Here in Buffalo, there exists a Garden Walk Buffalo and an East Side Garden Walk. Elizabeth Triggs, a co-founder of the East Side event, says it is important to "give props" to both. And she is fine with them being separate events.
“We don’t get a lot of attention for things we do well,” says Triggs. “It’s really nice for people to come over and see the beautiful gardens we have.” They are beautiful.
I have attended four of the East Side walks – sprawling affairs, with diverse garden clusters. A favorite jazz-focused garden on Mercer Avenue is very different from from an equally loved front-yard explosion of lilies and other colorful perennials on Emslie Street. It is best to drive or bike, not walk, from one to the other.
Renata Toney, who co-chairs the ESGW with Samantha White, points out, “The East Side is the largest part of the city, and being independent allows us to develop our own identity. We want to focus on the issues and challenges that we have. We have this visibility and we can raise money to give back to the community.
” Would people tour both sides of Buffalo if the events happened on the same weekend? They might, but it is a mathematical certainty that, with garden tours, the more numerous and spread out the gardens are, the more likely it is that most will see fewer visitors. Which is disappointing when you’re waiting for people to come by and appreciate your hard work. Renata Toney, Mary Van Vorst, Samantha White (standing), Laurie Ousley.
