of the fence. The plants are placed neatly, avoiding the random or even messy look that cottage style gardens can exhibit. But the growing habit of the plants is free form and bouncy, giving an informal feel.

The container on the gate softens the lines of the fence, and the trellis at the entrance is welcoming.

When you pass through the gate, you are met with a stunning view that is more formal. A straight path leads you to a perfectly round hedge. Everything is symmetrical.

Guests can relax in the gazebo or in other seating areas in the yard.

hedge pond and gazebo in Hamburg NY
Symmetry is the main design element here. The hedge, large urn and gazebo line up with the straight path. Notice that the plantings are the same on each side of the gazebo entrance. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

fish pond in Hamburg NY
When you walk up to the hedge, you see it conceals a pond with goldfish. Notice the fountain– it also lines up with the path. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Something you wouldn’t expect to see in a formal landscape is a chicken coop, but Sardinia has been raising chickens since 2013.

“It’s super easy,” she said. “My mother raised chickens.”

Sardinia said she bought the chicken coop, so all she has to do is feed and water the hens and check for eggs every day. Her bantams can tolerate the cold.

She did have a rooster, but couldn’t keep it because it was too noisy.

The three hens “are really friendly pets,” Sardinia said. She also has a tortoise, fish, and two large dogs: Ellie, a Bernese mountain dog, and Ruth, a black lab.

Gardening tip: The dogs like to lie down in the garden among her lilies, which isn’t good for the lilies. To discourage the dogs, she stands flat rocks upright in between the plants. The rocks can also help to hold up drooping plants, she said.

Ellie also likes to dig in the mulch, so Sardinia lays down chicken wire under the mulch.

chicken coop in Hamburg NY
It’s hard to see them, but three chickens live in this coop in Margaret Sardinia’s yard. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Open Gardens and garden walks: current list

Here is a list of which garden events in our area are still scheduled and which are canceled. Things may change, so to get the most up-to-date information, go to the calendar page of Gardens Buffalo Niagara.

Changed

  • Garden Walk Buffalo won’t be held as a two-day walking tour this year. Instead, a new program called Buffalo Garden Views will feature a variety of activities throughout July. Gardeners from the Buffalo Niagara region–and around the world–can experience these activities from home on social media. And there will be some in-person activities, too, such as touring front-yard gardens. See views of varied front yards from previous years of Garden Walk Buffalo here. See more about Buffalo Garden Views here.
  • The Hamburg Garden Walk has canceled the in-person garden walk that was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12. The organizers plan to offer virtual tours of some beautiful village gardens this summer. If you live in the Village of Hamburg and would like to show off your garden, contact them.

Still scheduled

Canceled

2 Comments on “See great landscapes like this on Open Gardens, garden walks starting in July!”

  2. Greetings all! I’ve had a few one-on-one plant exchanges and visits with some good gardening friends… we all agree that as sad as all the shut-downs and cancellations have been we’ve had lots of extra time to work/play in our gardens! Stay well friends and let the weeds beware😦

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