Memories of Minervo
Recuerdos de Minervo
In August of 2023, Kerby’s had a celebration of Minervo’s 20th anniversary with Kerby’s Nursery. At the time, we collected stories and memories that staff had of Minervo. Now at his passing, we are so glad that we did. Read below for some Recuerdos de Minervo.
En agosto de 2023, Kerby’s celebró el vigésimo aniversario de Minervo con Kerby’s Nursery. En ese momento, recopilamos historias y recuerdos que el personal tenía de Minervo. Ahora, con su fallecimiento, estamos muy contentos de haberlo hecho. Lea a continuación algunos recuerdos de Minervo.
Joey
Having known Minervo for nearly all of the twenty years that he has worked for us, I have lots of memories. His hard work when I designed and installed landscapes was always a big help. He taught me to tie knots, dig holes, and how to work smarter. Without a doubt, he is an unseen force that keeps Kerby’s operating.
My favorite memory though is when we did a gift exchange at Christmas. It was a secret Santa and what are you supposed to get your boss, right? He gave me the perfect gift. Fresh, hot tamales made by Virgilia. I enjoyed them that day and for a few after. One of the best presents I’ve ever received!
Thanks, Minervo, for your hard work and your dedication to Kerby’s. We want you to know that the work you do is noticed and appreciated by all of us.
Habiendo conocido a Minervo durante casi todos los veinte años que ha trabajado para nosotros, tengo muchos recuerdos. Su trabajo fuerte cuando diseñé e instalé paisajes siempre fue de gran ayuda. Me enseñó a hacer nudos, cavar hoyos y cómo trabajar de manera más inteligente. Sin duda, es una fuerza invisible que mantiene el funcionamiento de Kerby’s.
Sin embargo, mi recuerdo favorito es cuando hicimos un intercambio de regalos en Navidad. Era un Papá Noel secreto y ¿qué se supone que le vas a dar a tu jefe, verdad? Me dio el regalo perfecto. Tamales frescos y calientes hechos por Virgilia. Los disfruté ese día y algunos después. ¡Uno de los mejores regalos que he recibido!
Gracias, Minervo, por tu trabajo fuerte y tu dedicación a Kerby’s. Queremos que sepa que el trabajo que hace es notado y apreciado por todos nosotros.
Madeleine
Vicki
When I’ve been at the nursery to sticker pottery and need a new pallet, I ask Minervo, but I always tell him that it can wait until he has a moment. But he always drops everything and gets it for me! He is so positive, hardworking and willing to help. We appreciate you, Minervo!
Nathan
Brian
Just thinking about the time we planted a huge DD Blanchard. May even have been a 45 gallon because it was when I first started. We planted the tree exactly where the customer marked. She wouldn’t come out of the house to look, maybe in fear of Covid at the time. She claimed we planted it too close to something else and not where she wanted. Since we couldn’t pick it up, we basically built a trench and had to shimmy it over. Minervo kept his cool and stayed positive even though I wanted to tell the lady we couldn’t. He’s always positive and finds a solution to issues.
Tara
When Minervo comes in and sees something that needs to be done, he does it. He has done so many things for so long at the Nursery that they come naturally to him. Installing and fixing our irrigation systems, handling deliveries, driving the loader, caring for our landscaping, redoing the roofs on the Greenhouses and preparing them for winter… the list goes on and on. We miss him when he’s not here because of all the things he does to keep Kerby’s running that most of us don’t even know about or know how to do. He is a great asset for Spanish-speaking customers, too.
He works hard and he doesn’t complain; his can-do attitude is a gift. I cannot imagine Kerby’s without Minervo.
