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…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko “People come at five in the morning to drink their coffee in my yard,” Elizabeth Triggs said. “Every day, people come back here to read and write. It’s a community yard. You can sit down and relax.” You can visit Mrs. Triggs, as she is respectfully known in her neighborhood, on the East Side Garden Walk this weekend to find out how she and others have built strong alliances in her community. It’s a long and…...
The season of garden walks will kick off this weekend with Lewiston GardenFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18 on Center Street in Lewiston. Here are some photos–and tips!–from a couple of the gardeners who will be sharing their landscapes during the Lewiston GardenFest. You can see and learn more during the actual event. “Celebrate summer at Lewiston GardenFest and come away inspired to enhance your own green spaces,” said Mary Ann Yates,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Start planning for summer by getting the booklet that gives you all the details for Tours of Open Gardens. These 100 beautiful gardens are open for free on Thursdays and Fridays in July–and there are no crowds! Most of the gardens are generous in size and can be found across Erie and Niagara Counties. To find out where the gardens are located and when they are open, you need the booklet. You can order the booklet…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko We can be wowed when we walk into a landscape on garden walks or Open Gardens in Western New York. The overall view is magnificent and there is so much to see. Tip: Take a breath. Then take a step back. Look at the details and think about how you might work those details into your own landscape. The gardens in the backyard of of Kevin Lickers and Ricardo Arce in Buffalo are beautiful, but there is…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko When you’re visiting landscapes on the many garden walks and Open Gardens here in Western New York, it’s fun to just be wowed by what you see. You might think, “I wish I had a garden like that.” You can never completely replicate someone else’s landscape. Your yard might be shady where theirs is sunny. Or you might have a much smaller yard. Or you might not want to spend as much time watering and weeding…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Now that it’s autumn, have you turned your back on your gardens, or will your landscape give you pleasure even throughout winter? Keep your autumn and winter gardens appealing with these two tips from Jay Jinge Hu, who shared his Williamsville landscape on Open Gardens for the first time this year. Keep ceramic & cement pots from breaking in winter I have always advised gardeners to bring their concrete or ceramic pots inside for the winter…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko Garden Walk Buffalo, America’s largest garden tour, will be held this weekend, rain or shine. With more than 300 gardens, there is a wide range of designs, including charming cottage gardens, formal gardens, vegetable gardens, gardens with water features and quirky gardens. The walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31. If you see a sign out before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., you’re still welcome…...
With three more garden walks this weekend, there is a lot to see! The East Side Garden Walk has expanded to two days and has added a Children’s Garden Festival. The City of Tonawanda Garden Walk and the Ken-Ton Garden Walk have nighttime garden tours in addition to their daytime tours. Open Gardens continue on Thursday and Friday as well. East Side Garden Walk The East Side Garden Walk will be two days this year: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m…....
by Connie Oswald Stofko Three garden walks will be held this weekend; see details below. Open Gardens will take place on Thursday and Friday. Check out our Events page to see all the great gardening activities happening in Western New York. Garden Walk Williamsville Garden Walk Williamsville will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17. The tour is free and open to the public. Pick up maps at Williamsville Village Hall, 5565 Main…...
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