Capen Garden Walk

To apply for a Christine Brooks Garden Grant in 2026
download an application here.
Applications must be submitted by April 1.

Christine Brooks Garden Grant

The purpose of this monetary award is to encourage gardeners, both experienced and new, to beautify our University Heights neighborhood and participate in the Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk. The award was established in 2016 to honor the spirit of dedicated gardener Christine H. Brooks (May 20, 1938-January 14, 2015), whose lovely garden on Larchmont Road enhanced our neighborhood for many years.

To apply for a Christine Brooks Garden Grant download an application here. Applications must be submitted by April 1.

Read what our past recipients have to say:

Michael and Mary Pachla, 2023 recipient

We were very grateful and privileged to receive the 2023 Christine Brooks Memorial Grant.  It enabled us to enhance the street-front corner of our property immensely by replacing the aged and spent shrubs with wonderful ornamental grasses and perennials.  We received many compliments from neighbors and visitors.  We also enjoyed the annual gathering where we met other participants.

The Faye Family, 2022 recipient                                                                                                                      As recipients of one of the 2022 Brooks Garden grants, we felt inspired to join a community of gardeners in beautifying our neighborhood. We love the additions we made to our front garden and we loved attending the annual gathering when neighbors come together to celebrate recipients and enjoy each other’s company.

Cottrell Smith, 2022 recipient                                                                                                                            I was so excited and honored to receive the Christie Brooks Garden Grant. The grant allowed me the opportunity to bless my neighbors and my neighborhood with some forever beautiful perennial flowers. These natural beauties enhanced my house beyond measure.   We live in a corner house and people travel by all the time so why not start their day off with something beautiful? The Grant really helped me enhance our house.

Sharon Green, 2018 recipient

“I was thrilled to receive the Brooks Garden grant.  It served as a catalyst to re-do my front-yard garden, a project I had long wanted to do.  I hired a landscaper to remove old misshapen shrubs and build a low dividing wall between my garden and grass.  I bought some perennials, and gradually I will add more.  I now proudly display a garden marker created by local sculptor Larry Kinney, which I received with the grant.  Thank you!”

Travis Nelson, 2017 recipient:

“I want to say I was very pleased to have received the Christine Brooks Memorial Garden Grant.  I was grateful for the grant, which allowed me the opportunity to make some improvements that I have been wanting to do for years. I love the outdoors and love sharing the joy it gives me with others.”

Lauren Thomann, 2016 recipient:

“Winning the 2016 Christine Brooks Memorial Garden Grant changed how I approach my garden. What began as a quest to improve the look and curb appeal of my home evolved into a fun, rewarding, and relaxing hobby. I encourage all my fellow neighbors to give gardening a chance, and this grant is the perfect opportunity to get you started.”

Christine Brooks’ Garden Grant Recipients

2025 MK Clerkin and Steven Kawalerski

2024 Nancy and Milt Lamb and Caitlynn Strong

2023 Patricia Harper and Mike and Mary Pachla

2022 Cattrell Smith, Corey Hagstrom, Jenica and Lars Faye, and Luanna McDowell

2021 Tara Taylor and Zebiallah Omari

2020 Angela Woodson-Brice and Kamalie Liyanage
2019 Melissa and Peter Hudecki

2018 Eddie and Charmion Flood, Sharon Green, and Deidre and Brian Adler.

2017 Cameron and Jacqueline Hall, Kanika Durland, and Travis Nelson.

2016 Lauren Thomann, Corey Bower and Shirley Ann Jordan.

If you would like to contribute to the Christine Brooks Memorial Fund, please make checks payable to “University Heights Collaborative,”, and send to Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk, 2 University Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214. Cash contributions accepted at any Capen Garden Walk event. We also accept no longer needed pots,vases and garden ornaments which are sold at Capen Garden Walk Plant and Seed Exchanges.

• Photos & Videos from Previous Years’ Samuel P. Capen Garden Walks

• 2023 Photos

• 2022 Photos

• 2021 Photos

• 2020 Photos

• 2019 Photos

• 2018 Photos

• 2014 Photos

• 2013 Photos

• 2011 Photos

• 2009 Video

Gardens Buffalo Niagara

The Capen Garden Walk is a participant in Gardens Buffalo Niagara. Gardens Buffalo Niagara is a 6 weeks long event including Garden Walk Buffalo, other Buffalo Niagara weekend garden walks, open gardens, garden-related events, symposia and tours packaged and promoted to attract visitors from far and wide. See more here.

Thank you to our generous sponsors and advertisers!

• O’Connell’s Clothing

• Yalley’s African Restaurant

• Pioneer Star Real Estate

• Tops Supermarket

• UB Anderson Gallery

• University Heights Collaborative

• University Heights Arts Association

• University Presbyterian Church

Contact Us

2 Facebook pages:  Capen Garden Walk and Brooks Garden Grant 

email: capengardenwalk@gmail.com