A five-week long garden party...

It's enough to make your head spin. As we started this National Buffalo Garden Festival, we didn't anticipate every single person & organization would say "Yes! We can do that!" Seriously, we have to stop asking groups what they can contribute to the five-week long event (June 19-July 25).

There is now a website for the festival -- www.NationalGardenFestival.com -- that will be added to & improved upon as time goes on. It was put up quickly so that it timed to an ad that is running as of this past weekend in Upstate Gardeners Journal, in time for the Syracuse garden show. Check out the video the Convention & Visitors Bureau made from my photos.

Here's a run down of the events, so far:

Thursday, June 17

Garden Festival Kickoff Party for all gardeners in ALL garden tours in the area, and all members of partners in the activities of the festival -- hosted by the Botanical Gardens, free for participants. (party!)

Saturday, June 19

Perennials Seminar Lockwoods Greenhouses (seminars)
Keynote Speaker, Perennial Diva author Stephanie Cohan at the Nichols School Flickinger Theater, 7-9pm, $12 before 6/16/$15 at the door. Order tickets online at www.NationalGardenFestival.com (speaker event)

Sunday, June 20

Flower Day Urban Roots Community Garden Center (seminars)

Monday, June 21

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Thursday, June 24

Buffalo Citybration weekend-long series of home tours, job fairs, speakers and parties 
Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Friday, June 25

Garden Tour - Trees & Gardens of Forest Lawn (guided bus tour)
Buffalo Citybration weekend-long series of home tours, job fairs, speakers and parties

Saturday, June 26

Keynote Speaker Wicked Plants author Amy Stewart Hosted by the Buffalo Public Library, free (speaker event)
Mad Hatter's Tea Party Menne's Nursery (seminars)
Lewiston Garden Fest (garden tour of homes)
Buffalo Citybration weekend-long series of home tours, job fairs, speakers and parties

Sunday, June 27

Parkside Tour of Gardens (garden tour of homes)
Lewiston Garden Fest (garden tour of homes)

Monday, June 28

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Wednesday, June 30

Buffalo Philharmonic Concert in Delaware Park, free (concert)
Starry Night in the Garden fundraiser for the Botanical Gardens (party!)

Thursday, July 1

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Friday, July 2

Guided Bus Tour TBD

Monday, July 5

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Tuesday, July 6

Buffalo Philharmonic Concert at The Botanical Gardens, free (concert)

Thursday, July 8

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)
National Garden Bloggers Meet-up


Friday, July 9
National Garden Bloggers Meet-up
Delaware Park Japanese Garden Re-dedication (event)
Guided Bus Tour TBD

Saturday, July 10

Native Plants Day Lockwoods Greenhouses (seminars)
Hamburg Garden Walk (garden tour of homes)
Lockport in Bloom (garden tour of homes)
Niagara Falls Orchard Parkway Tour (garden tour of homes)
National Garden Bloggers Meet-up

Sunday, July 11

Japanese Iris, Hosta & Dalylily Show Rudolph Galley & Sons Nursery (exhibition)
Hamburg Garden Walk (garden tour of homes)
Lockport in Bloom (garden tour of homes)
Akron in Bloom (garden tour of homes)
Snyder Cleve Hill Tour (garden tour of homes)
National Garden Bloggers Meet-up 

Monday, July 12
Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Thursday, July 15

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Friday, July 16

Guided Bus Tour TBD

Saturday, July 17

Clarence Hollow in Bloom (garden tour of homes)
Lancaster Garden Tour (garden tour of homes)
Williamsville Garden Tour (garden tour of homes)

Sunday,  July 18

Water Garden Classes Arbordale Nurseries (workshops & classes)
South Buffalo Garden Tour (garden tour of homes)
Lancaster Garden Tour (garden tour of homes)
Forest Lawn: Trees & Gardens (guided tour)

Monday, July 19

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)

Thursday, July 22

Open Gardens gardens around Western New York open to the public, free (garden tour of homes)
WNY Nursery & Landscape Association Picnic

Friday, July 23

Buffalo Garden Symposium at the Chapel at Forest Lawn (symposium)
Garden-themed GUSTO at the Gallery Albright -Knox Art Gallery, free (party!)

Saturday, July 24

Garden Walk Buffalo (garden tour of homes)
Garden Talk Green nonprofits & plant societies offer information & demonstrations, Bidwell Parkway  (information booths)
Bidwell Farmers Market open for dinnertime with food & music (party!)

Sunday, July 25

Garden Walk Buffalo (garden tour of homes)

O N G O I N G
In the Garden: The Art of Botanical Illustration Buffalo & Erie County Public Library - main library, downtown (exhibition)

Front Yard Makeover Contest hosted by the WNY Nursery & Landscape Association. Front yards on the East side, by the Science Museum get a professional makeover. Dates TBD

Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens

There are many events that are only possibilities right now: Garden-themed movie(s), outdoors at Urban Roots Community Garden Center; Behind the scenes tours of the gardens behind the Buffalo Zoo's Rain Forest Exhibition; guided bus tours of urban farming, North & Southtown garden centers, organic farms with food demos.

I think this summer will be busy.  Hope you can make it to some of these great events.