“You are the stewards of the gifts of nature.”
John McDermott, who’s worked at Millcreek Gardens for nearly 50 years, never forgot those words — etched on a plaque in the old office of his longtime supervisor, George.
It was the kind of message that shaped how you worked — and why you stayed.
“Nurseries are life,” John says. “And without plant life, you don’t have any other form of life. We’re here to protect it — and pass it forward. That’s why we’ve lasted.”
Millcreek’s legacy of stewardship began when Vern and Murriel Smith opened a small landscape design and nursery business in December of 1955. Today, that legacy has grown through their daughter LaRene Bautner, their grandchildren Heidi Orme and Chris Bautner, and employees like John.
So this month, Millcreek Gardens turns 70 — and its landmark birthday party will be one to remember.
Heidi Orme teaches wreath-making classes.
The festivities will include warm fare, a garden-themed cake, and garden tools gifted to customers in gratitude. “It’s Christmastime,” Heidi says. “We want the community to celebrate with us.”
Yet the full spirit of the celebration will awaken in the planting of a Flame Thrower redbud tree near the front entrance.
“The leaves change from deep red to orange to yellow to green,” says Heidi. “It’s like a fall rainbow across the year. In spring, its buds bloom right from the bark. The tree is vibrant and expressive — just like Millcreek Gardens.”
“We have strong roots here,” she adds. “And the redbud’s branches represent continuation — of family, growth, and community. This tree is a promise that we’re here to stay.”
And Chris, who manages much of the behind-the-scenes work, will prepare the soil for the tree. “It’s a beautiful thing to plant something that will grow in the same place, for the same people, for years to come.”
The tree is also a reminder of new beginnings. Heidi still holds dear the very first day she stepped into the business, nearly four years ago.
“That moment was surreal, yet sacred,” she says. “It’s a big task to fill the shoes of my grandparents, but it brings me so much joy. I feel their presence every day.”
Although her grandmother passed away when Heidi was young, her legacy lives in every act of creativity and care. “She was resourceful — always making something beautiful out of what was on hand,” Heidi recalls. “When I’m trying to be efficient and innovative, I know she’s with me.”
And Heidi’s mother, LaRene, offers calming wisdom. “She reminds me to make it fun, to laugh, to give grace to others and to myself,” Heidi says. “She tells me, even on the hard days, to smile.”
John remembers when Vern first brought him into the business. “I was sitting in his office, looking at all the environmental awards — including one from Lady Bird Johnson. That told me a lot about the man he was.”
Vern also believed in accountability and excellence. “If I give you a job,” he told John, “make it pay.” But it was his integrity that left the deepest impression. “He had strong values — spiritually, professionally, morally. And that shaped the whole company,” John says.
He also credits George — Vern’s right-hand man — with a fierce loyalty and financial precision that kept the business grounded. “George handled the books,” John says. “He once chased Vern down the freeway to hand him a $200,000 invoice he’d forgotten,” he laughs. “He made sure every bill was paid on time. Together, they built this place with heart.”
That same heart extended to Vern and Murriel’s red-brick home just down the road.
Heidi remembers all the family gatherings — full of cousins, laughter and great food. “Grandma was always cooking, and there was so much love,” she recalls. “They always let us be kids. We’d run through the backyard, playing games near the garden.”
That garden still holds a special place in one of Millcreek’s most beloved traditions: wreath-making.
“We’ve been teaching wreath-making workshops for years,” says Heidi. “We have Christmas music, cookies, and hot cocoa. It’s a joyful space to gather.”
The beauty of the wreaths begins with the greenery — much of it from Murriel’s garden.
“My grandma planted hollies and junipers for Christmas wreaths and garlands,” says Heidi. “My mom used to gather cuttings as a girl, and now I do the same for our workshops.”
The process begins with layering bundles of greenery over a base ring, each one overlapping the next in a fan-like shape. The final bundle tucks beneath the first, completing the circle.
Then comes the decorating — each wreath as unique as its maker. Some choose ribbon and ornaments. Others add cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, or tiny bird’s nests.
One couple made a wreath with variegated holly — awash in red berries and shiny yellow-green leaves. “It was stunning,” Heidi says. “You could feel their happiness in the design.”
With a new tree taking root, a winter garden still giving, and a handmade wreath to brighten the season — the family of Millcreek Gardens lovingly continues its purpose as stewards of the gifts of nature.And John, now in his 80s, still shows up with the same passion he’s carried since that first meeting with Vern. “If they asked me to do it all again, I would,” he says. “I just wish I’d started sooner.”
Feature Image: Millcreek Gardens offers beautiful handmade wreaths for the holiday season. All photos by Rebecca Kay.
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