How to get the most out of your visit to Garden Walk Buffalo
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or have been exploring Garden Walk Buffalo for the past 29 years, you may find some useful tips below. Take a look!
GET YOURSELF A MAP
Maps are free and are available at these sponsor locations. They include locations and descriptions of each garden. Additionally, you can pick one up at any of our three headquarters locations during the walk. An abridged PDF downloadable version of the map can be found here. It has maps with locations, but does not include garden descriptions.
Blue Map D, The Parkside & Park Meadow neighborhoods.
The map is divided into four color-coded areas. Numbers indicate house numbers. Gardener’s names, short descriptions, features with keyed icons, and map coordinates make up a gardener’s entry. For example, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House is located at 125 Jewett Parkway, BLUE map D, HH19. Stars indicate a headquarters location.
The map includes a “Looking for something in particular” list which identifies gardens that include specific items such as art, structures, wheelchair/stroller accessibility, organic, native plants, water features, rock gardens, water barrels, vegetable gardens, and more. If you’re looking for inspiration, be sure to visit these gardens!
Visitors tend to gravitate toward clusters. Some remarkable gardens are not near clusters of gardens though!
LOOK FOR YELLOW GARDEN WALK BUFFALO SIGNS
Garden Walk hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Garden Walk signs indicate what part of each garden is open – front, side, or back. If you see a sign out before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m, you're welcome to visit! However, if the garden is on the map but no sign is out, please don’t enter. Something unexpected has most likely come up and the garden is NOT open.
Look for these signs of great gardens and gracious gardeners.
PLAN YOUR STRATEGY
Plan ahead and determine what neighborhoods you'd like to see. It’s not humanly possible to see all 300+ gardens in a single weekend. Know this and plan to come back next year!
Bringing kids? There are some gardens that appeal to kids. A few have scavenger hunts. There's a magical Harry Potter-themed garden on Lancaster Avenue, and one with an awesome tree house on Richmond Avenue.
Keep an eye on the weather. Use sunscreen and wear a hat. This event is rain or shine, so if it looks like there may be rain, bring an umbrella.
Visitors can maximize their time by visiting garden clusters. Use the map to identify nearby gardens. It's a good way to see a lot in a short time. There are some pretty spectacular gardens in the outlying areas of the Walk. Try to mix it up by planning a route ahead of time. Street parking is generally available within a block or two of all gardens.
Expect to be on your feet for a long time. Most of your day will be spent walking. Comfy shoes, phone/camera, and water are musts. Don’t forget a portable charger! Expect to drive from one area to another, park, and walk to multiple gardens. Bikes are always a great way to see the gardens. (And you don't have to worry about parking!)
Chat up the gardeners! Ask them and other visitors which gardens they enjoyed. It’s the friendliest event you may ever attend. The gardeners have been called “freakishly friendly.” It’s a title they wear proudly. Some gardeners will have drinks (water, lemonade) available.
Kids will love this creative and colorful Richmond Avenue tree house!
THREE HEADQUARTERS HAVE IT ALL!
There are knowledgeable, trained, longtime volunteers at each HQ who can answer questions about nearby gardens, lunch spots, and neighborhood information, as well as make suggestions if you're looking for something specific. Restrooms are available at all three headquarters. FYI – restaurants and shops generally let only customers use their facilities.
Each Headquarters sells Garden Walk Buffalo merchandise, such as shirts, hats, posters, umbrellas, totes, tea towels, earrings, magnets, and more. Plan to spend some money to support the tour. Merchandise not sold during the tour will be available in the Gardens Buffalo Niagara online shop. Purchase proceeds keep the Walk free and support Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s Lunenfeld Beautification Grants.
You can buy a copy of Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs at any headquarters. It's a great memento of the tour and some of the gardens you visit. The book includes lots of garden design advice, lists of plants you’ll see on the tour, and a wee bit of humor. The book was written by garden columnist and media personality Sally Cunningham and myself, a graphic designer, artist, past GWB president, and long-time Garden Walk Buffalo participant.
Enjoy the architecture. Garden Walk gets you here for the gardens, but you’ll leave impressed with the varied architecture and beautiful, walkable streets. Every building (or garden) has a story. Some gardens will have a sign from the Buffalo Architecture Foundation that includes a QR code for more information about that garden and/or house. Visit BuffaloArchitecture.org for more.
Looking for specific inspiration for your own garden? Use this guide to target your visits.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL
Respect all gardens and gardeners. They've worked hard to prepare their garden for your visit. Obey all posted signs on a property. It's generally okay to take photos. Photography is at the discretion of the garden owner, so please ask first. Photographs must not be used for sale or reproduction without prior written permission of the owner.
Some gardens, especially in the Cottage District, are very small with only one path in and out. There are often lines. Be patient. If you're claustrophobic, there are a few gardens you may want to stay away from. Visiting the Cottage District later in the day may have you seeing fewer lines and crowds.
A note regarding our canine friends. As much as we love them, bringing your dog is discouraged. It's usually very hot with inconsistent access to water. Some gardeners may have their own dogs, may be skittish around dogs, or allergic. If you do have a dog, always ask the gardener if the dog is welcome.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Explore Buffalo is offering $10 walking tours on the Friday before the Walk. Discover the architecture and history of Garden Walk neighborhoods. Visit ExploreBuffalo.org to see tours available on July 28.
Make some art during the Walk at a Garden Paint-Out with Buffalo Society of Artists and Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters. Visit the Vermont Triangle Community Garden, 391 Vermont Street. All materials are provided.
Do a search at ArtofGardening.org for "Garden Walk Buffalo" tags. It's my long-running local garden blog. It has posts, lists and photos of Garden Walk gardens to visit.
If you're here before the weekend, there are 100+ exceptional gardens to visit during select hours every Thursday and Friday in July. OpenGardensWNY.com happens throughout Erie and Niagara counties. It is a paid tour. You'll need an Open Gardens Guide ($15) available at these garden centers.
Plan on stopping and shopping at any three HQs for the Walk. The Canisius High School Field House HQ will have the most items and more of everything.
WHERE TO STAY
A list of nearby hotels, inns, hostels, campgrounds, and bed & breakfasts can be found here. Downtown accommodations tend to be at capacity. Suburban hotels will be more available and probably less expensive. AirBnBs can be found here.
The Buffalo Style Gardens book has many of the gardens you’ll see in it as well as great garden planning and design advice.
If you enjoyed the Walk, donations are gratefully accepted at the HQs, or online, here. Donations help keep Garden Walk Buffalo free as well as helping to fund Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants (named after GWB’s founder). The grants are awarded to block clubs and community groups for garden projects throughout the entire city. In 2023 alone, $20,000 was granted to 26 groups thanks to generous donors like you!
Gardens Buffalo Niagara produces Garden Walk Buffalo and other events you’ll not want to miss:
Keep up with Gardens Buffalo Niagara events by signing up for our eNewsletter. Simply complete the form found at the bottom of this web page.
We hope you enjoy this year’s tour!
Written by Jim Charlier, Designer and owner of JCharlier Communication Design, past President of Garden Walk Buffalo, co-author of Buffalo Style Gardens, and Harry Potter: Herbology Magic: Botanical Projects, Terrariums, and Gardens Inspired by the Wizarding World. Follow his garden blog at ArtofGardening.org.
Copy Edited by Elizabeth Foy.