Off to Buffalo's Countryside for Cream Tea and Scones

Loading our tour bus after breakfast the schedule for the final day of Buffalo Bloggers Meet-Up was organized with better-than-you-could-ask-for activities.

Just like each previous day. Another huge thank you to Jim and Elizabeth for an amazing job putting this event together!

First up, we were off to the test gardens at the Erie Basin.

Followed by a tour of a national historic site, the beautiful Buffalo Botanical Gardens, where every imaginable tropical plant was thriving in the conservatory. Then it was on to Lockwood's Greenhouses including a picnic lunch in the cool of the shade on the grounds. Even a surprise meet-up with the author of one of my favorite gardening books. More on these place later.

For the last scheduled stop of the day we were driving south.

When it dawned on me we were going 'out' of the city for the afternoon curiosity and anticipation set in. What a delightful surprise it was to view the countryside of Buffalo.

While I loved staying in the city of Buffalo where a mix of historic neighborhoods and businesses mingle, I suppose I'm the simplest of country-girls at heart. If given a choice... take me out of the city to woodlands and open sky where the soul is awakened by organic realities at every turn.

Where each sound is crisp and clear and nature fills up every one of the senses. The music is birdsongs calling from the canopy of trees high overhead. Sunlight dappling the woodland floor with shadowy movements as the gentle breezes sway the limbs and leaves above.

At the Shadrack's a ravine of crystal clear water trickling with steady movement over layers and levels of rocks that starts from up the hill and flows under the house and out the other side as far as the eye can see.





The most delightful hosts, avid gardeners, and authors specializing in hostas and daylilies Mike and Kathy Shadrack served all 70 + guests cream tea and scones in the most gracious English style.

The deck that juts out over the creek below made a perfect setting for everyone to mingle while enjoying afternoon tea.

Upon arrival and the Shadrack's very welcoming greeting (with the most cheery English voice) all of us scattered about down rock pathways and up stone steps to many levels of borders carved into the hillsides on every side of their lovely home.









Their enchanting acreage cut out of the hillside is filled with daylilies, hostas, grasses, hydrangeas, and various species of perennials.

Twists and turns down so many winding pathways up and down hills and around corners each one filled with beautiful flowers and whimsical appointments.

Mike Shadrack was very proud to show us his newly created mini-hosta rock garden growing in filtered sunlight. And all of us were equally impressed with this new concept.

It was a pleasantly warm summer day. Separated from the chattering crowd, a few of us thought it worth kicking our shoes off for a reviving walk straight into the cooling waters of the flowing creek.

We followed it upwards to increasingly higher levels of what appeared to be naturally cut out of flagstone rock (not certain what kind of rock) smoothed by the cool running creek.

It was a most refreshing end to a great day. I could have stayed there much longer. It reminded me of being in the mountains of North Carolina where we love to vacation.

I realize I've started backwards with my review of this fabulous trip to Buffalo. Probably because the Shadrack's place was so enthralling and the highlight for me. I'll get to the rest of the trip as time permits. In the meantime be sure to go here for other blogger's reviews.

Buffalo, NY: Known For So Much More Than Snow

Even though it was as hot (and yes, even as humid) as Florida upon arrival, after one refreshing day of rain, New York has cooled down to its average summer temps and become exactly what I was hoping for in the midst of summer. A respite from the heat. And with cool breezes in the shade it is just delightful to be tromping around outdoors.

Perfect for sensory overload.

Each day has been scheduled with group activities including visits to:

The Cottage District


The Delaware Park Japanese Garden


Erie Basin Marina Test Gardens


Urban Roots Community Garden Center


The Buffalo Botanical Gardens


Front Yard Garden Competition


Lockwood's Greenhouses

Niagara Falls

Wonderful Restaurants and Food

The Shadrack's hosta garden


What's left on the agenda?

... the Lancaster Avenue gardens and a visit to Jim Charlier's garden for lunch Sunday.

The one recurring phrase I've heard all weekend from the host gardeners and businesses at each turn is that they'd like everyone to know Buffalo has much more to offer than snow in winter! This is certainly something I can attest to after this visit.

