Big finale: Garden Walk Buffalo and Open Gardens

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sandstone pond on Garden Walk Buffalo
“This is a big cement bathtub,” Christina Brown said, explaining how her sandstone pond differs from the ponds you commonly see. Visit her on Garden Walk Buffalo. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
flowers in pots beside garage window on Garden Walk Buffalo
Hanging pots on the garage are a lovely detail in the landscape of Christina Brown. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

by Connie Oswald Stofko

“This is the hidden gem everyone wants to see,” said Christina Brown as she showed me the sandstone pond that is original to her house, built in 1916. It may be the only pond like it in our area.

“I couldn’t make a pond like this now,” she said. “I couldn’t afford it. The cost of sandstone is ridiculous.”

You can visit her landscape on Chatham Avenue during Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden tour in North America, this weekend.

This is also the last week of Open Gardens for 2023, and you can enjoy the work of visual artists and performing artists in some of the Open Gardens on Thursday and Friday.

See more details about these events below.

overview of backyard on Chatham on Garden Walk Buffalo
Next to the pond is a huge maple, which may predate the house. “If the tree roots ever broke through (the sandstone walls of the pond), the roots would suck out all the water,” Brown said. Then she paused and added, “But in 100 years, that hasn’t happened.” Brown held her daughter’s wedding in this yard last year. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
shade garden in Christina Brown's landscape on Garden Walk Buffalo
Brown has been replacing ground covers and adding more perennials along the sides of the yard. While the other side is sunny, this side needs shade plants, such as the red and yellowish leaves of the heucheras at left. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko
perennials in sun near patio steps on Garden Walk Buffalo
Brown planted perennials on this sunny side of the yard; the milkweed near the steps planted themselves. The monarchs like the milkweed and “the fragrance is gorgeous, so gorgeous!” she said. Her house was included in a 1931 book called Buffalo, The City Beautiful: Its Homes, Gardens and Environs. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

wrought iron gates open to patio on Garden Walk Buffalo
From the street, you can see all the back to the grape arbor. This strip of land along the house was originally going to be an alley, but the plan was scrapped and the land was added to what is now Brown’s lot; the pond is on this strip. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Garden Walk Buffalo

More than 300 gardens can be visited on Garden Walk Buffalo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. The tour is self-guided and free.

Three headquarters will be open for you to find maps, purchase merchandise, and have your questions answered. Restrooms will be available for your convenience.

  • Canisius High School Field House, 1180 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
  • St. Mark School, 399 Woodward Ave., Buffalo
  • West Side Community Services, 161 Vermont St., Buffalo

You can also find a pdf map, which you can print at home, at GardenWalkBuffalo.com. You can also access the interactive Google map. Maps will also be available at select sponsor locations, conveniently listed on GardenWalkBuffalo.com.

Note: On Friday, July 28, the day before Garden Walk Buffalo, Explore Buffalo will offer neighborhood tours that take you on Garden Walk Buffalo neighborhoods, from Parkside to the West Village. Reserve your spot for only $10 (normally $17) at ExploreBuffalo.org.

Open Gardens

Enjoy the work of visual artists and performing artists during Artists in Open Gardens on Thursday and Friday this week. The artists and gardens are listed below.

To see other gardens on Open Gardens, get the guidebook.

Thursday, July 27

Lancaster

  • Visual Artist Catherine Walsh, Riexinger Garden, 101 Simme Rd., 2-10 p.m.                 

Tonawanda

  • Visual Artist Lucy Dietrich, Wanderland, 636 Delaware Rd., 2- 6 p.m.

Williamsville

  • Performance by Tuesday Nite (Courtney Wofford & Sara Elizabeth Schall), Shirley’s Garden, 5459 Center Pine Lane, noon- 6 p.m.
  • Performance by Sugar Before Bed (Martin LaMott & Cassidy Mull), Le Petit Matin, 299 Reist St., 2-6 p.m.         
  • Visual Artist Bree Gilliam, Parkview Gardens, 324 Mill St., 2-7 p.m. 

Buffalo

  • Visual Artist Avanna Duff, Loomis Garden, 89 Sixteenth St., 2- 6 p.m.         
  • Visual Artist Matthew (MJ) Myers, Charlier Garden, 215 Lancaster Ave., 2- 6 p.m.  
  • Visual Artist Bianca McGraw, Bird Avenue Gardens, 604 Bird Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m.               
  • Performance by spud, Buffalo Harmony House Bed & Breakfast, 3 St. John’s Place, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Visual Artist Madeline Bartley, Licata & Bigelow Garden, 56 North Pearl St., 5:30-8:30 p.m. 

Friday, July 28

East Aurora

  • Visual Artist Avanna Duff, Chimera Garden 170 Pine St., 10 a.m. -2 p.m.       

Lockport

  • Visual Artist Ruby Merritt, Kurbs Garden, 570 Locust St. 10 a.m. -2 p.m.                     

Hamburg/Lakeshore

  • Performance by spud, Nick and Beth Buscaglia’s Garden, 5218 Lakeshore Rd., 5:30-8:30 p.m.    

Artists in Open Gardens is made possible with support from the Statewide Community Regrant program, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature and Arts Services Inc.

1 Comment on “Big finale: Garden Walk Buffalo and Open Gardens”

  1. I was interested in attending the Buffalo Garden Walk on Sat. July 29-2023. Which location would be the main head quarters? Would it be Cansius HS, St Mark’s Church, or West Side Comm. Services? Thank you.
    Jenifer

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