[Music] if you visited arnison Acres Park you've likely walked past the fruits of Labor from one city employee Tim Zimmerman after 41 productive years working to transform the park and helping a wide range of plants take root in the city the park service worker has retired he din a TV caught up with Zimmerman before he hung up his gardening shears at the end of march to witness the changes he's made that will have a lasting impact on the community for those who prefer starting their day with their hands in the dirt we've been here a couple of us since 9:00 this morning this is a busy time of year today we're going to do around 20 of these for this Edina Garden Council Garden Club we have a quoted me preparation for a springtime plant sale at arnison Acres Park began back in November just make sure that things are done the way Tim tells us to do it after 41 Seasons here this is pulaka which is also known as MOS roses Park service worker Tim Zimmerman has a system how many flats needs to be planted and then once the stuff is growing how many flats are transplant and what size container they are and stuff like that every shelf and electrical outlet in the arnison Acres Greenhouse built in 1991 has a plant related purpose these are American chestnuts all planned by a man who found a love for nature and horiculture at an early age when I take vacation I visit National and state parks he had to take his hands out of the soil to complete one last project before his retirement at the end of March I am writing down history of arnison as I see it uh as I began from my early years since 1984 as each year passed Zimmerman documented what can only be described as a transformation I love history and I don't want history to be forgotten the formal Gardens we see today now waiting for their time to bloom were forged with determination and care this whole area here was embedded with buckthorne and it took me about a period of 40 years to kind totally clean up this park a hybrid Lily Garden is a place of particular pride we have more here than even at the arum Zimmerman who hybridizes lies in his pastime named one after his daughter Riley I like to challenge myself and grow things I never grew before um a matter if could be a penal could be a new annual could be a new tree uh to me I love that challenge in life a challenge like successfully growing Northern peccant trees in Minnesota in the last few years they're starting to Bear pecans they're about 25 ft tall to me that was very successful another page for the Arnis Acres history book before a new chapter in life he's just been here a long time and I yes I hope he comes back to see us and check up on us once in a while we'll receive him with open arms definitely will be here and there coming back uh touring um Aron and seeing how it progresses at Arnis Acres Park I'm Dan Carpenter for Rina TV in retirement Zimmerman says he won't be slowing down he plans to help his oldest daughter Riley with Home Improvements also he'll volunteer more time with the Lily society and the Handover Historical Society if there is time after that he says he'll spend it fishing