If I forget thee, O Buffalo

But how could we, when there's the Garden Walk to draw us back every year? Pro tip: the city of legendary winters has delightful summers.  And gardening fever spreads block by block, year by year. Now there's almost 400 gardens to tour ( here's a few of them). No competition, and no admission fee, though donations are solicited.

Buffalo backdrops

Having waxed lyrical about the wonders of the Buffalo Garden Walk and put up pictures more than once, I thought this year I'd do something a little different -- and concentrate on the backdrops that frame these intense urban spaces.  This year's shots here.

Return to Oz: Buffalo Garden Walk 2009

This past weekend was the annual urban miracle in Buffalo, home to the nation's largest open urban Garden Walk.



















The creativity is staggering -- and it's as much about found objects and easy integration of dramatic urban backdrops as about the profusions of perennials that Buffalo gardeners favor. Somehow these intense, concentrated urban Ozzes make bigger suburban gardens seem pallid.

Pics from 2008 Walk are here; from 2007, here. And in case you missed it above, 09 is here.

Buffalo, go "double green" on July 25!

An open letter to Buffalo, NY:

While Buffalo celebrates its profusion of green thumbs in its amazing annual Garden Walk on July 25, the world will be breaking out in a different kind of green. Cities across the globe will stage demonstrations in support of Iran's Green movement -- the brave Iranians still challenging the apparently rigged election that returned the dangerous demagogue Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power.





























As a Buffalo expatriate planning my annual Garden Walk pilgrimage, I was disappointed when I realized I would miss the opportunity to participate in the United4Iran demonstration in New York City this Saturday. Then I thought, why not invite the great gardeners of Buffalo to go "double green"?

Green ribbons, green scarves, green cloth of any kind is now recognized worldwide as a gesture of solidarity with Iran's "Green" supporters of reformist candidate Mir-Houssain Mousavi, who has not conceded the stolen election. Signs reading "Where is My Vote?" are a more direct way to express support. Perhaps the Garden Walk sidewalk signs could leaf out in this manner.

Those Garden Walkers who wish to coordinate efforts with worldwide protest planners can visit United4Iran, email info@united4iran.org, connect via Twitter at twitter.com/united4iran or via Facebook at www.united4iran.com.

Over the Rainbow in Buffalo

Welcome to Oz, AKA Buffalo, NY during its annual Garden Walk (July 25-26, 2008).

































No prizes, no entry barriers, no admission fees -- just a beleaguered city gone mad with gardening.

Pictures from 2007 Walk here.