Love Forever Blooms
Garden Walk Buffalo became an “event” for Ben.
He made trays of hors d’oeuvres, cookies, cocktails, and snacks for friends, strangers, and repeat visitors. That’s what made him smile.
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.
Ben spent every free hour of the summer constructing his masterpiece with no prior experience.
He relied on tips from friends and landscapers. His determination, perseverance and time spent chasing leaks spilled into the following summer. Once complete, his labor of love became a gift to not only me, but to our neighborhood, and the hundreds of visitors who appear every for the annual Garden Walk Buffalo.
Ben was so proud of his accomplishment.
He never had an interest in gardening until he observed the colorful results my hobby brought to his childhood home that we now shared. The calming sound of the water rushing down the rocks provided a romantic backdrop for summer evenings on the porch where Ben would strum his acoustic guitar while I enjoyed my tea or just an hour or two of relaxation. It also served as a the backdrop to our wedding photos in the summer of 2012.
Ben took the time to chat with many people who strolled by while he was arranging rocks and bringing his vision to life.
One person in particular was Newell Nussbaumer, our neighbor and editor of BuffaloRising.com. He and Ben developed a friendship that stemmed from conversations they engaged in each time Newell and his dog would make their daily pass by our home.
Ben was a huge animal lover, so much so, that I convinced him to assist me in my volunteer efforts with the Erie County SPCA even though saying goodbye to every furry little face that we fostered was hard for him. He would get very attached and hated giving them back. He soon realized the difference he was making in the lives of stray animals outweighed his heavy heart when it was time for them to go back for adoption.
That said, he became familiar with all the dogs that passed our front lawn sanctuary, as well as their owners. Ben became somewhat of a celebrity on our street. He enjoyed the compliments and the attention of all those who stopped to marvel at his creation.
He single-handedly transformed a pile of rocks and dirt into a breathtaking water feature, which he helped me fill with an assortment of annuals and perennials that cascaded down a three-tiered structure that had formerly been just a boring patch of grass. It was beautiful. It was unique. It brought joy to many. It was Ben. He was all those things as well.
“It was beautiful. It was unique. It brought joy to many. It was Ben. He was all those things as well.”
Garden Walk Buffalo had became an “event” for him.
He made trays of hors d’oeuvres, cookies, cocktails, and snacks for friends, strangers, and repeat visitors. Anyone who visited our garden that weekend was treated to his culinary delights. That’s what made HIM smile.
The waterfall became a metaphor for my tears.
In the fall of 2014, Ben unexpectedly passed away. In the weeks that followed, people left flowers around the waterfall. Newell was inspired to write a heartfelt Buffalo Rising article entitled Wings Take Flight. It is his account of how Ben not only built a stunning landscape, but how he engaged and entertained an entire community with his wit, charm, and views of the world that he freely shared with anyone willing to indulge his passionate dialogue.
I miss Ben every day.
He left me with a gift that I enjoy every time I walk out of the front door of our home. His spirit resides there. The flowers that bloom, the butterflies that playfully flutter around, the birds that frolic in the water. These are reminders of his love – reminders of the hours of hard work he invested in one-of-a-thousand things he did, just to make me smile.
As this summer will once again bring admirers to my front yard, I will be eager to share my garden and my story with them.
For those who had the pleasure and opportunity to meet Ben, I know he provided something you will always cherish. A kind word, a hug, advice, a funny anecdote.
Some days, I can still hear him expressing his occasional disappointment on those rare times someone walked by and didn’t stop or turn their head to appreciate the tranquil space he painstakingly created.
Forgive me for the cliché, but it’s one Ben lived his life by and still would be, had it not been cut tragically short: “Take time to stop and smell the roses, for tomorrow is not a promise.”
– Guest blogger Tracey Lukasik-Hochfield, is a lifelong resident of Western NY. An alumni of Kenmore West High School and Buffalo State College, she served as the Executive Director of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce from 2006 to 2018. She attributes her love and knowledge of gardening to each of her grandmothers, both of whom maintained beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Tracey's other interests include painting, music, and writing. As a freelance journalist she has contributed interviews, and CD and concert reviews, to Glam-Metal.com and BackstageAxxess.com. She is an avid animal lover and it is her hope that one day the overpopulation problem of stray and unwanted animals will be eradicated and the penalties for animal abuse will be increased and enforced. Every furry face deserves a safe and loving home...one with a garden of course!
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