Buffa10 the rest of Day 3

The next stop on the Saturday tour was the Buffalo Botanic Gardens. The botanic gardens are one of many parks in Buffalo that were designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, Sr. (the mastermind behind New York's Central Park).

Rarely seen in the United States, the Buffalo Botanic Gardens are home to a striking Victorian style conservatory.

As seen from this 1908 Postcard:

And today:

It is shocking to hear the docents describe the downfall of the conservatory during the 60s & 70s. There was even talk of demolishing it. Luckily concerned citizens stepped in and saved this beautiful structure.

Here are some of the interior views of the conservatory:

The exterior of the conservatory had minimal gardens, but there is definitely room to expand and it sounds like those plans are in the works.

Next stop, lunch. We headed over to Lockwood Nursery for a picnic lunch in between the family home, greenhouses, and the nursery.

We were given a tour of the nursery by Mr. Lockwood himself. It was very interesting to hear from a vegetable farmer turned nurseryman and learn a little about how things are done in the nursery business.

Our final stop of the day was the home of the extremely hospitable Mike Shadrack and his wife Kathy. They live in a small town outside of Buffalo in their very own woodland wonderland. Mike, being the Englishman that he is, had us over for tea in the garden. What a sight to behold, 70 plus teacups and saucers alongside scones with jam and clotted cream and a whole army of people to serve us.

This was my favorite stop during all of Buffa10, it combined two of my favorite things, high tea and beautiful gardens.

Pat from illic est haud equus quoque mortuus barruo

Not to mention the glorious house. Can you imagine having a stream running from the hill behind your house then out from underneath the front of the house...on purpose?! This is my new dream home. If only I could withstand the freezing winter temperatures, but this Texas girl has already found her northernmost migratory limit and it is further south than Buffalo, NY.

Mike is the king of hostas, he is a world renowned expert with several books on the subject. Here Mike is pictured with the Hosta 'Mike Shadrack', which comes from very respectable parents: 'Great Expectations' and 'Rock & Roll'. After meeting the Englishman and comedian with such a big personality, that seems very appropriate.

Mike Shadrack

 
The woodlands were the perfect growing conditions for Mike, but Kathy needed a place to garden as well. So out went about 15 trees to clear space for the sun garden.

She even has one of the heads from the Cranium Family that I mentioned in one of my earlier posts. By the way, I have acquired the lady cranium to keep Apollo company, more about her when her hair gets longer.

So, that was Saturday. Wow, another great day in Buffalo, New York.