MILLCREEK GARDENS

“The dream of a garden is always there,” says LaRene Bautner, owner of Millcreek Gardens. “It’s about connecting to the earth all year long — and how healthy and lush the experience of growing a garden can be.”

Most imagine winter gardens as bare, silent, asleep. But at Millcreek Gardens, winter holds its own kind of magic — one that is surprising, joyful, and fully alive.

There are the hellebores — blooming in shades of white, chartreuse, magenta, and nearly-black; bright holly berries and red twig dogwoods; and flowering cabbage and kale in purples, pinks, and creamy white. There are crabapple trees softened with snowfall — adorned with ruby fruit that feeds the birds and squirrels. And planters, where pansies and snapdragons bring a rainbow into every heart.

These living things remind us that even in the coldest months, the garden is ever-present. And that winter can offer a calm, refreshing retreat just steps away.

“You can place a bench under a tree, where you can breathe the crisp air and listen to the birds,” shares LaRene. “Or you can take a morning walk through the backyard, watching your footprints mark the snow.”

“Even clearing a path with a shovel can be filled with hope — placing each scoop where the melting snow will nourish the plants for spring,” she adds. “And when children join in, the retreat becomes a place of laughter and play.”

The magic of a winter garden continues inside as well.

“Growing herbs on a windowsill is one of my favorite ways to bring the garden indoors,” says Heidi Orme, co-owner and LaRene’s daughter. “You’re always cooking, and it’s so grounding to snip something fresh and fragrant to enhance any meal. Herbs bring brightness into your body and soul.”

LaRene agrees. “You can even grow citrus — lemons, limes, kumquats. Or start your carrots, onions, and leafy greens indoors and then move them into the garden when spring arrives. There’s always something growing — always something to look forward to.”

With all its unexpected wonder, winter brings yet another gift: the anticipation of spring. As the frost begins to melt and the light slowly lengthens, the dreaming begins.

People arrive at Millcreek Gardens with visions of recreating an existing garden, restoring an heirloom, growing sun-dappled vegetables, or even adding charm to a small area.

“I always keep a notebook with me,” says LaRene. “People come in ready to plan, and we design a garden together. We see what’s possible and keep it fun. We help build their confidence by providing good soil, the right tools, and organic matter that adds deliciousness and abundance.”

For Heidi, the delight of spring came from turning her garden into a bouquet of pink — her favorite color.

“I redid my beds this year,” she says. “I planted for fragrance and color — hydrangeas, coneflowers, daphnes, hellebores, cyclamens — in soft and brilliant pinks. I can now walk outside and be surrounded by happiness. And I can bring my baby and nieces into the garden and share its enchantment with them.”

For one customer, the transformation of his garden into a four-season sanctuary was glorious. LaRene and her team helped him layer textures, contours, and levels into his yard, with rocks, a creek bed, and vibrant plantings.

“We built a bird bath from a rock with a natural depression, and added a drip to keep it full for wildlife to drink,” says LaRene. “We planted conifers, flowering perennials, and even an apple tree. As the seasons shift, the foliage turns from gold, red, and orange to blue, silver, yellow, and purple. The flowers emerge in every hue. It’s so vivid and beautiful.”

“We also help gardeners bring back their heirloom gardens,” she adds. “We work with what they already have. We trim, we thin. We bring in old-fashioned plants like lilacs, peonies, climbing roses, and hollyhocks. Sometimes we leave part of it a little wild and free-spirited.”

And then there’s the spring vegetable garden — an awakening of what was nurtured inside, or a new beginning arising from seed.

“Gardeners transplant their carrots, onions, and greens,” says LaRene. “Others plant seeds of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash. They watch their gardens grow, offering a harvest of goodness to share with those they love.”

And even the smallest outdoor nook can bloom with promise. “I always ask — do you want color, fragrance, or something you can eat?” says Heidi. “Because with the right planter and amount of light, you can grow almost anything — and create a spot that brings happiness.”

She laughs softly. “In college, I planted a black-eyed Susan vine on my apartment balcony. It climbed twelve feet up — then cascaded all the way back down, providing such loveliness with its endless golden petals.”

But no matter the size of the garden, or the time of year, one truth holds.

“Plants want to live their purpose,” says LaRene. “To grow, bloom, and bring joy, beauty, peace, and nourishment. And we are given the chance to connect that purpose, that generosity, with our family, friends, and community. It’s all about sharing and living in the seasons, through a garden that’s always with us.”