By Elizabeth Foy
Gardeners and visitors asked, and Gardens Buffalo Niagara delivered! The first-ever Open Gardens Spring Weekend is happening Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17.
This is your opportunity to visit 16 private, regional gardens throughout Erie and Niagara counties earlier in the season.
“Open gardeners put a great deal of effort into having their gardens ready for the July opening,” said event co-chair Mike Shadrack. “This year, many have opted for an additional May tour and are looking forward to welcoming visitors and showing them plants and shrubs not in flower during July.”
From Hamburg and Orchard Park, to Buffalo and Williamsville, and Alden, Kenmore, Lackawanna, Lockport, Akron, Gasport and Marilla, there’s a garden for everyone. You can find addresses and times in the 2026 Open Gardens Guide, available for $20 at local nurseries and online. The guide is your ticket to stunning gardens where welcoming gardeners look forward to your visits.
Learn more about Open Gardens and its new Spring Weekend event.
Elizabeth Foy is vice president of Gardens Buffalo Niagara and an avid home gardener.
