I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Hartmann some time ago during a MNAFGA meeting he hosted at his nursery. The time he spent with us, his genuine kindness, and his enthusiasm for sharing his extensive knowledge and love for horticulture spoke volumes about his passion for his work and the deep value he placed on his profession. He was exceptional at explaining his processes to the group of adults, but what truly stood out to me was the way he connected with my son, Kyle.
At the time, Kyle already had an interest in growing, but Mr. Hartmann sparked a fire of curiosity in him that day. Especially when we visited the lab, asking questions like "Why is this important?" "What happens if...?" "How does this change the outcome?" Kyle was in awe, I wouldn't be surprised if he has a job application pre-filled out in his bedroom!
The most memorable part of this experience was when Mr. Hartmann generously gave out trees, and Kyle was lucky enough to receive one. At the time, I had no idea about the gift, so I was initially confused when I saw Kyle packing a tree into the car. I hadnโt ordered one, and I wondered if there had been a mix-up. When I asked him what he was doing, he looked at me with pure excitement and pride and said, โItโs a pomegranate tree! Mr. Hartmann gave it to me.โ
I asked, โDo you even know what a pomegranate is?โ Without missing a beat, Kyle replied, โNope! But Iโm going to grow one because Mr. Hartmann said I COULD.โ In that moment, I realized that this was no ordinary giftโit was a special, heartfelt gesture from a truly remarkable person.
Mr. Hartmann was right. Kyle has cared for that pomegranate tree with great dedication, and it is thriving. He definitely gave more than a tree, he gave the inspiration of โI believe in youโ to a child he never met until that day, and because of that this Pomegranate will always hold a special place in our home, serving as a living memory of Mr. Hartmannโs generosity, wisdom, and the profound impact he had on the lives of everyone he encountered.
We send our thoughts and prayers for comfort during this difficult time.
Amanda and Kyle
