By Barbara Arnstein
The annual Springville-Concord Garden Walk, arranged by the Springville Concord Garden Club, offers a rare opportunity to visit several beautiful private gardens, and encourages appreciation of lovely public garden areas in Springville. This year’s walk, the ninth, will take place on June 28th, from10am-4pm, over two weeks earlier than it did last year. Visitors can get free tickets at the welcoming table, and pick up a booklet with a map at the information center on the side lawn of the Concord Town Hall at 86 Franklin Street. Hanging baskets, donated by Waterman’s Greenhouse, will be raffled at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Beautiful features in various private gardens on the walk include: a canopy of 100-foot-tall black walnut trees, a renovated colonial farmhouse and landscaped gardens, an heirloom fruit orchard, multiple perennial garden beds, and many vegetable, flower and herb gardens. The fruit orchard has over fifteen varieties of heirloom apples, peach and pear trees, and many varieties of pawpaw, plus Asian blueberries, golden raspberries and more. To learn more about the progress of this garden and orchard, check out the Youtube channel and Instagram page, Captive Roots. Visitors on the walk, who visit the home and gardens in West Valley will see land with native species, heirloom flowers, vegetables and herbs, plus a small waterfall pond.
Mary Carol Dearing, the manager of the Green Roof on top of Art’s Cafe in Springville, which is part of the walk said, “There’s something blooming there all the time, including cherry tomatoes and daisies”. She continued, “The herbs grown there include basil, chives, onions, thyme, lemon balm and oregano, and they’re used in the cafe.” Art’s Cafe is at 5 East Main Street. For more information about it, go to: artscafespringville.com, or call (716) 592 9036.
Additionally, during the walk visitors can stop at Chevalier Outdoor Living, at 9580 Route 39 to see gardens and products and enjoy a taste of artisan pizza. Plus, in Springville, on June 28th, from 10am-noon, there will be a free event for children in conjunction with the summer-long Art of Zoar Valley III exhibit at 37 North Buffalo Street. The Kids Nature-Themed Art session will involve the use of materials from nature to create art. No pre-registration is required. It precedes the fun-for-families Habitat Day hike, that begins at noon in Zoar Valley.
Other local Garden Walks this summer include: the Buffalo Garden Walk on July 26th and 27th, and the East Aurora Garden Walk (with the soothing slogan, “A stroll for the soul”) on July 12th from 10am-3pm. It involves the Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, which has all kinds of interesting wildlife, and is located at 1963 Mill Road in West Falls, NY. For updates, go to: eagardenwalk.com. The Hamburg Garden Walk is on July 12th and 13th, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-4pm rain or shine, at Hamburg Memorial Park on Lake and Union Street. For more information about it, go to: HamburgGardenWalk.com or Facebook/HamburgGardenWalk.