Friday, August 28, 2026

What else we saw the first morning of the Buffalo Fling

Today we'll take a walk through the other three gardens we visited on the first morning of the 2026 Buffalo Fling, when we headed out to what they call the Southtowns. First up, John and Carole Hajnosz's garden in Hamburg.

From the Fling program: "Established in 1989, this naturalized one-acre property features brick, slate, and grass paths surrounded by garden beds containing ornamental specimen trees. There are mini, dwarf, and standard conifers. Shrubs include rhododendrons, azaleas, viburnums, hollies, and hydrangeas. There are over 500 named hostas, many summer flowering bulbs, annuals, vegetables, and herbs. A koi pond contributes to the habitat for the birds, butterflies and bugs."

That's a lot of Hosta! I never did make it back here to stand in the gazebo and survey the sea of Hosta.

Aesculus parviflora, the bottlebrush buckeye, maybe?


Weeping conifers...


Anny


This was definitely a large garden, I kept popping up in different areas with every step I took.


So jealous! Why can't I grow a decent Clematis?

The onsite nursery... I would have loved to look with shopping in mind but I had very limited space to get anything home.

Rachel working her magic again.

Headed in the direction of her sketching subject.

We saw lots of Ligularia in the Buffalo area.

Asimina triloba, the pawpaw.

Lots of fruit!

A cleome flower ends our time at this garden.

On to Beth and Nick Buscaglia's garden, also in Hamburg...

"A variety of garden styles is offered at this waterfront home located on Lake Erie. An English-style garden stretches 300 feet from the road to the shore. Look for an American Buffalo surrounded by an extensive bed of grasses, hydrangeas, lilies and roses. The shade garden supports architectural antiquities, providing a flavor of New Orleans, planted with hostas and astilbes."


I hadn't paid much attention to the garden's write up, so I was rather surprised when I walked around the side of the home and this vista opened up in front of me...

There was a bit of a drop off, and then a beach...



A couple friends pointed out this interesting driftwood plant mount.

It blends right in...

Best plant and planter mash-up of the Fling!

I didn't take a photo of the "American Buffalo" referenced in the garden description. But I did try to catalogue all the scissors stuck in the ground around the garden.



I'm still scratching my head about the scissors. Why?

Our next stop was at Murray's Hosta Farm in Orchard Park, where we had lunch, wandered the display garden, and shopped. I should also note the raffle prize Hosta I brought home, Hosta 'Sun Mouse', was donated by Murray's, thank you!

"Murray’s Hosta Farm rose from the passion of Ruth and the late Jerry Murray more than 30 years ago. Jerry built a loyal following by offering weekly Hosta Walks where he educated people on the plants. We invite you now to wander our six acres through constantly evolving gardens filled with mature, named hostas, sun and shade perennials, special trees, and whimsical garden art. Sales available."


More gorgeous Clematis!

Everyone can grow them but me.

Onoclea sensibilis


And that's a wrap on the Friday morning of the Fling. Next week I'll share the gardens we saw that afternoon as we walked the Allentown neighborhood.

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All material © 2009-2026 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude. 

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Wendy & Jeff Leyonmark's garden, on the Buffalo Fling

This was one of our early stops on the first morning of the Buffalo Fling, and what a great garden it was! That's Comptonia peregrina, I believe.

The garden's description from our Fling program: "This fully operational suburban farm within the village of Hamburg includes a complete range of vegetable crops, egg production and orchards. The ornamental gardens have a mix of woody and herbaceous ornamentals as well as containers and water features. Featured on PlantPop.com." 

What is PlantPop? I heard that question a lot on this Fling, as several of the gardens and gardeners on the Fling had been on PlantPop. 

PlantPop is... "Exploring the relationship between people and plants. PlantPop is a horticultural film studio that tells interesting stories about plants and how they improve people’s lives. We are artists. We are pursuing beauty and understanding. We believe that philosophy was born in the garden, that culture starts with cultivation and that growing is the highest art. We want to present plants and gardening as the most worthwhile human endeavor." (source

You can see the Leyonmark video here.

Above and below are photos of a wood-round walkway to the left of the Leyonmark's front door.

Looking back at the front of the house...

And headed down the neighbor's driveway. I'm not sure who exactly this strip of land belongs to, but it was gardened fabulously.

Back out front now, and this is where I zeroed in on one of my Fling crushes; Calycanthus floridus 'Burgundy Spice'.

I haven't found my own plant yet, but I will.

Along the other side of the house now, walking up the driveway headed to the back garden, where the farming takes place.

I didn't notice the JL on the planters until editing my photos, in the PlantPop video Jeff mentions metalwork and sculpture, so I bet he made these himself.

Into the back garden...

Short amaranth! Will it get taller? Is it a dwarf variety? 

Cycad, that's unexpected.

Side shoots...

The garden was described as a "fully operational suburban farm" but these crops were all so picture perfect that it felt like I'd stumbled into a magazine photo shoot...





That goes for the flowers and the support cages too...


And the buildings and the props. My god... everything was perfect!

Anigozanthos, kangaroo paw.

Kale and lettuce trough with curvy legs!


Chickens and more crops...


A slice of the orchard, on the left.

Greenhouse!

Empty now, but I bet it fills up fast.

Part of the back garden was fenced in a way that makes me think they have issues with deer.




I didn't manage to get the name of the Clematis...

It was another of those "Phyllis Diller" fancy varieties though.

Does Jerry approve?

Fish in the pond would seem to indicate they don't have too many issues with hungry wildlife.

Closer to the house there are areas for people to gather...

Like Rachel, who could be found sketching in most the gardens we visited. Check out her Instagram account for a collection of her work. Before we left the gardens she gave these beautiful drawings to the garden owners! 

This was an inspiring garden, thank you Wendy and Jeff for opening for our group!

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All material © 2009-2026 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.