Among other things it is home to the nation's largest Garden Tour in Garden Walk Buffalo which features more than 350 gardens to visit each summer where 50,000 folks will walk through 17 area garden tours.

The architectural structures throughout the city have kept me in awe. The majority of historic buildings and homes built in the early 1800's are fascinatingly intrinsic to the appeal of the city.

Add a gorgeous garden to them and this blogger is so glad to have made the trip north for the festivities of the Bloggers Meet-Up Buffa10. Which, by the way, has gathered together over 70 garden writers and bloggers from 23 states and Canada.

While every destination has been wonderful, no question, my favorite outing (so far) was Saturday when the loaded tour buses drove us all out of the city proper to the gardens of Mike and Kathy Shadrack, hosta and daylily specialist.

Their beautiful gardens and home were simply breathtaking in the natural setting of shady trees with a broad open deck overlooking a creek that ran under their house.

More to come on all of the destinations we had the privilege to explore this weekend.

Private Garden Tours and Buffalo Meet-Up

This past May (was that only two months ago?) three beautiful and talented gardeners allowed the Hillsborough County Master Gardeners to take a peek at their splendid handiwork. Visiting their private gardens was a special treat. All three of them (gardeners and gardens) diverse and unique. I applaud them for braving crowds to roam around in every nook and cranny of their gardens after such a long, hard winter. Most Floridians felt like we were just beginning to see some resemblence of our gardens returning in May. These ladies gave us all the grand hospitality we've come to understand is 'just the way' gardeners are ~~ gracious and kind and giving.
First up: S.L.'s Garden

So many points of interest along the pathways of S.L.'s front garden. Lobelia blooming from a container resting in a white wicker chair greeted us at the entrance.

The centerpiece of her garden is the whimsical blue arbor where all brick pathways cross. The lawn has been entirely removed to make way for suitably positioned Florida Friendly and native perennials.

Inviting and pretty resting places tucked in throughout beckon one to come closer and spend a little time to sit and ponder the beauty that surrounds at every turn.

Brick pathways strategically map out routes taking the wanderer through all the nooks and crannies. This one leading to the spanish moss wall she created as a dividing line between the neighbor's. It makes for a great conversation piece.

Unique container gardens interspersed within the shrubs and perennials highlighted some very fun and pretty plants.
Next up: N.B.'s Garden

The second stop was not a too far distance from the first one. N. B.'s was another lawnless yard in front and back. It is defined by brick walls, pathways, arbors, and many artful appointments.

NB has cultivated beautiful roses in a large bank next to the street.

The rest of the front garden has numerous roses of many varieties throughout. All flourishing and bountiful and a feast for the senses.

Smaller gardens are fascinating to me. There was so much correctly fitted in to this space. The water feature perfectly placed offering refreshment with the sound of water in the back gardens.
A comfortable and peaceful gathering of adirondacks and benches surrounded by lush plants in the shady backyard.

Love, love the cooling cobalt blue glazed pottery.

Beautiful combinations of Florida Friendly plantings create a lush, tropical feeling in N. B.'s back gardens.

One of the highlights and my personal favorite vignettes was the mixture of succulents in the birdbath container. N.B. has made the most of every square inch of her garden and what a treat it was to tour it.

Last One: B.E.'s Garden

B. E. is infamous for her masterful use of micro-irrigation through out her Hyde Park garden. Her raised beds were beautiful. And who ever thinks of raised beds as beautiful! They were custom crafted to match her back yard privacy fence.

Orange trees and rosemary next to the swimming pool. So Florida!

A very heart-felt thanks to each of these friends for letting us all scramble through the beauty of your hard work. It was a delight!

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When a fellow gardener swings wide the garden gate for visitors to wander through their creations it is a privilege for both the gardener and the visitor. It thrills me to have visitors to Hoe and Shovel giving me a chance to share my love for gardening with an equally appreciative soul. Getting the opportunity to peek into the heart and soul of other gardens is ever so exciting.

This week(end) I'm attending the Buffalo Meet-Up with gardeners and bloggers from all over the U.S. and Canada. We will have the incredible opportunity to walk through numerous gardens. A very special thanks to Liz and Jim for all their hard work putting this together. Their super-duper organization has made the trip very easy so far.

More to come... lots of photos...