Garden Walk Buffalo – “Hope Blooms” #7

The Garden of AIDS Community Services

The Victorian, a restored 1854 architectural beauty, hosts the ‘Hope Blooms’ Garden in the rear yard of the facility.

It was created as a healing garden for those afflicted and living with HIV. It is “a garden by, and for, the people living with AIDS.”

The garden has used salvage elements from the original structure as ornament in the garden, and built the waterfall Koi pond with original sandstone from the building.

The sunny garden is small, but chock full of color and life.

 Plants bloom in profusion and one cannot help but smile.

The iron gate entryway leads to the beautiful garden.

 Color and texture abound. 

The paths wind through the space allowing the visitor to feel enveloped by the warmth and love the garden radiates. And the Hope Blooms Commemorative Walkway was created to honor or help loved ones fighting AIDS.

The above is a screen shot from the Aids Community Services of Western New York website where they have some very helpful and informative information.

 It is difficult to isolate individual flowers in the mass of color.

The Hosta are allowed to bloom here and I suspect that is an underlying concept of the entire garden.I really enjoyed this garden and went during Open Gardens prior to Garden Walk Buffalo. I toured the garden alone, but never felt alone. There is something special that makes you meld with the landscape, not feeling like it belongs to others, and as a designer, this makes a garden great.  If you ever have the opportunity to come to Buffalo during the yearly Garden Walk, do not miss this special place. It is for more than the garden itself that this place is noteworthy. You cannot help but to enjoy the restorative feeling of hope and joy. They call it “a garden with soul.”

Garden Walk Buffalo Gardens #2

Ellie’s Garden During Open Gardens 2011“This is a tiny house embraced by its garden,” says the owner, Ellie.

Ellie has live in her cottage since 1996, but has done wonders for both her home and neighborhood.   This is a property you remember for so many reasons. Ellie is a delight to talk to and is very passionate about improving her neighborhood. An inspiration to many not only with her gardening skills, but her determination to see Buffalo grow and prosper, one garden at a time. Heck, many gardens at a time.

 You can see down the street how gardens grew and grew.

I had a chance to view the garden prior to Garden Walk Buffalo during Open Gardens. It is a much more relaxing time to shoot photos, but you will see gardens during the walk in upcoming posts. Plus I did visit many more during Open Gardens, so you will see those also.

Her back yard is tiny, but every square inch is used just perfectly, taking into account the shady conditions.

 Even maintenance areas are disguised beautifully. Plants overflow the beds with flowers, flowers and more flowers. 2010 During Garden Walk Buffalo – Ellie’s Garden

The owner, Ellie in 2010, on her front porch talking with garden walkers. You can see people lining up to see the back yard.Next post on Garden Walk Garden Talk, coming on Wednesday, is another of my favorites, Mary’s garden. It is a larger garden, but every bit as full and colorful as this one. Mary’s garden has many unusual plants and is a delight to see. I will show some comparison images from 2010 too.