This year, being a big anniversary, the GW Committee decided to "step it up" and not only provide a party in the Martin House Greatbatch Pavilion, but free tours of the Martin House, the design of which Frank Lloyd Wright considered his "opus."

Every year, within a few months after the Garden Walk is over, the Garden Walk Buffalo committee throws a "Thank You" party for the gardeners. It started off many years ago with cases of beer in a back yard. As Garden Walk has grown, so has the party. Past years have seen the parties in different gardens around the Garden Walk area, hosted by the host gardener and the GW Committee (gardeners don't often get out to see other gardens!).

The credits for this party fall squarely on the shoulders of the hard-working Garden Walk Committee, especially the efforts of members Ginny Williams and Becky Leahy. Putting together an elegant two-hour party and tours for around 200 in around an hour-and-a-half is no small task.

Special thanks also to the support for the event & tours. Schuele Paint, a Buffalo institution, helped pick up the cost of the tours, Gates Circle Liquor, another Buffalo institution, donated the wine. The Martin House Restoration Corporation was generous with use of the Greatbatch Pavilion and discounted tours from their excellent cadre of volunteer docents. We encourage all to take the 2-hour In-Depth tour when you're able.

The GW Committee was also able to publicly thank past Co-Chair, and database coordinator, Elaine Freidhaber for her years of service to the group. Her invaluable contributions over the years are dwarfed only by her management of the mailing lists and database management of our gardeners, volunteers, donors and sponsors. As she turns over the responsibilities of this important task to the next caretakers, we wish her well.

Due to overwhelming response, and tour & room capacities, RSVPs after the RSVP date could not be accepted. We apologize to those gardeners.

You can find photos of the event here, taken by photographer Don Zinteck of Photographics 2, on the events portion of his website. If you attended the event, and see a photo you like, you can even order the photo from Photographics 2.