Another Voice: Buffalo's gardens vibrantly express a community's soul

ANOTHER VOICE | NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE

In a world full of uncertainty, Buffalo’s gardens are a constant source of hope, healing, and pride. That message rang loud and clear during horticulturist Abra Lee’s recent talk at the Martin House, Cultivating Community: Cemetery Clubs. As one of their 2025 creative residents, Lee explored the deep cultural roots of gardening—and didn’t hesitate to name Buffalo a world-class gardening destination.

This wasn’t Lee’s first visit. During her 2023 residency with the Martin House, Gardens Buffalo Niagara helped coordinate tours of East Side gardens. Even then, she was struck by something unique: our gardens don’t aim to rival Versailles or Longwood. Instead, they shine as what Lee called “exceptional gardens of the common folk”—rich with stories, passion, and soul. She believes Buffalo gardens are worthy of academic study.

These are gardens grown with heart—rooted in resilience and tended by hands that understand the quiet power of nature. Each one is a celebration of difference, grounded in purpose and bursting with personality. They offer refuge for pollinators, joy for passersby, and a deep expression of neighborhood pride. Together, they form a vibrant patchwork of beauty, sustainability, and collective care.

Take the Big Herk Fridge at 167 Herkimer Street. Within the Garden Walk Buffalo footprint, this garden merges environmental sustainability with community nourishment. As the gardener explains:

"In our historic and urban environment, gardening isn’t just aesthetic. Ponds naturally filter water... Rain barrels allow us to harness water for reuse. Flowers and vegetables provide nourishment for us and the ecosystem. Plants like greens, sunflowers, and marigolds help remediate soil from years of construction and lead paint. Gardening is really about giving to the community and city as a whole."

Not only is this garden helping to restore the land, it’s also feeding neighbors. The fridge is stocked by volunteers, and anyone can take what they need—no questions asked.

On the East Side Garden Walk, similar efforts are blooming. This event fosters revitalization and beauty one yard at a time. But even more powerful are the ways gardens bring neighbors together. A 2025 participant from the Winslow F-K Block Club, a recipient of a Lunenfeld Grant (a Gardens Buffalo Niagara program funding garden projects), shared:

“We were blessed under Grassroots Garden to steward two vacant lots and with a Lunenfeld Grant that gave us the ability to transform them into something of beauty. The inspiration came from the pillars of our community. This garden will be a symbol of unity as it took a team of volunteers to come together to transform this space.”

This is why Garden Walks matter—now more than ever. They remind us that in uncertain times, there is still something we can grow and share together. Something that connects us.

Discover the gardens this summer: www.GardensBuffaloNiagara.com