GWA 2017: Snapshots from Buffalo

By Ann McCormick

This year’s GWA conference was a rousing success with nearly 350 attendees. The weather was fine and the natives were very friendly. A big thank you to the local arrangements committee, our leadership, and even the Hyatt Regency hotel manager who sprang for a complimentary breakfast Sunday morning. Here are some quick shots from C. L. Fornari, Teresa Watkins, Kathy Jentz, and Ann McCormick to give you just a taste of what went on.

This year we added something new – a Meet the Authors afternoon with the help of Talking Leaves Services. Here Katie Elzer-Peters chats with admirers.

 

First time attendees chat with members about the coming conference.

On Sunday, members visited the Darwin Martin House designed by pioneering architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

During one of the story tours to private Buffalo gardens, Kevin Gragg gets up close and personal with a model train running in the garden.

This beautiful garden in the Eden, NY area was part of the Southtowns Private Gardens tour on Monday.

One of our post-conference tours visited Niagara Parks and had a chance to get up close and personal with the Horseshoe Falls.

The GWA2017 Expo was filled with exhibits for us to explore. Here Shelley Cramm chats with a representative from DeWit Garden Tools.

Two members pause to chat during one of the many stops on the story tours.

Our members are dedicated photographers. Here April Shelhon gets down to business to get the shot.

GWA members are experienced tour bus riders. We are good at getting back on board in time. It’s a long walk back to the hotel.

One of our garden hosts, Mr. Shadrack, poses with an impressive hosta specimen.

 

 

We had a “first” at GWA Buffalo. Members Tom and Mary Ann Johnsonare seen here renewing their wedding vows at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.