Buffalo hosts largest garden walk in US

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Queen City is blooming with some of its most beautiful home-grown displays this weekend.

Host gardener Ellen Goldstein said, "Garden walk is the highlight of my summer. I wait all year; I am so excited for it."

This weekend, over 370 private gardens will be open to the public in Buffalo. It the largest garden walk in the nation. People come from all over to see the beautiful blooms and unique landscapes.

Jim Charlier, president of Garden Walk Buffalo, said, "Small, intimate urban space, re-purposed art, found art."

55,000 people are expected this year. Charlier says the event has a huge impact on the local economy.

"24 percent of people are coming from out of town and they have to buy a tank of gas, generally they're staying a night. It comes up close to $10 million," said Charlier.

The event has also beautified areas of the city.

Goldstein said, "It brings neighbors together. Some neighborhood have been transformed. On some streets everybody's in one the garden walk."

Charlier says that its the people of the city of good neighbors that make garden walk so unique.

Charlier said, "Our gardeners are freakishly friendly. They're very, very open and to have thousands of people into your yard and to be willing to do that, a lot of communities wouldn't do that."

There are three main headquarters, Richmond Summer Senior Center, Buffalo Seminary and AIDS Community Services the day of the walk.  You can get maps, water, and garden walk merchandise at these locations.  Click here for a printable map of the participating gardens.

   >>   Find more information about the Garden Walk