As the Native Plant Trail approaches its 25th anniversary, the late Ed Miller would be pleased to know that his vision to create a beautiful and educational space lives on.
For the Miller family, supporting the Arboretum comes easily. Their philanthropy at Landis casts a wide net, both with time and resources.
“We believe in the societal good of having people know, love and protect nature,” Nick Miller said. That was a lesson instilled by his father —so much so that Nick continues to share that message with others by serving as the hereditary curator and conservator of the Native Plant Trail.
His brothers and Terrance Bevins help maintain the extensive collection, which allows visitors to explore nearly 200 native species, arranged into twelve families across four habitats. What’s remarkable is Ed didn’t begin building the trail until he was 75. Age could not hinder his love for native plants or his desire to teach others about them. Nick recalled fondly a phrase his father liked to use: “How optimistic for an old man to plant a tree!”
The trees grew —so much so, that Nick’s next step is creating a long-term plan to manage mature trees and add younger plantings. Some of the trees—particularly the larger species like oaks—are beginning to outgrow their intended educational purpose. As these trees get taller, important identifying features such as leaves and branching patterns becomes harder for visitors to observe up close.
As curator, Nick sees his role as both a responsibility and a continuation of his father’s work. “My job is to keep that vision alive,” he said. “That means maintaining accurate labeling, updating maps, and making sure the collection remains accessible and educational.” Nick is up for the challenge. He’s continuing to address drainage challenges, plant survival, and matching species to site conditions.
The trail has evolved over time, including improvements to specialized areas like the Bog Garden, which now supports unique plant species. This demonstration garden was special to his dad because it allowed people to visit a unique and often inaccessible environment. But it was originally difficult to maintain, particularly in achieving the acidic soil conditions required for a healthy ecosystem. Since taking over its care, and making adjustments, Nick has been able to improve the health and stability of the garden. The carnivorous pitcher plants and sundews have adapted well to the improved conditions. “I’ve gotten that right,” Nick said. “I’m quite pleased with the bog garden.”
“It’s an emotional, societal, quality- of- life thing,” Nick said. “It gets done with people with passion and vision. That’s how things happen. If you care about something, if you care about the outdoors, if you care about a society where people understand and love it, you have an obligation to do what you can,” he continued. “You make life better for anybody —you make it better for everybody. Everybody has something to contribute. It feeds the soul.”
Looking toward the next 25 years of the Miller legacy at Landis, one thing is clear: with the familial passion and vision, Nick will keep his father’s spirit alive and ensure the Native Plant Trail enlightens visitors for another 25 years.