Rooted in Community: The Everyday Magic of Gardening in Buffalo
Rooted in Community: The Everyday Magic of Gardening in Buffalo
By Audrey Clark, GBN Executive Director
Over the last five years working with Gardens Buffalo Niagara, I’ve heard time and again—anecdotally, of course—that Garden Walk Buffalo helped kick off the Buffalo Renaissance. Whether or not that’s true, I can’t say for certain. But I can speak firsthand about the impact gardening has on a neighborhood, and so can dozens of our neighbors.
In Fall of 2023, I bought my first house. It was exciting, terrifying, and possibly the worst time in history to buy a home—but it was mine. I couldn’t wait to make it my own. The house sits on the outer edge of the Garden Walk Buffalo footprint, on the other side of Grant Street, in a neighborhood not exactly known for its gardens. But I couldn’t wait to dig in—literally.
One of the first things I did was tear out the front lawn and plant a wildflower garden. I’m far from an expert gardener, but after working with GBN for several years, I knew I had great resources to lean on.
Photos of Audrey’s garden in progress.
“This is my first year participating, and I really don’t have a green thumb; but I do have a love and appreciation for my neighborhood and my city and I wanted to contribute in some way to show our community in a positive light and add some color and happiness to the world.”
More seasoned gardeners might look at my chaotic little patch and see it for what it was—a novice’s first attempt—but to me, it brought so much joy. And it wasn’t just about the flowers. Over the course of the season, I had countless interactions with neighbors that really showed what Gardens Buffalo Niagara is all about.
It started in April. I was out front, ripping up the grass and laying down a border, when an older gentleman passed by. He paused, smiled, and said how glad he was to see someone finally fixing up the property. I’d later learn from neighbors that my house had been the victim of absentee landlords.
“This is your moment to reshape the narrative of our neighborhood. By showcasing the beauty and resilience that often go unseen, we’re turning gardens into bridges—connecting neighbors, visitors, and entire communities. Through this shared love of gardening, we foster unity, spark conversations, and sow seeds of pride that grow into something truly extraordinary.”
- Renata Toney, East Side Garden Walk Co-Chair
By June, things were growing. Kids were playing outside again. Two little girls who spent their afternoons zooming up and down the street on scooters would stop by to admire the garden. I had placed a few fairy statues throughout the garden, and one day, I came outside to find them playing with them. After a fun little conversation, I told them they could have the statues—and if they saw anything growing that they wanted to pick, they were more than welcome. All summer long, they’d stop by to gather bouquets and use the yard as a backdrop for what I assume were TikTok videos.
“I grew up helping my mom prepare her garden for garden walk— she was the first house on her street to participate. When I moved back to Buffalo 3 years ago, I knew I wanted to create a garden and share it on garden walk, with the hope that more of my neighbors and my community on the West Side will start gardens as well. Many of my plants came from family and friends gardens and that’s something I try to pay forward—The vegetables I grow get shared with my neighbors and to stock the community fridge on Herkimer, I share seedlings and cuttings with neighbors to help get their gardens started too!””
Before and after photo’s of Charley’s Garden.
In October, as the season wound down, I was outside trying to tidy up the yard before winter when one of my neighbors, a Burmese immigrant, stopped to compliment the yard. Though we had a bit of a language barrier, she told me she admired the flowers and asked if she could take a few plants to transplant in her own yard. She ran home and grabbed her son, and together we ripped some plants from my garden for her to take home. I’ll be honest—I have no idea if what she took was meant to be transplanted in the fall or if it would’ve been better to wait until spring (I’m still learning)—but I thoroughly enjoyed working with her that afternoon.
And I know I’m not the only one having these kinds of experiences. Across the city, gardeners are connecting with their neighbors, creating beauty, and building community—one plant at a time.
“My neighbors persuaded me to sign up, over 20 years ago. We’ve been on the map every year since. We’ve enjoyed having flowers for over 40 years that we’ve lived at this property. I like to put in this effort for my community as well as my own hobby of gardening.”
Marily & Keith, Garden Walk Buffalo gardeners on Richmond
If you’re feeling inspired to start a garden—or already have one you’d love to share—Gardens Buffalo Niagara welcomes everyone.
Registration for the 2025 events has passed, but there’s still plenty to enjoy! Attending this summer’s events is the perfect way to gather inspiration for your own garden—and get ideas to show off when you join us next year. Explore hundreds of creative, welcoming gardens, borrow ideas, discover new plants, and bring fresh energy back to your own yard.
And if you’d like to receive your maps early, consider making a donation to support our work—your gift helps keep these incredible events free and open to all!
I'm proud to garden on the East Side; my neighbors deserve more charming butterflies, colorful flowers, fresh veggies and bright smiles.
- Caesandra with Omega Mentoring Program, East Side Garden Walk gardeners on Jefferson
“Here’s what I learned: Buffalonians may be the friendliest people in the country; Individuals can make an enormous difference; Small actions create considerable momentum; and Gardens can save a city.”
Together, these small moments remind us that gardening isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about growing connections, pride, and a stronger, more vibrant Buffalo.