BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​GardenWalk Buffalo is set to return after a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With four months to go until the event, gardeners like Jeanine Bright of Brantford St. are mapping out their properties and sowing seeds.

"I am so excited and so hoping to see all these lovely colors again. Gladiolas were my mother’s favorite flower," she says, showing off photos of last year’s garden.

Right now, her backyard is full of frozen leaves and wilted plants, with the occasional twinkle of a mirror or crystal ball, but by summer it comes fully alive with birds, bees, and blooms of all colors.

This is the largest garden walk in the United States, bringing thousands of people to downtown Buffalo annually. Bright says she is highly anticipating its return, and believes people should be able to socially distance.

"It’s a great opportunity for everybody to meet their neighbors and learn some different tips for making their yards more beautiful," said Bright.

Registration is open now until May 15. The event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday July 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.