GBN Blog

“I tell everyone I meet what a world-class garden city Buffalo is,” boasts Lee. “Beautification truly feels like a community project, and I don’t think that I have experienced that type of commitment in any other major U.S. city. What a special place, with special people, who have curated the most special gardens.” — Abra Lee, Horticulturist, Historian and Author; Atlanta, GA

Through her company, Get Fokus'd Productions, she has collaborated with Gardens Buffalo Niagara to produce stellar videos blending stunning visuals with insightful narratives that bring the East Side Garden Walk to life.

Thank you to all the gardeners, volunteers, sponsors, and visitors in 2023. Enjoy this video created for you by the East Side Garden Walk and Get Fokus'd Productions. “Walk with us on the east side of our dreams pull up the weeds that suffocate growth and watch us spring forth…”

Tips, tricks, and hints on how to get the most out of visiting America’s largest garden tour, with 60,000-70,000 other garden fans from around the U.S, Canada, and beyond.

A personal memory of a garden from a distant past, which no longer exists, but continues to grow in a different way. A small but significant moment of beauty and kindness from the past turns into something that nurtures future.

Are you a gardener on Garden Walk Buffalo, East Side Garden Walk, Open Gardens WNY, or any of the other 14-16 garden tours in the region? Do you want to encourage more visitors to your garden? Do you help organize a garden tour in WNY? We want to hear from you!

In the summer of 2012, my husband, Ben came to me with an odd-looking drawing he had sketched. I said, “That’s interesting...what is it?” He excitedly replied, “It’s a waterfall and I’m going to build it for you on the front lawn, and it’s going to have multiple tiers so that you can plant flowers around it.” Though I appreciated his enthusiasm, I was well aware that his ADD often prevented him from seeing projects through to completion. I smiled and politely said, “That's sweet of you, honey.” Before I knew it, four pallets of flagstone were delivered to the curb in front of our home on Norwood Avenue.

Using nature as a force for healing is an ancient practice well-suited for modern, community-led projects. It offers affordable, tangible ways to improve quality of life for those suffering from an array of issues, including poverty, violence and inadequate healthcare.

Mural artist Chris Piontkowski shared the meaning and inspiration behind the murals at the Market Square Garden in Black Rock, where Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the invitation of BRRAlliance’s. During the ceremony, GBN received recognition from Buffalo City Common Council for the Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants. In addition, GBN has a new set of officers along with the board of directors after the October annual board meeting.

2022 GBN Newsletter, with our event calendar of the season.

Ann Blinston (1935-2020), a remarkable woman born and raised in Hamburg, New York, has forged a path that we hope many others will follow. A generous gift from Ann’s estate is the latest bequest to Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s Living Gardens Legacy Society.

Welcome to the first year of what we’re calling Urban Farm Day! We hope it becomes an annual habit, visiting area farm gardens, reconnecting with where our food comes from, maybe becoming inspired to create your own garden plot.

Murals have been popping up all over Buffalo – like good weeds! Many are nature- or garden-inspired murals. Here are some of which I have photos. Other murals do have flowers or plants in them, but these feature them prominently.

Follow us as we update our video collections, photo galleries, social media posts and gardening resources

If there’s one lesson we gardeners can take to heart during this summer of sharing from a distance, it’s that nothing we grow can be taken for granted.

Gardens Buffalo Niagara created its two grant programs—the Marvin Lunenfeld Beautification Grants and Vibrant Buffalo Beautification Grants—to help grow our city’s diverse gardening projects.

Your Garden Stories, preserved online by the Buffalo Architecture Foundation and Gardens Buffalo Niagara.

America’s largest garden tour, Garden Walk Buffalo, and the East Side Garden Walk have cocooned these last few months. Now we’re spreading our wings.

Beautiful Buffalo summers, wandering from garden to garden, admiring gardener’s creativity, adding to your horticultural knowledge, and meeting neighbors (even across town) is a great way to spend a summer day.

Although in person garden tours will have to wait until next year, many botanical gardens are offering virtual tours…

Now there’s a new way to leave your mark on Western New York: Gardens Buffalo Niagara has launched the Living Gardens Legacy Society.

NEW THIS YEAR To avoid long waits for shuttles traveling long distances, Garden Walk Buffalo's eight free hop-on/hop-off shuttles have routes divided into four color zones.

Invitation to contribute your personal garden story to the Smithsonian Gardens Community of Gardens digital archive, which seeks to grow garden history through images, stories and exhibits.  

What used to be vacant lots are now sustainable market gardens thanks to the beautification efforts and paid internships of 5 Loaves Farm.