In this garden, Past, Present, Future meet

When I came to Buffalo as a young student many years ago…

I lived in the University Height neighborhood. Each day, on my way to the shuttle stop, my attention was always drawn to a particular house— a center entry colonial home with blue shutters. It was the garden that truly captivated me. Simple yet elegant, it radiated a sense of serenity. The image of the flower wreath adorning the front door, crafted with a hat and postcards, still lingers, evoking the feeling of returning home from a remarkable voyage.

The house with blue shutters on Larchmont Rd (Photo taken in 2011, courtesy of Jay Jinge Hu)

It was an open and inviting garden, extending its charm to the public spaces, adding subtle touches along the sidewalk and in the road median. As someone who was not only new to Buffalo but also this country, it illuminated my otherwise mundane and stressful life. Witnessing the changes in this garden with each passing day became a source of solace.

The garden extended to the road median (Photo taken in 2011, courtesy of Jay Jinge Hu)

During my time there, I never had the opportunity to speak with the lady who tended the garden, but the image of her garden remains ingrained in my mind. I see her garden as gestures of kindness, extending its beauty beyond the confines of the fence line. In doing so, she transformed the street into a sanctuary for all, and fostered a sense of belonging that reached even strangers.

Back then, I had no serious interests in gardening…

Nor was I aware of the existence of garden walks in this area. Nevertheless, this garden remained in my memory. Was it nostalgia? Not precisely, rather than pain or trauma, it represented a small but significant moment of beauty and kindness from the past. It was a chance encounter, seemingly random, devoid of any deliberate intention and free from obligations or hidden agendas. And it is one of those things that made life truly marvelous.

Just like a tiny seed carried by the wind, sometimes it blossoms and sometimes it even Reseeds.

The Larchmont Rd garden in University Height neighborhood (Photo taken in 2011, courtesy of Jay Jinge Hu)

As time went on, my passion for gardening grew…

And I became involved in the gardening community through volunteer work. Over a decade after leaving that street, I discovered that the garden belonged to Christine Brooks, an enthusiastic member of the Capen Garden Walk. This University Height neighborhood garden walk is one of over a dozen garden walks taking place in the Buffalo Niagara region every summer.

Christine Brooks passed away in 2015, in her memory, a memorial garden was created, featuring a Ginkgo tree. Additionally, in 2016, Brooks Garden Grant was established to honor her legacy. Sharing the same spirit as the Lunenfeld Beautification Grant of Gardens Buffalo Niagara, both grants aim to encourage and support gardeners to enhance the beauty of our neighborhood.

This public garden on Larchmont Rd became a memorial garden for Christine Brooks and a Ginkgo tree was later planted (Photo taken in 2011, courtesy of Jay Jinge Hu)

Although Christine’s garden no longer exists, it continues to grow in a different way…

It continues to grow through the memories of myself and many others, symbolizing the spirit and joy of garden sharing. The Brooks Garden Grant, bearing her name, has become an integral part of the Capen Garden Walk. 20 grants have been awarded by 2023, it not only pays homage to her legacy but also nurtures future generations of gardeners. 

Christine Brooks’ Garden continues to grow in a different way (Photo taken in 2011, courtesy of Jay Jinge Hu)

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Capen Garden Walk, taking place on Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, 2023. For more information about the Capen Garden Walk and the Brooks Garden Grant, visit: http://ourheights.org/gardenwalk/

To explore all the garden tours throughout the summer, including the Tours of Open Gardens and other weekend garden walks of Buffalo Niagara Region, including East Side Garden Walk and Garden Walk Buffalo, see our 2023 season event flyer: https://www.gardensbuffaloniagara.com/current-news/2023flyer

By Jay Jinge Hu, an Open Gardens participant and Gardens Buffalo Niagara Board Member.