Those who visit the Arboretum know that it is not without its challenges. Hiking the trail to the Great Oak, rambling the Native Plant Trail, or climbing the hill from the Farmhouse to the Meeting House requires not a little bit of physical balance and stamina. Those who are debilitated from an injury or age may find that some of the loveliest places in the Arboretum are out of their reach.
Enter the golf cart! Landis Board President Jim Paley was aware that Ed Miller, one of Landis’ “living treasures,” was finding it increasingly difficult to carry the water necessary to sustain new plantings along the Native Plant Trail he curates. Jim knew a person who might be willing to help: Dr. Russ Newkirk, an eminent pathologist in Albany. Dr. Newkirk graciously donated a golf cart to the Arboretum that has enabled Ed to add two new collections, ferns and mosses, to the Native Plant Trail.
Just ask Ed what the cart means: “The golf cart has been a wonderful boon to me. BC (Before Cart), I was limited in what I could do in a day by what I could carry. In the spring it was about 25 pounds of fertilizer, plus maybe a pruning shear. I was only good for a morning's work, and climbing back up the hill from the collection did me in for the day.
“Now in the spring I can carry enough fertilizer to give every plant the meal it needs, and in the same trip, take some plants to replace winter kill, and tools to dig holes and more. And after lunch I still have energy to go back down and finish my work list. During the summer, I can carry about 30 gallons of water to encourage new plants and if that isn't enough, I can come back up the hill, fill up, and continue watering. AC (After Cart), I have given tours to visitors who could not have otherwise seen our native collection. Some of these visitors would not have even been able to see the bog gardens.”
The golf cart is a welcome addition to our resources, making many of the Arboretum’s holdings accessible for all, regardless of physical limitations. If you would like to utilize the cart during your next visit, please contact us at (518) 875-6935 or by email at info@landisarboretum.org.