He began working on this masterpiece in 2001, and the Hartman family maintains it to date
Since we were young, our parents instilled a sense of love and responsibility for the planet. We recycled and lived a green life as much as possible. One way they helped us love and appreciate the world was to show us the magic of nature. We had traveled to so many beautiful places across the country and planet. We got to see lovely flora and fauna while embracing different cultures. Every year, we’d pick a location on the map and go for a visit. But when we left for college, these trips became less frequent. Last summer, I chose to go back home instead of traveling with friends. I wanted us to plan a new trip, even if it was just within the country. My sister came with news of a new place she had just discovered. She wanted us to tour Evansville, Indiana, and see the Hartman Arboretum. We made plans, booked a hotel, and paid for flight tickets. But at the last minute, our parents couldn’t make it due to work commitments. They made us go without them, and we enjoyed the trip more than we had thought we would. Summer was here and quite hot when we landed in Indiana. My first thought was I hoped the hotel rooms had an excellent cooling unit to keep us comfortable. The day after we arrived, we went to the Hartman Arboretum and were quite blown away by the experience. It was one of the few Arboretums I had seen located on private property and was designed by one of the owners, Grant Hartman. He began working on this masterpiece in 2001, and the Hartman family maintains it to date. Inside, other visitors and we got a chance to tour three magnificent gardens plus a stampery and a native vine arbor.