From Hogwarts to Buffalo: A Magical Garden Journey
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By Jim Charlier
As gardeners, we always try to make unique and creative green spaces. I'm thrilled to share a magical garden story brewing in Buffalo, New York—one that captivates Harry Potter fans and garden lovers both!
Jim's garden is whimsical and includes many projects created for Harry Potter Herbology Magic.
A Wizarding Garden Takes Root
in 2008, I planted a Harry Potter-themed garden to interest my ten-year-old daughter in gardening. As we read the books, we wrote down the names of plants and their other-worldly descriptions—like Puffapod: Fat pink pods with seeds that burst into flower if dropped, and Gurdyroot: Resembles a green onion, and wards off Gulping Plimpies.
We then made plant tags, shopped for odd-looking plants at local nurseries, and planted them together. I posted about the Harry Potter garden on my blog and social media. (First photo: the “Shrieking Shack” we built in the style of the 1897 Dutch Colonial home. The Harry Potter garden runs along the left side.)
Harry Potter Garden Highlights
When visiting our garden, you’ll find these magical elements:
A Harry Potter Garden of magical plants
An Ever-Raining Rain Chain
A Deathly Hallows Trellis
A Whomping Willow bonsai
Cornish Pixie air plant cage
Neville Longbottom’s Propagation Station
Sorting Hat Hanging Basket
A miniature Hogwarts Village
A lightning-shaped lightning rod atop the turreted house
See a short video of the garden here.
A Wizarding Book is Born
Fast forward to 2022—I was approached to co-author Harry Potter: Herbology Magic, a book of garden projects inspired by the Wizarding World for Warner Brothers Studios by Insight Editions, a California publisher known for licensed books in pop culture franchises.
From the Publisher:
Bring Herbology into your garden with this magical book inspired by the Harry Potter films. Packed with gardening tips, wizarding-world inspired terrariums, and enchanting uses for a wide range of plants, Harry Potter: Herbology Magic is an indispensable guide that would make Professor Sprout proud.
From Mandrakes to Dirigible Plums, from the Devil’s Snare to the Venomous Tentacula, the Harry Potter films are filled with colorful enchanting plant life. Now, you can bring the magic of the wizarding world into your own home and garden, with this comprehensive, one-of-a-kind guidebook.
Harry Potter: Herbology Magic contains helpful gardening tips, instructions for creating unique Harry Potter-inspired terrariums, and charming uses for everyday plants. Alongside the projects are step-by-step instructions and full-color photos to ensure success, as well as behind-the-scenes facts, concept art, and film stills showcasing how plants from the wizarding world were brought to life onscreen for the Harry Potter films. Practical and unique, Harry Potter: Herbology Magic is the perfect guide for gardeners and wizarding world fans alike.
25+ PROJECTS: Filled with gardening tips, instructions for building wizarding world themed terrariums, and much more
BRING THE MAGIC OF THE WIZARDING WORLD INTO YOUR GARDEN: Contains gardening projects inspired by your favorite plants from the Harry Potter films, including Mandrakes, the Venomous Tentacula, Devil’s Snare, Dirigible Plums, Gillyweed, Mimbulus Mimbletonia, and more
FOR WIZARDS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS: Full-color photos and step-by-step instructions help guide beginners and experienced Herbologists alike
MOVIE MAGIC: Packed with cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes facts, and concept art chronicling the creative process for bringing magical plant life from page to screen
Beyond Harry Potter: Buffalo's Garden Scene
While the Harry Potter theme is enchanting, Buffalo's garden scene offers even more. From Victorian homes and gardens to parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, there's a diverse range of horticultural experiences to explore.
For garden travelers interested in experiencing a touch of Hogwarts in real life, here's what you need to know to visit our garden:
Garden Walk Buffalo: This free event allows you to explore 300+ private gardens. More than 65,000 visitors from around the country, Canada, and beyond, venture to Buffalo, NY to enjoy the creativity of its gardeners. It is held annually on the last weekend in July.
Open Gardens WNY: Every Thursday and Friday in July, around 100 select gardens throughout the region (including ours on Thursdays) are open for visitors.
While here, also visit:
Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens: A year-round attraction featuring a beautiful conservatory and themed gardens.
The Garden Art Sale: One of the summer's most captivating events celebrates the flourishing and passionate gardening community, held the last weekend of June each year.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House: The meticulously restored grounds include a pergola, a stunning conservatory, a courtyard garden, and a “floricycle” design ensuring a rotating display of flowers from March to November.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff: Perched atop a cliff with views across Lake Erie to Canada, the home has undergone a restoration including one of the rare gardens designed by Wright. The landscape features gardens by Ellen Biddle Shipman, a pioneering female landscape architect known for her Arts & Crafts-style designs.
Buffalo's gardening community, with its blend of whimsy and creativity, offers a unique destination for garden enthusiasts. Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or simply love exploring beautiful green spaces, Buffalo's gardens promise a magical experience that will leave you spellbound.
Pack your wand and set course for Buffalo—where Muggle gardens meet Wizarding World wonder!
Jim Charlier of JCharlier Communication Design, a graphic design and consulting firm, is co-author of Harry Potter, Herbology Magic(Insight Editions, 2023); and Buffalo Style Gardens (St. Lynn’s Press, 2019). He is a speaker on garden tourism and design, a member of GardenComm International, and a longtime garden blogger at ArtofGardening.org. He is a board member of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and is Director Emeritus of Gardens Buffalo Niagara. He is the current chair of The Garden Art Sale and past president of Garden Walk Buffalo. The Charlier’s garden has been featured in This Old House magazine.
Harry Potter Herbology Magic: Botanical Projects, Terrariums, and Gardens Inspired by the Wizarding World has been translated into Spanish, French, and Italian.
