Le Petit Matin and Dragon's Den, on the Buffalo Fling

Today's post covers the next two gardens we visited on Saturday morning of the Buffalo Fling in July; Le Petit Matin and Dragon's Den. 

Le Petit Matin (The Early Morning) is the garden belonging to YouTuber Jay Jinge Hu (he's also on Instagram) I believe this is Jay's second Fling, the first being last year's Memphis event—where I heard he made quite the impression with his enthusiasm. 

The garden's description: "This semi-formal garden pays homage to the temporal beauty of life, in appreciation of nature's transitions and transformations. Adjacent to Amherst State Park, the rustic-style home is surrounded by mixed borders, while casual seating and conversation spots create vignettes that invite one to pause and embrace solitude or the company of friends. Look for stylistic repetition and careful bursts of color."

This was my first time meeting Jay. His passion for his garden, and his excitement about sharing it with us was immediately evident. He met our Fling group in the driveway and gave a short introduction before setting us free to wander.

Jay's plant love spills over into that driveway...

I didn't see an agave, but there was an Opuntia.

Into the back garden...

Jay's garden style could not be more different than mine, but we both share a love of plants and a desire to connect people through that love. In fact Jay invited a few of us Flinger's over to his garden for a post-Fling gathering, it was such a wonderful time. Most of these photos from Jay's garden are from that visit, with the evening light rather than the harsher light under which we originally saw the garden.

Oh, another thing Jay and I share, a love for containers.

Such a healthy patch of Begonia grandis!

Looking across the back garden...

A trio of Buffalo Fling Co-Organizer Jim Charlier's art posts in the corner.

Jay seems to have a way with Clematis.

And even has a decorated compost pile!

Jay shared on Instagram that he was reported for not labeling a photo of his flowers as "AI generated," they were too perfect.

Love this, so nice unpainted (as many people do).

Jay grows several sweet bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) and I was lucky enough to catch a bloom of one hanging on...

On to the next garden, that of Beth and Brian Kreutzer, called Dragon's Den...

"When you arrive at the front gardens, you will see interesting trees, a waterfall, and colorful annuals. As you enter the back garden through the gate, be sure to look up to be greeted by our friendly neighborhood dragon, who keeps a watchful eye over the garden. As you stroll along the pathways, you will see...sun and shade perennials, and whimsical garden art...Feel free to sit and relax on the pergola listening to the sounds of the babbling brook or watch the colorful koi from the deck."

Google images identified this as Taxus baccata 'Amersfoort'...

The description of the Taxus from Far Reaches Farm: "A bizarre antler-like sport of the common Yew found in France and moved to the grounds of the Insane Asylum in Holland for which it is named. This is one crazy plant. Open strikingly architectural growth habit with a tight attention to line and form. Very unYew-like and more like some oddly dendritic Podocarpus."

I would hate to navigate that wooden walkway in the dark after one too many glasses of wine...

Another dragon! We heard at least one of them was known to breathe fire after dark.

This was unexpected...

I love that they're experimenting.

More mossy rocks...

And back out to the front of the home.

Where there were colorful zinnia...

And a statuesque tree that I first thought was "Twisty Baby" black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Lace Lady'), but now I'm questioning that as I don't see any twisty foliage in this photo.

The Bit at the End

Jay is another of the Buffalo Fling gardeners that has appeared on PlantPop, check out the short (5 minute) video with Jay here.

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Craig Coyne and Gary DeNezza's garden, a Fling stop on Saturday morning

Part of the Buffalo Fling experience was the commentary from the bus captains. As we approached Craig Coyne and Gary DeNezza's home and garden, Sally Cunningham was the one sharing information and anecdotes. While I was only partially paying attention (there are lots of conversations on a Fling bus) I heard language that took me back to my early 2000's job in Spokane, WA—I worked for a vintage lighting company. Spokane is rich in historic homes built from the late 1800's to the 1930's or so. I have such vivid memories of working with the home owners, helping them to be sure their light fixtures were a good match for their house. This is Craig Coyne and Gary DeNezza's home...

I would have loved to see inside, but the garden will have to do. From the Fling program: "Over the past 25 years, this 1924 stone English cottage-style home and its yard have been reclaimed from their overgrown state. The formal beds in the front were expanded to be in better proportion to the house, so the house appears as part of the gardens. These gardens are comprised of evergreens, weeping lace leaf Japanese maples, ink berry, rhododendron, hydrangea, and large hosta. The curved lines of the rear cottage-style gardens are filled with sun-loving perennials, including daylilies. A Lyman Whitaker wind sculpture, dry-stack stone wall and concolor firs were added, and a rock fountain near the side porch contributes to the sights and sounds."

There's either Craig or Gary (I wasn't close enough to hear when they were introduced) talking to our group before we started wandering the garden. Oh and yes, those Hosta really were that big...

A pair of sizable planters flank the front entry.

We learned they planted in hessian which made the entire thing easy to lift out before a hard freeze.

The covered side porch was my favorite part of the whole place.

Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) I believe...?

Such a great space! 

With perfect plantings all about.

This is where I spotted one of my Fling crushes, Caladium 'Burning Heart'.

Looking towards the back garden from the porch

Stepping off the porch I had to include another shot of the Caladium and friends.

Another angle...

The vine growing up the back of the house caught my eye, and I worked my way over.

Stopping to admire the well-grown Hosta I encountered on the way.

And Ligularia too!

But to the vine, I believe it's Aristolochia macrophylla?

There were no flowers to confirm that ID, but I asked Anny who also grows this plant in Portland, she thought that's what it was too. We were in awe. Our plants look NOTHING like this.

Walking around to the other side of the house...

While Hosta were definitely king during the Fling, Coleus were not far behind.

Flingers mingling about the garden.

I don't think they have slugs in Buffalo...

There was a picture-perfect shed in the back garden.

I couldn't resist taking photos inside, it was so organized.

The hanging string holder of my McCoy dreams!

I caught Jane, the Mulchmaid checking to see if this Hosta was real.

It was!

What a great garden, thanks for welcoming us Craig and Gary! (and I admit to peeking in the windows to see some of the home's interior)

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