2026 July 11th: A Garden Stroll in Upper Monroe
This is a fun, social stroll through the neighborhood looking at selected gardens and meeting their gardeners. This program was developed with support from the ABC Streets Neighborhood Association.
Some notes and photos from this event
On Saturday, July 11th our neighborhood welcomed an impressive stream of visitors from all over the Rochester and western New York region to a first-ever “Garden Stroll” event located in the Upper Monroe neighborhood. As luck would have it July 11th was a perfect day to stroll through our beautiful neighborhood!
Event attendees began their garden stroll experience by picking up a printed map that identified & described featured gardens at one of two check-in tents. The map also pointed out the locations of musical entertainment and artists painting at locations around the neighborhood. Our twelve host gardeners greeted visitors, shared their private garden spaces, answered questions and shared perspectives on gardening. Artists painted and musicians played as people walked from one garden location to the next.
This program could not have taken place without years of commitment and months of preparation by our host gardeners: Lydia & Austen Crim; Elizabeth Forbes & Rome Celli; Elizabeth Goins & Adam Herdzik; Michael Hannen & Peter House; Pam Graham, James Kieliszek & Jen Lindsey; Kristy Liddell; Beth Jorgensen & Paul Watkins; Anne Punzi; Bruce Sanderson & Nicolas Ricketts; Meredith Blumoff Schwartz & Jeremy Schwartz; Jeanne & Paul Weber; and Gail Weiser along with the dozens of other gardeners who support Wide Water Gardens. In addition we thank all the neighbors who contribute to the six community gardens found in Upper Monroe.
UMNA extends a heartfelt thanks to the artists & musicians who participated this year: Victoria Brzustowicz, Melanie Rinn Martinek & Jen Santoru as well as the musicians: Peter Carpenter, Evan Dobbins & Lucas Nasca.
Thanks to Charlie Rosenberg & Kristin Bartolo Rapp for hosting the musicians in their front yard.
The UMNA crew that organized or otherwise supported A Garden Stroll In Upper Monroe on the day of the event included Patrick Casey, Rome Celli, Austen Crim, Chuck DeLella, Michael Hannen, Tim Guyot, Peter House, Paul Kizior, Dawn Lepard, Mary Pat O’Hara, Nora Peters, Meredith Blumoff Schwartz, Rebecca Seal, Nicolas Ricketts & Jeanne Weber.
A Garden Stroll In Upper Monroe was a program of the Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association with support from the ABC Streets Neighborhood Association. In particular, UMNA thanks Esther Brill, a founder and longtime organizer of “Garden Walk” in the nearby ABC Streets Neighborhood off Park Avenue, for support in developing A Garden Stroll In Upper Monroe. Wide Water Gardens was also a valued partner in this year’s event.
The UMNA Leadership Team will take up the question of a potential future "Garden Stroll” in the months to come. If you are interested in supporting a future event or offering your garden as a site, please reply to this message.
A Garden Stroll in Upper Monroe was funded, in part, by a grant through the Neighbors in Action initiative organized by the City of Rochester. UMNA received a total of $3,000 through NIA for the programs provided during the 2026 season.
Neighbors In Action (NIA) was launched by the City of Rochester in September 2024. In January 2025, the City was joined by partners Rochester Area Community Foundation and ESL Federal Credit Union to help fund and administer the program.
DATE: Saturday, July 11, 2026
TIME: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
PROGRAM START LOCATIONS (PICK ONE): MAP LINK
When you check in you will receive a map with all of the garden locations highlighted along with additional information about the event, the gardens and the neighborhood.
Laburnam Crescent next to Public School No. 35
A Garden Stroll "Check-in Tent" will be set up just outside the parking lot on Laburnam Crescent.
Hinsdale Street Near Werner Park
A Garden Stroll "Check-in Tent" will be set on the grass on Hinsdale Street.
PARKING: PARKING MAP LINK
FREE on-street parking is available on any side street. Please look closely at parking signs. Please do NOT block any driveways.
Cobbs Hill Park (off of Culver Road)
Wide Water Gardens (at the north end of Rosedale Street)
Culver Road Armory (off of Culver Road)
School #35 (from both Field Street AND Laburnam Crescent)
HOW IT WILL WORK:
Stop by EITHER ONE of the above two check-in stations (only ONE). You'll get a copy of the Garden Stroll map and related information at the check-in. The map will give you specific addresses for each garden; locations of entertainment sprinkled along the stroll; and other notable information.
This is a SELF GUIDED tour.
After you pick up your map at either of the above two check-in locations, you will determine your pathway. You will determine which gardens you visit. You will determine how long you stay at each garden you visit.
Gardener-hosts at each location will be sitting near their garden (either in the front yard OR in the back yard). You are encouraged to walk on onto their properties - both the front and back yards. Gardener-hosts will welcome a conversation and questions about their gardens and gardening in general.
At various locations nearby some of the gardens on the Stroll there will be musical entertainment or other forms of entertainment. In addition to private gardens there are numerous community gardens on or near the Stroll route. The largest will be Wide Water Gardens at the north end of Rosedale Street.
Background & Thanks
There are many neighborhoods around Rochester with lovely gardens that might be considered "garden districts". Upper Monroe certainly considers itself one of those areas. Indeed gardens, parks, wooded trails and even an old growth forest and Rochester's highest peak are all a part of the Upper Monroe neighborhood.
This program could not take place without years of commitment and months of preparation by our host gardeners: Lydia & Austen Crim; Elizabeth Forbes & Rome Celli; Elizabeth Goins & Adam Herdzik; Michael Hannen & Peter House; Pam Graham, James Kieliszek & Jen Lindsey; Kristy Liddell; Beth Jorgensen & Paul Watkins; Anne Punzi; Bruce Sanderson & Nicolas Ricketts; Meredith Blumoff Schwartz & Jeremy Schwartz; Jeanne & Paul Weber; Gail Weiser and the dozens of gardeners who support Wide Water Gardens. In addition, we thank all the neighbors who contribute to the six community gardens found in Upper Monroe. The UMNA team that supported this event included Patrick Casey, Rome Celli, Chuck DeLella, Michael Hannen, Peter House, Paul Kizior, Mary Pat O’Hara, Meredith Blumoff Schwartz, Rebecca Seal & Jeanne Weber.
Thanks to participating artists: Victoria Brzustowicz, Melanie Rinn Martinek & Jen Santoru as well as the musicians: Peter Carpenter, Evan Dobbins & Lucas Nasca. Thanks to Charlie Rosenberg & Kristin Bartolo Rapp for hosting the musicians.
Thanks Esther Brill, a founder and longtime organizer of “Garden Walk” in the nearby ABC Streets Neighborhood off Park Avenue, for support in developing “A Garden Stroll In Upper Monroe.”
If you have questions, please write to umna@uppermonroe.org
Photos from an informal guided walking tour in 2025
Last updated