From the Fling program: A NOTE ON THE COTTAGE DISTRICT. This area is the beating heart of Buffalo’s annual Garden Walk. Thousands descend on this charming neighborhood of (mostly) 19th century workers’ cottages and their accompanying gardens, which are usually too small for more than 10 visitors at a time. These gardens illustrate perfectly why a big bank account and a half acre of space aren’t necessarily the key ingredients for a spectacular American garden.
There were six open gardens listed on the program map. I moved through them as part of a random expanding and contracting group, following folks who seemed to know where they were going. I failed completely at noting whose garden we were visiting, they all ran together, along with interesting front gardens we walked by, like this one. Well, I guess it isn't really a garden, but it was interesting. What's the story on the pink buffalo? And the rock? And the solar lighting?
High contrast for the win here...
Many of these homes had such a distinctive style.
I love a vintage metal urn or two. I think it deserves a more adventurous planting however.
Gomphrena
And so much color!
This gardener (the previous 3 photos were from the same garden) expanded the space available to her by building a platform on the roof of her garage. We were forbidden to climb up there...
... and if I remember correctly she no longer uses the space, an age and ability issue.
Onward! To an area with oddly shaped lots and narrow passageways.
A fun way to go vertical with your terracotta pots.
Cotton candy pink and tangerine, that's an unusual house-color combination.
Lush front garden plantings...
This was one of the widest entries we walked down that day. You could drive an actual car through there! 
Of course plants (lots and lots of Coleus) were given priority over motor vehicles.
Flingers enjoying a sit spot.
A parting shot.
And my last Fling photo!
In case you haven't heard, the Garden Fling returns to Portland in 2027—July 22-25 (plus an optional day on the 26th)—I'm not part of the planning team this time, but I know the team is putting together an amazing weekend!
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Those homeowners crammed a lot into those spaces. Given how cold I understand Buffalo gets during the winter months, I'm impressed by the efforts they put into their summer gardens!
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me is how small these gardens are. But the gardeners seem to make the most of the space they have.
ReplyDeleteI really like how they embrace color, it feels so cheerful. And with a long winter, probably necessary. Cheers to the woman who built a garden on top of her garage! Portland fling is in July, I'll try to get a spot.
ReplyDelete