Dean & Marsha Hartle and Dr. Robert Gilman
Owatonna, Minnesota

Dean and Marsha Hartle inherited their interest in growing lilies from Dean’s father, Herb.  Herb’s sudden death in 1980 left Dean and Marsha with some choices to make about the lily business he had started.  They could plow under the lily fields, continue Herb’s passion, or sell the lilies.

That year, they attended the lily show in Rochester and fell in love with one lily in particular. Julius Wadekamper was showing the lily “Maple Cream”.  Julius invited the Hartles to Borbeleta Gardens in Elk River to see the fields of growing lilies.  Seeing rows of “Maple Cream” was all they needed to make that decision to stay in the business of selling lilies. They were hooked! 

Dr. Robert (Doc) Gilman began his involvement with flowers by growing iris. He became interested in growing lilies in 1979 because people were stealing his iris. Doc began working with Herb Hartle so he could learn more about the culture and hybridization of lilies. 

Doc, Dean and Marsha began Hartle-Gilman Gardens shortly after the 1980 Lily Show.  Dr. Gilman purchased bulbs from Borbeleta Gardens to add to the Hartle collection of bulbs. Their business, located in Owatonna, continues to grow today. Hartle-Gilman Gardens has introduced a number of lilies under the name of Hartle-Gilman.

Marsha Hartle shares her thoughts: 

"We started Hartle-Gilman Gardens in 1980 after the death of Dean’s father, Herb Hartle.  Dr. Robert Gilman had been talking with Herb about helping and growing some lilies at the farm, so he knew more about the lily garden than we did.  Dr. Gilman and I have both done some lily hybridizing.    When Richard Prochaska wanted to move on to hybridizing hemerocallis and hosta, he sent his lily bulbs to us to grow and decide which would be best for introduction.  Two seedlings that Prochaska named are 'Iowa Rose' and 'Nova Praha'.

“'Winter Ballet', 'Marsha', 'Celestial Snow', 'Celebrity Time', and 'Timepiece' are the names of just a few of the cultivars that are Hartle-Gilman Garden’s introductions."

A few words from Hugh Cocker:

“Hartle-Gilman Gardens has been a big influence on lily growing in these parts. They have saved a number of Minnesota lilies by acquiring the collections of growers who have passed away.  By having a mail order business and being willing to market the lilies of other Minnesota hybridizers through their catalog, they have helped make our lilies known far and wide.  Dr. Gilman has also become interested in martagon lilies and is building a large collection of them.”