Design

It was a delightful time experiencing Buffalo gardens for the last few days, but just as nice was interacting with fellow garden bloggers and gardeners.  Fabulous.  And our hosts, Jim Charlier and Elizabeth Licata were amazing -- a great weekend. Lancaster Avenue (Jim's street) was different from the others that we saw, and totally interesting.  The sunlight blew out many of my images, but I'll be using some of them in programs, regardless. And now, heading home, I'm traveling through Western Pennsylvania, exploring an area I haven't been before, and it's lovely.  Falllingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous house) is on the agenda tomorrow. The farmland and vistas in Western Pennsylvania make for a nice drive.

Respite garden for AIDS Community Services Succulent house at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens It's been a great time in Buffalo visiting gardens, with fellow gardeners and garden bloggers, during Garden Bloggers Buffa10. It's delightful to get to know many fellow garden bloggers in person, whether I 'knew' them before from their blogs, or not. I love the sense of exuberance and celebration in the Buffalo gardens that we've seen and enjoyed the diversity of architectural styles in the neighborhoods and districts that we've visited (and am inspired by Garden Walk and the sense of community that it encourages). Visiting the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens was delightful, both for the plants and the historic nature of the conservatory. I could barely restrain myself from buying LOTS of plants at Lockwoods, an excellent garden center with an impressive diversity of plants. Lockwoods display And do click on the photos for larger images ... A beau...

Summer Street cottages The Cottage District (Summer Street and 16th Street) was our morning destination for the Garden Bloggers Buffa10 meet-up. These areas are totally packed during Garden Walk, for good reason. Apparently, there are lines to visit every garden, and the streets are mobbed with visitors. We made an enthusiastic group despite the showers. Aren't the color combinations remarkable? (But the garden designer is color-blind!) Uh, my photo doesn't do justice to the artistry of this garden vignette. A vibrant seating area A remarkable use of shelf fungi as planters for sedums -  they're attached by screws to the fence. Charming houses and cottages, mostly rehabbed, with delightful gardens made for a great time.  Even the bit of rain just cooled things off.

I had a great time poking around gardens in the Allentown neighborhood, prior to the reception and dinner for the Garden Bloggers meetup.  It's a lovely thing to see folks with small pocket gardens pack them with plants and revel in the warm summer weather (even if it seems exceptionally warm this year).  Thank goodness that I'm used to a warm humid summer climate...not that it's my favorite, to be sure. My favorite sighting was this small planting, with a nice water bowl included.