Visitor's most-asked Garden Walk questions...

Q: Where'd you get the mirrors? 
A: I made them, dollar store mirrors, and the big mirror was left over from the bathroom redesign.
Q:  What's that vine on the left?  A: Dutchman's Pipe. On the right is a chocolate five-leaf akebia.

Q: You made that fountain!?   A: Yes. Scanned in coral bell leaves and cut them out of copper in three sizes for accuracy.

Q: Where'd you get the fish head?  A: From our friend Lulu in Texas. It was a gift - she made us guess what it was.
It's a rain downspout scupper. But we'd only see it in action if it were raining (when we're not outside), so I made it a fountain.

No questions. Just wanted Susan Cohan to see my garden DOES have balls. Small bouncy ones.

Q: Is that bamboo? That can grow here? In these winters?  A: It's black cane bamboo, yes, I know it's invasive. It's nine years old. It grows in Japan and China - they have winters. Our daughter's only question when we planted it was, "Will it attract pandas?"

Q: Where'd you get the copper leaf?  A: I made that too. Cut out copper roof flashing and added the aged patina over night.

Q:  Where'd you get the rug?  A: Gaiam. It's made of recycled soda bottles.

Q: Did you make the hypertufa?  A: Yes. I made that too.

Q: what's going on here?  A: Unfinished Garden Walk project. In a quandary as what to plant.
Grass? Black mondo grass? Vinca? Any ideas for me? It's both full sun and deep shade.

Q: Whose idea was the Harry Potter Garden?  A: Mine, supported by creative plant choices by my daughter.

Q: What's the purple plant?  A: Persian Shield.

Q:You Really got these rocks from these places?  A: Really.

Q: Where'd you get that extra-long picnic table?  A: I'm afraid I made that too.

Q: Where'd you get the sign?  A: My friend Siobhan in Florida and her Garden Fairy friends made it for me.
We're still looking for a bell for it.

Q: What's the vine around the raised bed?  A: It's not a vine. It's an idea I stole from Monet's garden in Giverny -- it's a dwarf apple tree formed as a knee-high fence.

Q: That's a torch? Where'd you get that?  A: Made it.

Q: What kind of vine is that?  A: It's not a vine, it's four pear trees. 
Q: A pear vine?  A: No, espaliered dwarf pear trees.
Q: So it's not a vine?  A: No.

Q: You collected all the Garden Walk posters? That's such a great idea!  A: I designed the top row of posters. Sue Hough, another GW board member, designed the rest. Plaque-mounted posters are given to garden Walk Buffalo committee volunteers each year. This year's poster will be added this week.

Q: Where'd you get the awesome grate?  A: Garbage-picked from Amherst, NY (a Buffalo suburb). My garden pal Nancy saw a neighbor throw it out and said she couldn't use it. I think I was there before she hung up the phone.

Q: I thought "Mike Shadrack" would be taller.  A: He is in person