Black Rock takes its name from a black asphalt formation near School Street. The rock was removed in 1825 during the digging of the Erie Canal. With the construction of the Erie Canal, a lock was built near the foot of Austin Street. The lock laid the foundation for the forming of a commercial development of the neighborhood.
Amherst Street
354 – Gregory Johnson. Vertical vegetable garden. Perimeter gardens feature Rose of Sharon, roses, lilies, columbine, moonflowers and English violets. Butterfly bush, hydrangea, hostas and annuals accent this garden.
BN-2
360 – Noreen Korona. A surprisingly large yard behind a mixed use building. Fruit trees and bathtub herb garden adorn this area.
SBN-1
Dearborn Street
169 – Carlos and Susan Gartin. 2 years ago, a vacant lot behind was purchased and it has been transformed into a breath-taking large garden full of a wide range of vegetables, flowers, trees, and bushes. These owners are very proud and this is a classic example of how to beautify a “slice” of the neighborhood into a garden for all to enjoy. Enter through front yard at 169 Dearborn St.
FSB-2
171 – Jackie Bolstad. Lavender, black-eyed Susans, hostas, hanging baskets and more in this neatly arranged flower bed with stone detail.
FSBN-2
174 – Gino Vega. Hostas, Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangeas, lambs ear are in this compact space.
F-2
256 – Kevin and Emily Rybczynski. A hidden garden with a mix of annuals and perennials. The yard has a claw foot tub with fish and water plants. Potted plants on shelves, hanging baskets and sunflowers give the space height.
S-2
269 – Dearborn Street Community Garden. This third year garden has really grown with its raised beds, vegetables, berries, annuals and perennials. Where once a vacant building stood, now a beautiful garden grows that brings neighbors together to maintain it and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Local leadership and strong community support have been the key to their success. It has been designated as a Bi-National Peace Garden and now recognized as a War of 1812 garden. It is part of the Grassroots Garden Network.
FS-2
East Street
102 – Margaret Gustas. Birds, butterflies and bees are drawn to this mix of herbs, vegetables, and perennials.
FSN-1
Grote Street
183 – Danielle Buccilli and Rickie Skinner. Droppled willows, azaleas, annuals with lots of decorations in this garden.
FN-1
194 – Rick and Debbie Skinner. Small space is used well and includes fish pond, perennials, annuals, vegetables and a weeping cherry tree.
FN-3
Hamilton Street
43 – John and Liza McKee. An outdoor room, fish pond, fountain, shade and sun garden; a peaceful retreat. This yard connects to 256 Dearborn, another garden on the tour.
FB-2
Howell Street
153 – Lydia Rodriguez. A small area utilizing annuals and perennials to create this attractive space.
FBN-1
155 – Bonnie Pendergast. A clever use of repurposed items help create an eclectic feel. It’s a little bit of country, a little bit of nautical; it’s very interesting.
FB-1
Kail Street
40 - Alim Akhmedov. An organic garden with vegetables, a grape arbor, sunflowers and container plants. Come see a nicely done urban farm!
FSBN-3
Niagara Street
1975 – Jack and Bernadette Howe. A Victorian home with a beautiful garden of grasses, hanging baskets and more.
F-2
Peter Street
130 – Susan and Wayne Swanson. Creative gardens that weave many varieties of vegetables and many types of flowers. What a pleasant surprise behind the fence; come and take a look.
FSBN-3
Thompson Street
231 – William and Ann Obermeier. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, roses and gnomes everywhere in this small water garden area.
FSBN-2
232 – Albert Killian. Lilies, roses, hostas and ferns and much more. This established garden is well worth the visit.
FS-2
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Prior to the 1890’s, establishment of the Riverside area was primarily a rural retreat from the city. The Black Rock Land Company sold the site of Riverside Park to be included in the Buffalo Park System. Riverside Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1898 which boasted a scenic outlook of the Erie Canal and Niagara River. All Saints Church was founded in 1911 and the remainder of the area developed through the 1950’s.
Argus Street
36 – Lois Redden. Groups of hostas, flowers, bushes, large trumpet vine, and a statuary are around this yard.
FS-2
58 – A front porch invites visitors. A must see mix of sun and shade ferns, hostas, perennials and annuals with a garden gate and a special use of narrow space.
FB-2
108 – James Lengyel. An enchanted garden with waterfalls and a fish pond. A wide range of perennials, annuals, herbs, berries and vegetables.
FB-2
114 – Sharon and John Adler. Ornamental trees, a natural-looking rock garden with succulents, roses and perennials fill this yard. The back yard is the owners’ Shangri- La!
