Parking lot
Wildlife Garden
Pollinator Garden
Espalier/Native Vines/Hydrangea Garden
Spring Color Trees
Blueberries
Memorial Garden
Holly Grove
Stumpery
Fall Color Trees
Oak Grove
The Hartman Arboretum was designed primarily by Grant Hartman with support from Purdue Extension Services and other family sources. There are a number of different features to appreciate and learn from here, and the Arboretum looks very different each month of the year, so get a sneak peek below and then come visit us to experience all that the Arboretum has to offer!
South of the driveway and next to the grass parking lot is our Wildlife Garden, which is maintained by local Master Gardeners. This garden is meant to be welcoming to all kinds of wildlife, but especially butterflies, as there are many different host and nectar plants featured here. Late summer is the peak time to visit this garden and see the many bugs, bees, birds, and of course, butterflies present!
On the south side of our drive, next to our Wildlife Garden, we have a beautifully arranged and unique area that includes some special features. Around the outside of this garden is a crabapple espalier, where the trees were chosen for beautiful color, especially in spring, and have been pruned to form a flat wall around the area in a traditional French style. Inside the espalier walls we have a variety of different hydrangea varieties, with mostly white blooms that look like a sky full of clouds in the summer.
Past the Hartman family blueberries, it may look like there is just a rounded hedgerow, but really this is our Memorial Garden! This “secret garden” is surrounded by thick evergreens that form a circular wall around the space. Inside, you will find a small fishpond with water lilies and some selected shrubs and perennials, as well as a bench for reflection. This area was designed as a memorial for some special Hartman family members and is a serene and unique space to visit.
The east side of our main tree area is all dedicated to trees that bloom with stunning color in the springtime. We have an area with 10 different types of magnolias that bloom early spring, an area with 15 different types of redbuds that bloom midspring, and a variety of crabapples, pears, peaches, and more that ensure that this area is stunning throughout the spring months! Typically we see magnolias blooming in March and redbuds in April, but there is a great deal of variance based on the weather each year.
In the center of our hydrangea garden, we have a spectacular arbor that is covered in stunning blooming native vines, including wisteria, cross vine, and honeysuckle. It’s a beautiful spot for photography!
The west side of our main tree area is dedicated to trees that show off their color in the fall with their foliage, including maples, ginkgo, gum, and more. At the far west end, we have a grove of 17 different types of oak trees that demonstrates the beauty and diversity of these majestic trees.
North of the driveway across from the Espalier, our newest area, called the Pollinator Garden, was designed and added by our Master Gardeners. This space focuses even more on attracting pollinators, with a variety of annuals and other bright blooms. Like the Wildlife Garden, this area peaks in late summer!
North of our main tree area next to Potter Pond, there is a small entrance into our woodland garden area, which we call the Stumpery for all the fallen trees that have made this area the perfect space for native wildflowers to thrive. This garden is maintained by our Master Gardener volunteers, who have nurtured a diversity of woodland wildflowers and ferns that make this area beautiful. This area is at its peak with early spring blooms like bluebells, trilliums, and wood poppies.
