Our latest Member-to-Member yard tour took us right into the heart of North Buffalo, where two very different but equally inspiring urban gardens showed us what’s possible when you swap lawn for life.
First stop: a small but mighty North Buffalo front yard that proves size is no limit to biodiversity. This mature garden is packed with native plants and pushes the boundaries of what a “front lawn” can be. Every square inch buzzed, fluttered, and hummed — we spotted two kinds of native butterflies, evidence of leafcutter bees, and goldenrod galls. Pollinators were everywhere, and the variety of plants offered a perfect example of how to create a thriving ecosystem in a small space.
Second stop: the front garden of the Tool Library on Main Street. In just two years since moving to the location, they’ve transformed the space into a bold, pollinator-friendly landscape filled with large, vigorous native plants. It’s another fantastic example of “re-wilding” in action — and proof that public-facing spaces can be both beautiful and ecologically rich.
Frank, our gracious host, made everyone feel right at home with ice water, lemonade, fresh cherries, and a row of chairs on the driveway for easy conversation. Participants shared observations, swapped plant ideas, and soaked up inspiration for their own gardens.
Both sites challenged the traditional notion of urban landscaping, showing how even the smallest or most unconventional spaces can become vibrant habitats for native wildlife.
If you missed this tour, be sure to catch the last M2M tour of the season with this one happening in Amherst. You never know what pollinator magic you’ll see.