Fall Festival at the Hartman Garden Center

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The air was crisp and cool that Saturday noon of September 29th, and the colorful abundance of fall plants and produce at the Hartman Garden Center brought beauty and warmth to the Fall Festival at Bavaria Road in Victoria.

Most visible enterprise on the property since 2016 is the 1860’s era barn from Indiana, reconstructed piece by piece.  Jeff Hartman said that rainwater from their above-ground cistern supplied watering needs for their gardens.

(L-r):  David Anderson (Landscape Designer), Allen Mestad (Commercial Landscape Designer), and Jeff Hartman (Owner of Hartman Tree Farm and Garden Center).

We could watch the re-construction of the historical barn videoed during the summer of 2016.

There were several photo opportunities on the grounds of the Garden Center for families and children.

Matt Cox (Garden Center and CSA) displayed a large selection of Heirloom tomatoes for visitors to sample.  The Garden Center features CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which offers a wide assortment of vegetables and herbs including Heirloom varieties all grown using organic practices.

Myra McCulloch (Garden Center), Leslie Hartman (wife of Jeff), and Harper McClaion served guests hot apple cider and fresh popped popcorn.

Jeff gave us a tour of his amazing new office quarters on the property.  With over 60 employees, many during the summer months, he is the largest employer in the City of Victoria.  See the red Coca-Cola frig in the foyer?

Have you ever seen a large flat screen roll out of an old Coca-Cola frig?  Jeff imagined it when he saw the red beast for sale and he made it happen.

Staff and employees appreciate the large and comfortable kitchen.  See that desk on the left?

It belonged to Jeff when he was in high school.  He refinished it and gave it a spot at the Garden Center.  Note the rotary dial phone and big historical calculator.

An old lantern was wired and hung from a fuel spigot to push light creatively in just the right direction.

First thing every morning, employees check out their daily schedule and work activities.  That’s Seth Eggert, a key employee at Hartman’s.