FSB-3
118 – Tom and Janice Skura. Mixed annuals and perennials, ornamental trees and flower boxes and a fountain are featured in this neat cottage-style garden.
F-2
Beatrice Avenue
28 – Scott and Donna Gibson. A generous variety of annuals and perennials in the front; a garden getaway in the back. The breath taking pond is a center piece to a lush yard.
FBN-2
70 – Joseph Aldinger and Maria Almanza. There is a front horseshoe-shaped garden with lilies, a Japanese maple and more; rear beds have a vegetable and fruit garden and flower beds.
FB-1
77 – Rosemary Fudella. A mixture of flowers, vegetables and herbs is joined by 85 Beatrice.
FSB-2
82 – Hostas, annuals and a pretty hydrangea in this lovely garden.
FN-1
85 – Bonnie Eschborn. A double lot full of trees, perennials, annuals, trellises, hanging baskets and decorations. A must see in the evening hours! This connects with 77 Beatrice.
FSB-3
Briggs Avenue
43 – Pat Metzger. Roses, perennials, and annuals fill the front yard. Hanging baskets and decorations make the front porch an ideal place to sit and enjoy summer.
F-2
84 – Pollyanna Henneberger. Vegetables, hostas, perennials with a country charm. Many plants with unknown names!
FB-2
Condon Avenue
226 – (at Vulcan Street) Croatian Fraternal Union. This is the first year for this participant, so the garden is a bit small, but the size will increase over the years to come. The theme is sunflowers.
SN-1
Crowley Avenue
210 – Dorothy Flynn. Front features a weeping cherry, hostas and more. Back has two huge maple trees that create a peaceful shaded retreat where the angels play.
FBN-2
219 – Larry Weatherbee. A wide variety of mainly perennials blossom all spring and
summer long. Many solar fountains and solar lights throughout the garden.
FSB-2
252 – Trish Grace. A mix of perennials, large grasses, annuals and roses.
FSN-2
253 – Jim and Michelle Schmitt. This home is surrounded by perennials, annuals, topiary, herbs and vegetables in unusual places. A pond in back with a Japanese maple, apple, and weeping pine trees.
FSB-3
Doyle Avenue
12 – Carm Martelli. Roses and other flowers with color and garden figures in a neat arrangement.
FN-1
84 – Don Collins and Donnie Currie. Two raised flower gardens and a flower bed with stone detail. Water and light features along with yard décor greet visitors.
FSB-2
92 – Caresse McCarthy. Large yard filled with hostas, roses, clematis, Rose of Sharon, and more.
FSBN-2
Esser Avenue
276 – Marcella Ayala. Perennials with mini rose bushes, ground cover and other plantings among decorative rocks and garden lights.
FSN-1
302 – Marlene Miller. Assorted hostas, rose bush, statuaries, window boxes and lots of potted plants in this cottage style arrangement.
FN-2
306 – Peggy Artemyak. Hanging baskets of begonias first catch the eye. Rose of Sharon, plum tree and yucca plant highlight this garden in full color.
FN-3
323 – Walter Kozlowski. This garden goes on and on with fruit trees, grape vines, berries, annuals and perennials. Water features, frog garden, flower bed. Whimsical through out; bring the children!
FSB-3
358 – Kathy Stysick. Nature creating its own garden with perennials that include blackeyed Susans, daylilies, lavender, roses, and trees for more color.
FS-2
Fuller Street
84 – Ana Heaton. A large double lot is filled with hanging baskets, roses, hostas, clematis, liatris and ferns.
FSBN-2
Gallatin Avenue
100 – Sal and Beth Schifano. Bird and butterfly sanctuary, totally organic fruit, flower and vegetable garden with strawberries, a grape arbor, heirloom tomatoes and more.
FBN-2
Henrietta Avenue
52 – Charles LaSpada Jr. Plants, statues, driftwood tree, ornamental trees, hostas, lilies and daisies cover most of this front yard.
FN-1
Lamont Place
18 – George Homola. There are many hostas and other perennials in this garden with a fish garden and water features.
BN-3
Niagara Street
2475 – Mary Ann Kedron. Perennials and trees accompany the pond in this quiet city oasis. Views of the river enhance the garden. Evening lights will be an event!
FBN-2
Ontario Street
179 – Riverside Community Peace Garden created by Matthew Bucholz. A new community garden with three vegetable beds, a flower bed, small trees and shrubs and a Japanese garden.
SN-2
311 – St. Mark’s and All Saints’ Episcopal Church. Come see the new courtyard style meditation garden with a symbolic fountain. This has been the church’s dream for a garden gathering place!
FSBN-1
Philadelphia Street
85 – Dan and Linette Milovich. A balanced mix of annuals, perennials, vegetables and fruit along with humorous yard decorations add to an enjoyable space and peaceful getaway!