Cuando Minervo entra y ve que hay que hacer algo, lo hace. Ha hecho tantas cosas durante tanto tiempo en la Guardería que le resultan naturales. Instalar y reparar nuestros sistemas de riego, manejar las entregas, conducir el cargador, cuidar nuestro paisaje, rehacer los techos de los invernaderos y prepararlos para el invierno… la lista sigue y sigue. Lo extrañamos cuando no está aquí debido a todas las cosas que hace para que Kerby siga funcionando y que la mayoría de nosotros ni siquiera conocemos o sabemos cómo hacer. También es un gran activo para los clientes de habla hispana.
Trabaja duro y no se queja; su actitud positiva es un regalo. No puedo imaginar Kerby’s sin Minervo.
Stephanie
Gracias por su dedicación y arduo trabajo durante 20 años en Kerby’s. Me recuerdas a una abeja volando alrededor del vivero, realizando todas clases de tareas. Disfruto nuestros pequeños momentos de bromear entre nosotros cuando estás pasando por el almacén. Ha sido maravilloso trabajar con todos apreciamos lo mucho que cuidas de Kerby’s.
Patrick
I’ll never forget the “simple” method he told me about extracting agave nectar by cutting a hole in the side, which I did without question or research… but he didn’t mention that I should wear a long glove or long sleeves and I got burns on my arm from the sap.
One time I told him about a wasp nest and asked if he knows where the spray is. He made a sound that to me meant “Why do you need spray”, and proceeded to hit it with a little bit of water and then grabbed the nest with his hand!
Nunca olvidaré el método “simple” que me contó sobre la extracción del néctar de agave cortando un agujero en el costado, lo cual hice sin cuestionar ni investigar… pero no mencionó que debería usar un guante largo o mangas largas. y me quemé el brazo por la savia.
Una vez le hablé de un nido de avispas y le pregunté si sabía dónde estaba el rocío. Hizo un sonido que para mí significaba “¿Por qué necesitas rociar?” y procedió a golpearlo con un poco de agua y luego agarró el nido con la mano.
Alice
Pam
Need help finding a particular plant? Want to know when and how to prune a flowering bush? Is a bag of soil too heavy to lift? Having trouble communicating with a Spanish-speaking customer? Call Minervo!
His knowledge of gardening and his tireless ability to get things done (and make sure the plants are watered!) genuinely embody the Kerby’s vision, values and mission. He is so energetic and so efficient that it’s easy to take everything he does for granted. And what’s more, everything he does, he does with a smile.
Truly, we are fortunate to have Minervo on the Kerby’s team!
¿Necesitas ayuda para encontrar una planta en particular? ¿Quieres saber cuándo y cómo podar un arbusto en flor? ¿Es demasiado pesada para levantar una bolsa de tierra? ¿Tienes problemas para comunicarse con un cliente que habla español? ¡Llamar a Minervo!
Su conocimiento de la jardinería y su incansable habilidad para realizar las tareas (¡y mantener las plantas regadas!) encarnan genuinamente la visión, los valores y la misión de Kerby’s. Trabaja tan energeticamente y tan eficientemente que es fácil darnos por sentado todo lo que hace. Y más aún, todo lo que hace, lo hace con una sonrisa.
De veras, ¡somos afortunados de tener a Minervo en el equipo de Kerby’s!
Lydia
Josh
Lorraine
Allison
Elizabeth
Nya
Alden
Brianna
Joey, Kim, Abby, and Maddy, February 5, 2024
With Minervo’s passing, there are so many things that we will miss, but it is probably the simplest that we will miss the most. When Abby and Maddy would come up to the nursery and Minervo was here, they would say, ‘Hola, Minervo.’ And he would always respond, ‘Hola, Abigail, Hola, Madeleine’. It’s hard to believe we will never hear that exchange again.
But today, he tends the gardens of heaven. God couldn’t ask for a more dedicated caretaker. And just as I finished writing that last line for our newsletter, a rainbow appeared in the sky over the field of the nursery. We’ll take it as a sign that Minervo is watching us. Hola, Minervo.
The translations above were done using Google translate, so we apologize if any of them are incorrect or don’t make sense.