FSBN-2
Progressive Avenue
20 - Dawn Marie McBride. Here is an informal mix of perennials and hearty cacti and succulents, along with an ash tree.
F-2
Riverside Avenue
90 – Marilyn McKenzie and Carol Wagner. Pink and white annuals and perennials adorn the front of this yard.
F-2
273 – Evelyn and Jim Vossler. Garden utilizes its space to provide many pleasures. Look at surrounding homes and enjoy the fruits of many labors. This is a sharing and caring neighborhood.
FSBN-2
353 – Sophy DeWald. Curb is full of flowers. A country feel includes balloon and moon plants, black- eyed Susan, hibiscus, mountain laurel, delphinium and a water garden with fish.
FBN-3
Roesch Avenue
140 – Barb and Bill Miller. A neat garden with a country style porch containing many perennials and hanging baskets.
FN-2
343 – Joseph Castiglia. White picket fence surrounds this garden of annuals, perennials, fir trees.
FSN-2
350 – Wayne & Marlene Grabenstatter. Flowers, fountain and figurines are in the front. See an expanded fish pond with flowers under a gazebo. Ornamental tree, clematis and lighting, too.
FB-2
Ross Avenue
69 – Rick Schwartz. A pond with two waterfalls is surrounded by a lovely mix of annuals and perennials.
BN-1
127 – Beth Grimes. The front is filled with a variety of colorful flowers. A variety of geraniums and vegetables. Welcome to the land of imagination.
FSB-1
Royal Avenue
81 – Pamela Hulse. Nautical touches to hanging baskets and plants make this yard inviting.
FSN-1
Seabrook Street
38 – Jennifer Kropidlowski. Geraniums, ferns, pansies and hydrangeas mix with English ivy and ground cover with illumination.
FN-1
Skillen Street
346 – Matthew Adams. A very neat front garden with a nice mix of perennials and ornamental trees.
F-3
Tonawanda Street
820 – Riverside Library. Hostas, a Japanese maple tree and other perennials decorate this yard.
FS-1
1069 – Cindie Thomas. This expanded country garden catches visitors’ eyes. There are lots of flowers to look at, including the gardener’s new, little crabapple tree that survived its first winter!
S-2
Wiley Place
32 – Brittany Mecca. Roses, hostas, blazing stars, black-eyed Susans and coneflowers are here. Decorative rocks from local waterways are sure to delight!
FSBN-1
58 – Mary Ann Majerski. A peaceful city retreat and home to songbirds, this garden has well established perennials. Favorite plants this year include: King Tut, Baby Tut and corkscrew.
FSB-3
62 – Gena and Nick Long. Do you think that you’d love to garden, but don’t know where to start? Check out this yard, it will truly be an inspiration to you.
F-1
Wyandotte Avenue
51 – Joe and Cindy Golombek. The garden consists of perennials and annuals, as well as vegetables. The garden has compost from Joe’s electric and regular composter.
FSB-2
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The West Hertel community began its development prior to the turn of the 20th century when the Holland Land Company and other land speculators began to take advantage of the expanding City of Buffalo. The newest neighborhood formed around Smith Road, named after a prominent farmer, that later became known as Hertel Avenue.
Pavonia Street
56 – Kathy and Brian Goodrich. A quaint city garden using containers and annuals that has an herb garden on the side.
FS-1
St. Florian Street
34 – Lorraine Grey. An engaging front garden with a variety of flowers, repurposed items and a small fountain.
FSN-1
39 – A forever work in progress with an assortment of perennials, accented with stones and driftwood. A vegetable garden in back.
FB-2
51 – Margaret Szczepaniec. A serene front yard with a Japanese maple invites you into backyard filled with vegetable containers, colorful annuals, perennials, fountains and much more.
FSB-3
59 – Al Szczepaniec. Small front garden using a mix of annuals and perennials to create a colorful space which is certain to be pleasant to all.
F-1
75 – A dense, whimsical garden featuring perennials, statues, annuals and so much more.
FSB-1
93 – Frank and Wanda Ziolkowski. A hibiscus-lined driveway leads to a delightful back yard where a mix of flowers, fruits, and vegetables create a peaceful setting.
FSB-2
Simon Street
70 – Kathleen and Margherita Sperandeo. Roses and other perennials mixed with annuals in a park-like setting featuring a gazebo and an arbor, making this a relaxing oasis both day and evening.
FSB-2
71 – Ben and Kathleen Sperandeo. An ever changing array of color featuring perennials, annuals, fruits, and vegetables, some uncommon to area. Many fountains and an arbor make this a restful spot.
FSB-2
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